I can’t remember when exactly we separated ways. What I can remember is the pain, the broken heart, the tears and the empty solitary nights after the broke up. It was a tough decision that it took me more than a week to finally decide to end everything. But before that, there were two other instances that I told the person to end the relationship which the person strongly disagreed. But that day, I was made up. I need to not because I’m not happy with the person or the relationship. But I need to because the person need to go. I pushed the person away from me for another person. A person not for me but for him. It was not like an obligation but I took it that way. I am obliged to do it because the person was meant for another person. They were just meant to be. They were made to be together and with their coming child.

They are expecting their child early next year. I knew it because the person was honest with me. Infact, I was the one the person called up after confirming it through PT. The news came to me like an arrow slowly penetrating throught my flesh straight to my heart. I acted like I was prepared for it to hide great pain I was feeling. I laugh when I recall that night. I came up a lousy and the worst actor. I tried to act normally but I was not able to sustained the acting. I accidentally hit my cup of coke. It fell down to the floor. It was spilled on the floor.hehe..These are the not so good experiences while in the relatioship and after the broke up.

And these are before it happened. How could I forget that night when we spent the whole time together very happily. It was so unforgetable. We had a great fun and happy night. I am sure that he was happy because of the thank you and the excitement of having it again. Those words were expressed coming from the heart. So, how can I forget the moment?

We had many good and happy momeries together. There were nights in an internet cafe, in a siomai sa tisa, in a bakery, playing text twist and plants vs. zoombies, a nights full talking and the nights we spent for ourselves and a lot more. So memorable.

I am now missing the person!!!.

Mark the date. December 13, 2009 is ACS of the Phils., Inc. – Cebu Christmas Party ‘09 at WhiteGold House, North Reclamation, Cebu City. See programme below for your guide. Don’t be Late!

Masters of Ceremony: Ms. Iresh, Mr. Joemarie Amparo, and Mr. Boobie Legaspi

Admittedly, I am a Twilight fan. So I am so dying to saga the next movie New Moon. I love it so much. A new twist, new characters and new super natural being. It’s a whole new story to me. No wonder this is a super hit in the market.

See it here >>> Part 1 | Part 2

Enjoy!!!!

Today would be the start of my blogging episode and I am starting it here, right here in wordpress.com. This excite me so much because starting this day, I can now put into writing what I feel and think about anything and everything. I can also blog in here my idea about what is current and the upcoming happening or event. It maybe about my personal life, the society, politics, showhiz and everything under this earth worth the talking.

I crossing my fingers that someone will follow me here in wordpress and on twitter and give comment on my blogs. I am aiming a significant number. I know this means a lot of work, a lot of ideas to burst into writings. And I mean good writings.

So guys, keep in touch and stay updated by constantly visiting my new place.

Click here for more of Jebra!

Thank you very much in advance.

“When I examine myself and my methods of thought, I come to the conclusion that the gift of fantasy has meant more to me than my talent for absorbing positive knowledge. -Albert Einstein
1879-1955″

In catching up on events that happened in the world while I was traveling from one part of it to another, I hit a Reuters report that the United Nations killed seven FDLR earlier this week (though not with guns, as my misleading headline implies. With rockets. Little ones, presumably.)

Here’s how it apparently went down: The Congolese army, the FARDC, left their camp to go get paid, which happens about once every five to seven years, or just before ‘democratic’ elections, and so they all left the camp pretty much at the same time. The FDLR, savvy little buggers that they are, joined up with their best bros the Mai Mai and attacked the emptied camp.

The Congolese army put the losses at 8:1, their one being a guy lost in an initial exchange of ground-based gunfire between the FARDC and the FDLR. (This is like golf, so FARDC wins!) The UN military spokesman had a little different read on things and told Reuters, “The (Congolese army) asked us for aerial assistance. Our attack helicopters fired five rockets, killing seven elements.” (Technocratic translation: Elements = people.)

