Rwanda News Agency/Agence Rwandaise d'Information (Kigali)
28 August 2008
Kigali — DR Congo dissident General Laurent Nkunda is demanding an immediate halt to attacks that government forces launched Thursday morning on four of his positions in the North Kivu province, RNA reports.
In a statement to RNA, Nkunda's political movement the National Congress for the Defence of the Congolese People (CNDP), alleges that at 4am local time (2:00GMT) the army launched an offensive on Rugari, Ntamugenga, Rukoro and Busanza in the Rutshuru area.
However, according to Radio Okapi, witnesses report that CNDP forces attacked 'regular forces deployed at Kanombe area' - a reference to the government army at another area Rubare - some 10km from Rutshuru. Civilian witnesses say they heard heavy artillery on the morning of Wednesday into Thursday.
The UN station also says the information has been confirmed by administrative forces in the Rutshuru area.
However, CNDP says Kinshasa forces are 'once again' undoing the cease fire signed on January 23. The deal in Goma -North Kivu, saw more than 22 armed groups committing to an immediate ceasefire, disengagement of forces from frontline positions, and to abide by international human rights law.
Aid agencies on the ground say more than 500.000 people have been forced from the villages as General Nkunda and other militias including Rwandan FDLR rebels - blamed in Kigali for Genocide continue to maraud unhindered.
The General claims the latest government offensive is with 'double objective' - to block return of the displaced to their homes and to create a battle zone where they could relaunch battle against his territory.
The dissident General says his men deserve the right to fight back if Kinshasa does not halt its attacks. He also wants a new mechanism established to address these latest attacks.
Human Rights Watch has repeatedly blamed General Nkunda for provoking most of the mayhem in the eastern DRC targeting civilians.
United Nations officials have documented some 200 ceasefire violations since January, the majority between the forces General Nkunda and a loose coalition of combatants from the Mai Mai Mongol, the Coalition of Congolese Patriotic Resistance (PARECO), and the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR).
In Gashavu village on April 20, Human Rights Watch reports that CNDP combatants arrested and tied up four men and a 12-year-old boy and then beat them to death with large sticks.
Six other civilians were abducted, including a woman and a 15-year-old girl. Some were later released.
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