Military said to impede Congo rape inquiry

[Forkboy]

KINSHASA, Democratic Republic of Congo - The United Nations yesterday named two Congolese Army colonels who appear to be blocking an investigation of soldiers accused of mass gang-raping at least 47 women in eastern Congo and said if the attackers are not identified the officers themselves should stand trial for the crimes committed by those under their command.

Government troops carried out the mass rapes in the remote and mountainous villages of Bushani and Kalambahiro in North Kivu province from Dec. 31 to Jan. 1, according to witnesses and victims cited in the report from the UN human rights office.
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The incident occurred when 100 soldiers attacked villagers with whips, machetes, and rifles, accusing the inhabitants of supporting rebels, the report said.

Those raped were aged from 16 to 65 and included pregnant women. Some were raped in front of their children. Some were raped by two to four men, the report said.

http://www.boston.com/news/world/africa/articles/2011/07/23/un_report_says_congo_colonels_are_blocking_rape_investigation/

[saras]

1. Ooh - there's the hint of something good in there, bigger than rape prosecutions

"if the attackers are not identified the officers themselves should stand trial for the crimes committed by those under their command."

This needs to be made a universal principle of warfare, something the UN is charged with enforcing.

And if the attackers ARE identified, and the chain of command leads to the officers, then they should stand trial anyways.

[Forkboy]

2. That's a good point.

Thank you.

[ZombieHorde]

3. I am glad the UN is handling this instead of us.

I hope the UN investigations are effective. I wonder if the UN will place troops in the villages during the investigation.






off topic question: What was that new, island, zombie movie called? You made an OP about in Entertainment, I believe.

[Forkboy]

4. The Dead perhaps?

Was it the one filmed in Africa? If so, it's still not out. As of 6 months ago they were still trying to get it released. No news since then.

[ZombieHorde]

5. That's it. Thank you and sorry for the off topic question. nt

[Forkboy]

6. No prob, it let me kick the thread.

:)

[ZombieHorde]

7. Then you should have waited until tomorrow mourning when the thread sunk back down.

;-)

[Forkboy]

8. Good point.

;)

[ZombieHorde]

9. Well played. nt

[uppityperson]

10. sorry I missed this this weekend. kick