Kicker? The Mai Mai are in the Congolese army! In the euphoric “peace” that broke out after Rwanda gently nudged its troops across the border earlier this year, more than 20 militia groups were “integrated” into the FARDC. Of course, in late September, 20 of those groups said, “Game off.” Why? Cuz the government wasn’t paying them! Maybe the Mai Mai should’ve just followed the FARDC to the payday window instead of attacking them…

But here’s the bigger point: The United Nations called out a strike against a rebel group in an ongoing conflict. This not my momma’s UN DPKO, the one that treated all parties to a conflict as if they had equal grievance and wrote neutrality into their mandates. This is Peacekeeping 2.0 (er, well, probably 3.0), where “neutrality” doesn’t get in the way of doing the job. File this one under “Rwanda, Lessons from.” But the ROEs on the 3.0 mandates have their own issues…and if I get a chance, I’ll whip up a post on that in the next day or two.

Meanwhile, watch this — and that — space.

Trước cây thông xanh mơn mởn, tràn trề sức sống, anh đã kể lại câu chuyện tình của mình. Anh và chị sống với nhau rất hạnh phúc.

Tình yêu của anh và chị đang độ nồng nàn thì một tai nạn giao thông bất ngờ đã cướp đi người yêu thương nhất của anh.

Mấy năm sau đó, anh vẫn ở vậy chẳng hề mơ màng đến ai, anh chỉ một mình đơn côi. Anh từ chối hết tất cả những đám mà bạn bè mai mối. Tro xương của chị đươc đựng trong một cái hộp. Anh chị vẫn luôn ở bên nhau. Anh đặt chị trên bàn viết cùng với những cuốn sách anh đang đọc. Với anh chị như vẫn còn đang sống.Anh thường thủ thỉ nói chuyện với chị trong hộp. Anh tin là chị sẽ nghe được những lời anh tâm sự

Thời gian thấm thoát thoi đưa. Đến ngày giỗ tròn năm năm của chị, anh bưng hộp tro xương lên đồi thông ở ngoại thành cách nhà không xa.

Thông mã vĩ mọc kín núi, kín đồi. Đang là tiết xuân, hai bên con đường nhỏ dẫn lên đồi thông nở đầy những bông hoa màu đỏ xen màu vàng, màu trắng. Lên đến lưng chừng đồi thông, chọn một chỗ đất đẹp, anh đào một cái hố trên thàm cỏ mịn như nhung. Nhẹ nhàng, anh đặt vào hố một cây thông con thân to bằng ngón tay cái, rồi anh mở nắp hộp thong thả rắc tro xuống cái hố mới đào. Một dòng tro màu trắng xám chảy xuống hố như dòng nước. Sau đó, anh gạt đất trên miệng xuống hố. Khi lớp đất màu nâu đã giữ cho cây thông non đứng vững ở trong hố, anh nhìn cây thông non mới trồng, lặng đi hồi lâu. Anh thì thầm:”Anh sẽ thường xuyên đến với em”.

Mưa xuân lất phất như giăng mùng. Những hạt mưa bụi li ti đã tắm mát cho cây thông non. Anh lại thầm nói:”Mưa xuân đấy em ạ! Em thật hạnh phúc”.

Anh trở về trong mưa, lòng vô cùng vui sướng.

Cây thông ngày một lớn. Mỗi lần đến thăm cây thông, từ xa, anh như nhìn thấy chị đang đứng chờ anh trong lùm cây xanh ở một góc công viên. Gió thổi váy áo bó sát người vào người chị. Chị mỉm cười trách yêu anh”anh đến chậm thế”.

Chẳng bao lâu, đất quanh gốc cây thông đã ngã màu xanh rêu rồi dần dần hoà cùng màu xanh của thảm cỏ và cả cánh rừng thông.

