http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=4356720n&tag=related;photovideo
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
R: Congo Civil war
* The Congolese people are made up of around 200 separate ethnic groups.
There was no majority ethnic group, but some of the larger ethnic groups were the Luba, Kongo and Anamongo. The various ethnic groups spoke many different languages, but only 4 indigenous languages had official status: Kiswahili, Lingala, Kikongo and Tshiluba. French was the language of government, commerce and education. Societal discrimination on the basis of ethnicity was widely practiced
By 1996, the war and genocide in neighboring Rwanda had spilled over to the DRC (then Zaire).
Rwandan troops (RPA) entered the DRC with an armed coalition led by Laurent-Desire Kabila, known as the Alliance des Forces Democratiques pour la Liberation du Congo-Zaire (AFDL). Kabila declared himself president, consolidated power around himself and the AFDL, and renamed the country the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). RPA units continued to operate with the DRC's military, which was renamed the Forces Armees Congolaises (FAC).
In June 2000, the President of the UN Security Council requested the UN Secretary-General to establish a Panel of Experts on the illegal exploitation of the natural resources
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/war/congo.htm
In the Democratic Republic of the Congo (also known as Congo-Kinshasa and Zaire):
- Congo Crisis (1960–1966), dating from independence to the rise of Joseph Mobutu
- First Congo War (1996–1997), which led to the overthrow of Mobutu by Laurent Kabila
- Second Congo War (1998–2003), involved nine nations and led to ongoing low-level warfare despite an official peace
- Ituri conflict (1999–2007), a subconflict of the Second Congo War
- Kivu conflict (2004–2009), a subconflict of the Second Congo War
The Kivu conflict is an armed conflict between the military of the Democratic Republic of the CongoHutu Power group Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR). (FARDC) and the
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Congo_Civil_War
- Full name: Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Population: 67 million (UN, 2010)
- Capital: Kinshasa
- Area: 2.34 million sq km (905,354 sq miles)
- Major languages: French, Lingala, Kiswahili, Kikongo, Tshiluba
- Major religions: Christianity, Islam
- Life expectancy: 47 years (men), 50 years (women) (UN)
- Monetary unit: 1 Congolese franc = 100 centimes
- Main exports: Diamonds, copper, coffee, cobalt, crude oil
- GNI per capita: US $160 (World Bank, 2009)
- Internet domain: .cd
- International dialling code: +243
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/country_profiles/1076399.stm
Journal #7: Coltan mining in the DRC
Abstract: DRC has the 64% of mining reserve - the greatest amount in the world. As the coltan becomes the major source of Congolese economy, neighboring countries have been figthing for the reserve in Congo. This extraction of coltan not only results in the damage to the nature but also the forced child labor.
Rwanda and Uganda - the neighboring two countries - have invaded Congo for extracting coltan. The extraction of coltan also brings about the child labor, apparent child abuse. But since Congo has such an attractive amount of economic source, it will be hard for either country (DRC, R, U) to give up its desire to coltan.
That implies that Congo has to find another way of economic source or more preferably, to pose a clear policy that prohibits child labor or other countries from extracting the national source of Congo.
Rwanda and Uganda - the neighboring two countries - have invaded Congo for extracting coltan. The extraction of coltan also brings about the child labor, apparent child abuse. But since Congo has such an attractive amount of economic source, it will be hard for either country (DRC, R, U) to give up its desire to coltan.
That implies that Congo has to find another way of economic source or more preferably, to pose a clear policy that prohibits child labor or other countries from extracting the national source of Congo.
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Journal #6: Silence = Rape
Abstract: The rampant sexual violences followed by six-year domestic conflicts in Congo not only address physicall and mentally torn-apart Congolese women but also imply numerous aftermaths that will trigger further devastation of Congo. The complex form of Congolese conflicts makes the media and thus the world become disinterested in what is going on in Congo.
The "blood" business practices also fund terrorism. Lebanese diamond traders benefiting from illegal concessions in the Congo have been tied to the Islamic extremist groups including Hezbollah.
The cause of sexual violence against women becomes the result in return. The lack of international recognition becomes the cause of the deteriorating conditions for Congolese women and the nation as a whole. It again makes the media regard this rampant violence against women.