Mùa hè đến, những cơn mưa rào hối hả trút xuống. Sau những cơn mưa, anh lên ngay đồi thông vun thêm đất cho cây. Cành lá nhẹ đong đưa dường như chị đang xúc động lắm, không nói nên lời. Anh nhớ khi còn sống, lúc có điều gì xúc động là chị không nói thành lời. Lúc ấy anh thường dịu dàng nói với chị: “Em uống một chén trà đi! Rồi thong thả nói cho anh nghe”.

Cây thông lớn rất nhanh, lá ngọn có màu xanh rất đặc biệt khác hẳn những cây khác. Nhiều lúc, anh đã nhìn ra dáng vóc của chị từ cây thông. Anh hiểu đó chỉ là ảo giác. Nhưng khi bừng tỉnh thì đó lại là một cây thông đang độ sung sức, cành lá sum suê, tư thế dáng vóc rất mĩ lệ, nó toát ra cái phong thái của chị thuở sinh thời. Khi trời nắng lâu ngày, ngày nào cũng như ngày nào, anh thường mang cái bình nhựa xuống ao sen dưới chân núi xách nước lên tắm cho chị. Nhìn dòng nước trong vắt ngấm vào lòng đất, anh thầm thì nói nhỏ: “Em khát lắm phải không? Em thong thả mà uống nước đi!”.

Trong mắt anh, dáng cây thông đã thể hiện một dáng người. Điều này chỉ có anh nhìn thấy. Vào độ gió thu về, lá thông reo vi vu, anh như thấy chị rất hào hứng, cành lá cứ rung rinh như cất lên tiếng nói thủ thỉ bên tai anh. Anh cứ đứng vậy nhỏ to tâm sự với chị.

Thế rồi, một sự lạ xuất hiện. Chị hiện về. Chị mặc bộ váy màu xanh lá thông. Anh chạy đến dang hai cánh tay ôm lấy chị vào lòng. Anh cảm thấy mùi thơm dìu dịu toả ra từ da thịt chị.

Mái tóc của chị như mơn man lên má anh. Anh nghe thấy chị nói:

- Anh đừng đến thăm em nữa!

Nước mắt anh lăn dài trên má,anh hỏi:

- Sao vậy em? Em không yêu anh nữa sao?

Chị lắc đầu nói:

- Không phải vậy, em rất yêu anh.

Anh nói:

- Em đã từng nói yêu anh mãi mãi. Sao bây giờ em lại nói thế?

Nước mắt ròng ròng chị nghẹn ngào nói:

- Mấy năm qua, anh đã luôn ở bên em. Nhưng anh ơi,âm dương cách biệt, dù sao thì chúng ta cũng không chung sống cùng nhau được. Em muốn anh hãy tìm một cô gái khác mà kết bạn nơi trần thế.

Anh bảo:

- Sao em lại nói với anh như vậy? Hay là em đã thay lòng đổi dạ?

Chị khóc nức nở nói:

- Anh thấy không? Rễ của em đã cắm sâu vào trong đất rồi. Rời khỏi đất em không sống được. Anh hãy đi tìm một cô gái khác đi. Đó là tâm nguyện của em. Em chúc phúc cho anh.

Anh bỗng thấy trong lòng trống trải quá chừng. Những cành lá sum suê cứ như vuốt ve trên má anh…

Một thời gian sau anh đến thăm chị. Lần này, đến thăm chị, anh không đến một mình mà cùng đi với một người con gái xinh đẹp, dáng vóc giống chị. Cây thông bỗng đong đưa cành lá, lá thông cất tiếng reo vi vu. Ánh mắt trời đậu vào từng kẽ lá nhấp nhánh như những nụ cười hân hoan. Trước cây thông xanh mơn mởn, tràn trề sức sống, anh đã kể lai câu chuyên tình của mình…

—

Câu chuyện tình trên thật là buồn và đôi khi có thể nó không thể có thực trong cuộc sống đời thường. Nhưng điều đó không quan trọng mà điều quan trọng nhất là sau khi đọc xong câu chuyện trên ta sẽ hiểu thêm về nhiều giá trị đích thực trong tình yêu và cuộc sống. Đó là những giá trị sẽ mãi mãi tồn tại cho dù thời gian có đủ sức mạnh để xóa nhòa đi tất cả. Xin hãy sống , hãy yêu và hãy mơ ước đến những điều tốt đẹp nhất trên đời này đến với tất cả mọi người.

Các bài đã đăng :

*Cõi tạm

*Có nhau trọn đời

*Cái đuôi

*Chuyện thiền

*Hãy nói với mẹ là con yêu mẹ lắm

*Chuyện kể trong nước mắt

*Có vợ thật là tuyệt

*Người mẹ vĩ đại

*Hai chiếc vải

*Viết trên cát

It was a big weekend: the opening of duck season. There were days of preparation: oiling and polishing guns, stocking ammo, building mai-mais, exhuming camo suits, and applying swear words.

Check out this TVNZ’s Close Up segment to learn more about what The Men got up to over the weekend, although without the extreme bonding, arse footage, loaded coolboxes, pin-up girls, 4WD waterskiing, and nakedness in jacuzzis (The Outlaws do not have a jacuzzi).

Although Husband denies attempting to surf across the creek on a blow-up doll, I noticed some jittery eye-contact between him and Brother-In-Law upon their return.

Thankfully, the males of the family do not subscribe to the theory that alcohol and loaded shotguns are a top idea. At least, they may have a nip before going out, but in fairness whisky is about the only way to kick-start the system at 05:30hrs.

After the main event followed by an artery-nuking barbeque, we brought the puppies Jed and Lottie down to the creek. They are too small to retrieve ducks, but we wanted to accustom them to the sound of gunfire.

At the first volley of shots, Jed and Lottie flattened their ears and charged back to the truck, occasionally stumbling over their tails tucked between their legs.

Brother- Stepfather- and Mother-In-Law stalk their prey. I was reminded of Mother-In-Law’s terrible ability to snuff out a life in an instant.

Husband faces setting sun.

L-R: Jed, duck carcass, my arm

No shotgun required: Ajay scares the ducks to death . . .

. . . as demonstrated.

Plucking.

Jed digests a feather

Ne plictiseam fooarte tare, si a iesit asta 

Diana: Era o seara rece de august

Otooto-chan in care stelele straluceau extrem de puternic pe cerul de un albastru malefic de navy

Diana :Vasilica statea pe prispa castelului , contemplandu-si pedichiura de 10000 dă dolari

Otooto-chan: si amintindu-si de relatia dintre ea si EL.

Diana :fusese placut atat cat durase. Vasilica nu s-ar fi gandit niciodata ca ar putea iubi cu atata pasiune un

Otooto-chan: criminal care daca ar fi putut si-ar fi tradat si propria mama ca sa cumpere usturoi contrafacut de la piata

Diana : Totusi, il intelegea. De cate ori nu a cumparat discuri demachiante de la magazinul de animale din colt? Stia ca acelea sunt concepute pentru a fi folosite in alte scopuri, dar ce conta?Numai detalii…

Otooto-chan : Insa nu isi imagina niciodata ca EL ar fi putut face un gest atat de cumplit. Fara stirea ei, intr-o dimineata

Diana : i-a luat balsamul de par . Balsamul cu care se dadea numai duminica si la ocazii speciale! Si pentru ce? Doar pentru ca el, un obsedat in adevaratul sens al cuvabntului sa-si inmoaie ciorapii in el ca sa

Otooto-chan : simta cum mireasma oarecum dulce a samponului sa ii inunde narile pentru a-i provoca senzatii inedite

Diana : de constipatie subita. Dar nici asta nu conta. Vasilica era o doamna. Avea lucruri mai bune de facut

Otooto-chan : ca de exemplu sa culeaga iarba si sa prepare cina alaturi de ceilalti membrii ai familiei.