Also, the infavorable condition contributes to the terrorism, surprisingly.
The "blood" business practices also fund terrorism. Lebanese diamond traders benefiting from illegal concessions in the Congo have been tied to the Islamic extremist groups including Hezbollah.
The cause of sexual violence against women becomes the result in return. The lack of international recognition becomes the cause of the deteriorating conditions for Congolese women and the nation as a whole. It again makes the media regard this rampant violence against women.
Also, the infavorable condition contributes to the terrorism, surprisingly.
Journal #5: Sexual violence in the protracted conflict of DRC programming for rape survivors in South Kivu
Abstract: Civilians of Congo, especially women, become victims of the ongoing intrastate conflicts. Although medical care for rape survivors are being operated, it does not meet the vast amount of needs. Rape survivors do not report what happened to them since they are evicted from their homes out of dishonor. Naturally, then, sufficient data is not available to prevent next victim.
Militias in Congo are the main perpetrators of the rampant rape. In the purpose of devastate the whole region they try to occupy, they attack women. Because the most vulnerable and weak one they can easily grab in thier hands is women.
The partial reason that women are increasingly suffering from this attack is because they are reluctant to officially report the rape within critical time (72 hours). Thus, less than 10% of secual violence cases in non-refugee situations are reported. This prevents from identifying the perpetrators, making difficult to detect possible incidence occuring regions.
Another aftermath that worsens the situation is the deteriorating health of the survivors. Despite of the need of prompt physical and psychological treatments, they hide the fact that they were harmed because of infavorable views from society. Fortunately, a campaign to fix this misleading conception in society has been successful. Thus, further efforts to operate such local basis of education are needed.
Militias in Congo are the main perpetrators of the rampant rape. In the purpose of devastate the whole region they try to occupy, they attack women. Because the most vulnerable and weak one they can easily grab in thier hands is women.
The partial reason that women are increasingly suffering from this attack is because they are reluctant to officially report the rape within critical time (72 hours). Thus, less than 10% of secual violence cases in non-refugee situations are reported. This prevents from identifying the perpetrators, making difficult to detect possible incidence occuring regions.
Another aftermath that worsens the situation is the deteriorating health of the survivors. Despite of the need of prompt physical and psychological treatments, they hide the fact that they were harmed because of infavorable views from society. Fortunately, a campaign to fix this misleading conception in society has been successful. Thus, further efforts to operate such local basis of education are needed.
Journal #4: Crimes against Women in Situations of Armed Conflict - UN WOMEN
Abstract: Women in Congo have become targets of militias from the government. These militias use rape as an intimading war tool. The fact that those crimes are not properly penalized in national level worsens the situation.
In the midst of armed conflict in Africa - such as Darfur, Rwanda, and Congo (DRC) - women are the battleground for militias. Women are brutally raped, beaten, abused and enslaved. Thus, they cannot feel safe at home and outside, obviously. The rampant impunity of such inhumane acts allows further crimes against women.
- Congo needs a fundamental and authoritative institution that can enforce the penalty to stop further abusement.
In the midst of armed conflict in Africa - such as Darfur, Rwanda, and Congo (DRC) - women are the battleground for militias. Women are brutally raped, beaten, abused and enslaved. Thus, they cannot feel safe at home and outside, obviously. The rampant impunity of such inhumane acts allows further crimes against women.
- Congo needs a fundamental and authoritative institution that can enforce the penalty to stop further abusement.
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Journal #3: Mass Rapes in Congo Reveals U.N. Weakness
Abstract: As the Congo's domestic conflicts become serious between rebels and army divisions, the United Nations peacekeping force is facing worse situation to deal with. With its corrupted government, Congo do not have secure authority to rely on for its future. Raping is rampant by rebel groups. Because of its unpredictedness and rapidity, UN increasingly is criticized for lack of prompt reaction.
Rape often becomes the battleground for rebel groups in Congo. As divided civil groups' quarrels become more aggressive, the practices of rape also increase accordingly. In addition, UN soldiers are not able to play a 'guardian' role here mainly because the telecommunication system is very poor. Lack of source of communication between peacekeepers results in inability to prevent painful consequence for women.
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