Diana : gandul ca a lasat cuptorul cu microunde in priza o trezi la realitete.doar atunci realiza ca se facuse destul de tarziu:

Otooto-chan : Castelul era unul destul de inalt, plin de culori reci care exprimau teama

Diana : Se uita in jur. Nu-si mai amintea cand ii fusese frica ultima data. Poate doar atunci cand fusese alergata prin toata curta de animalul familiei, o gasca roz

Otooto-chan :careia ii place sa scoata sunete grotesti si sa se uite la Scooby Doo cu veioza stinsa in timp ce Georgel, copilul familiei ii face vant cu evantaiul si spune rugaciuni pentru a-i purifica nuanta hipnotizanta de roz bombon a penelor acesteia.

Diana : “ce familie de ciudati” gandi Vasilica cu voce tare. Poate prea tare. Din spate se auzeau pasi grabiti ce se indreptau fix spre ea.

Otooto-chan :Era chiar “lupul” care a mormait cateva cuvinte, si, vazand ca nu era bagat in seama, s-a dus sa isi faca nevoile prin nisip si sa faca musuroaie din urina-

Diana : Si pe el il intelegea Vasilica. Stia cum sta treaba cu “scufita rosie”…Asa ca nu a putut trece cu vederea faptul ca lupu er destul de frustrat, insa foarte bine echipat, din toate punctele de vedere

Otooto-chan :Stia foarte bine ca in cazul in care nu era pregatita, putea sa fie atacata de acest “lup” pe neasteptate. Atunci si-a amintit ca in sertarul din pivnita tinea ascunsa arma suprema, tirbuson imbibat in ulei tinut la rece pentru a indeparta

Diana : pielea exfoliata de pe obrajii rumeni ai sotului. Dar era deja foarte tarziu si pleoapele Vasilicai, duhnind a rimmel, incepeau sa-i tulbure stare de vigilenta pe care o impunea legislatia rutiera curenta

Otooto-chan : Gasca roz incepea sa devina din ce in ce mai geloasa pentru simplul fapt ca aceasta considera oamenii inferiori si avea de ceva ani tot soiul de dorinte sadice, ascunse

Diana : …ei bine, ascunse Dar nici gasca roz nu conta. Singura griija a tinerei trecute deja prin criza varstei mijlocii era viitorul ei. Ce va face singura in acest castel in care in fiecare noapte cineva canta manele la pianul alb din hol?

Otooto-chan : Se temea ca ar putea sa devina sensibila acestui amalgam de sunete fara noima, mai ales in noptile in care isi pierdea vocea, urland pe Georgel si pe gasca roz cea afurisita.

Diana : Si totusi, nu asta era marea grija a ei. Nu vroia decat sa plece de acolo cat mai repede

Otooto-chan : iar cand se trezea nu isi amintea decat de un punct gri si gasea mereu o pana de un rosu sangeriu langa perna, adesea insotita de un biletel in care erau scrise injuraturi in sanscrita veche

Diana : si latina, desigur. Nu prea stia ce inseamna toate aceste lucrui, insa ceva era concret: stia ca fructele trebuie spalate inainte de a fi mancate

Otooto-chan : Ceasul ticaia incontinuu iar Vasilica isi ridica capul si admira liliacul din copac.

Diana : acum stia. de liliac, de pene si de sotul ei. Cum a putut fi atat de oarba?! (bine, nu ca nu ar fi fost putin de vina si ochii vineti si lipsa de somn, daaar). Sotul ei era un vampir liliacofil.

Otooto-chan :caruia ii placea sa practice nenumarate ritualuri de purificare a glandelor si organelor

Diana :multe and in various shapes. apropiindu-se de Vasilica, liliacofilul ii infipse in spate un morcov. Tin sa precizez ca era un morcov foarte tare . Cuprinsa de durere, tipa

si instinctiv isi aduse aminte ca era Joi. ce se intampla joia?

Otooto-chan : a inceput sa rada in hohote dupa care a luat o fotografie cu Holograf si a inceput sa cante Oda Bucuriei, invartindu-si capu la 180 grade inspre nord. Cu morcovul in spate, a luat un cutit taaaare ascutit si lung si a inceput sa felieze o rosie, gandindu-se ca e prea batrana pentru a mai canta Oda Bucuriei.

Diana : gandindu-se ca totusi nu era chiar prea tarziu, Vasilica decide sa se sinucida, aruncadu-se de pe prima treapta. Din pacate pentru ea, dar mai mult pentru liliacofil, nu a reusit. Inca un lucru la care nu era buna. Dezamagita, intra in casa, inca tinand in mana rosia si cutitul, si cu morcovul in spate se aseza pe pianul alb , insotita de acordurile dizgratioase ce aoleau in tot castelul. The end

So there I was, trapped in Bremen Main Station, with only 22 minutes to spare before my train left and an amazing hunger which had me dizzy and confused after a full day of meetings. (Dear Spirit, let the economy recover, hallelujah!)

Now, I am an optimist but also a realist and figured there was only one way to go: choose the dead industrially-raised cattle with the funky flame taste from the BK-Lounge. Quick, and probably germ-free.

But lo and behold a vision for my weary eyes. Directly across from Burger King was a pearl in the rough: Mai-Mai. A quick glance at the illuminated menu and everything was clear. Numbers! And the 22 actually sounded (and looked) good!

The only question on my mind- can they get in done in time?

The answer was reassuring: Only take three minute!  Spicy or sweet and sour? Rice or noodle? When train leave? Hamburg? Oh, lot of time!

But I was skeptical.

4 Minutes later I have my meal. The rice is good, the vegetables are all fresh, cooked crunchy but not raw, and the duck, despite the appearance that brings to mind a certain rare type of avian acne, is still moist and pleasantly crunchy. (The fact that it probably was shipped here that way from China and just thawed, is conveniently pushed aside.) Only weak point: the sauce is not spicy, but a bit salty. A genorous helping of sriracha helps.

photo by number 22 and a beer

Mai-Mai

Bremen Hauptbahnhof (Main Station) East Wing 
across from Burger King

Opening hours from around 8 am till 10 pm

Number 22 Crispy Duck: € 7,00

Becks Beer: € 2,00

A lot better than I had expected. I was happily filled with 5 minutes to spare.

CUORE DI TENEBRA , CONGO SECOLO XX
Giorgio Trombatore

Alle ore 15 .00 di una giornata piovosa di Marzo è nata una bambina nel campo profughi di Muginga a pochi chilometri da Goma.

In quel momento stavo facendo un giro di ispezione presso i “centri di salute” che sono sorti un po’ ovunque nei campi profughi di Goma nel Nord Kivu (Congo Orientale).
Le guerre degli ultimi anni hanno creato un tale numero di rifugiati e sfollati che nessuno veramente conosce il triste primato del Congo .

Nel campo profughi di Mugynga un infermiere preoccupato mi mostrava i libri della farmacia. Uno sguardo era sufficiente per rendersi conto che le scorte erano agli sgoccioli.

« On a presque fini les rations » ripeteva l’infermiere mentre si faceva strada in mezzo ad un gruppo di bambini curiosi che sin dal momento del mio arrivo non mi avevano lasciato un attimo.
« il est arrivè le Muzungu » il grido fu lanciato da un bambino sentinella che non appena scorse il mio veicolo bianco che avanzava tra le capanne dei miserabili, come una sirena quel grido chiamò decine di bambini festosi ad accorrere per dare il benvenuto all’Uomo Bianco.

L’infermiere pareva non curarsi della presenza di quei bambini chiassosi che a turno si avvicinavano a me per prendermi la mano.
L’infermiere andava avanti con il suo elenco drammatico di sofferenze ed agonie.
Feriti, stupri, decessi erano all’ordine del giorno in questo campo di oltre 20.000 persone.
Ad un tratto il vagito di un neonato ci sorprese mentre paradossalmente ci eravamo fermati all’ingresso della camera mortuaria per fare il punto della situazione sui medicinali da inviare quanto prima.
Il suono veniva da una stanzetta adibita per le donne in stato avanzato di gravidanza.
Un telo serviva come porta ed era stato collocato all’ingresso di questa stanza buia adiacente all’ingresso del centro nutrizionale.
Il responsabile del centro di salute scostò leggermente il telo ed una infermiera accortasi della presenza dei due curiosi alzò la bambina appena nata per mostrarla ad un “muzungu” attonito.

Un evento cosi’ meraviglioso ed allo stesso tempo misterioso come puo’ essere la nascita di un bambino assume dei contorni ancora più spettacolari se avviene in teatri di Guerra civile e di inaudita sofferenza come possono essere i campi profughi del Congo.

Un lutto infinito che sembra non avere mai fine.
Una realtà che era già stata dipinta con inaudita ferocia dal grande scrittore polacco poi naturalizzato inglese, Joseph Conrad.
Il suo « Cuore di Tenebre » è senz’altro un viaggio dell’uomo nei suoi più reconditi angoli bui. Il Congo del XX secolo sembra non essere riuscito ancora ad uscire da queste tenebre che affligono milioni di congolesi di ogni etnia.

La guerra nell’Ituri dove le opposte fazioni degli Hema e dei Lendu lascio’ alla storia un innumerevole striscia di morte e distruzione è ancora lì fresco.
Non si è fatto in tempo ad appacificare l’Ituri, che il conflitto sembra sempre tornare a rinvigorirsi come di una forza nuova .
A turno le regioni si infiammano e le tribù tornano ad imbracciare i fucili e ricoprire di sangue questa terra. Ora è la volta del Kivu, domani chissà.

Il nome non importa, ciò che conta sembra essere che i conflitti diventino sempre più duri .

Un cancro nel cuore dell’Africa che si nutre dell’ignoranza e dell’ambizione di generali che cercano glorie incuranti del massacro di donne e bambini.
Uno dopo l’altro ambiscono al potere, raggiungono notorietà per essere a loro volta uccisi o deposti.
Un destino crudele ed alle volte persino comico.
Come è il caso della cittadina di Bukavu dove non appena fu deposto il famigerato Mobutu Sese Seko, la sua statua monumentale fu abbattuta per fare posto a quelli a venire.

Ma anche la vita sembra scorrere incurante di questi massacri. A Mugynga come in tutti gli altri campi del Nord Kivu le donne sono costantemente sotto minaccia di stupri e di ogni sorta di violenza. I loro aguzzini le attendono nella foresta nascosti tra gli alberi.
Sono immersi nel verde della rigogliosa foresta equatoriale, mentre gli incubi di Kurtz se ne stanno là, nella penombra, in attesa di colpire.

Nascosti nel buio, nel cuore selvaggio del Congo attendono le loro vittime come lupi.
E le loro vittime sembrano avere accettato questo fato, e come un girone dantesto non si riesce a porre fine a questo drama.
Opporsi sembra essere inutile e le vittime, ed i carnefici, lo sanno. Loro continuano a giocare il loro ruolo come attori e personaggi di una storia Pirandelliana.

Noi operatori umanitari spesso non li vediamo e forse non li vedremo mai.
Nei meeting di Ocha, l’ufficio per il coordinamento degli aiuti umanitari, riceviamo i dati di questo infinito dramma.
Ieri 15 donne stuprate, il giorno prima truppe governamentali che assaltano un villaggio per abbandonarsi ad un saccheggio.
Il tutto procede con la sua assurdità.
E l’uomo in tutto questo cosa fa?
L’Uomo si adatta, ci convive.
Nei campi profughi c’è di tutto. Dal barbiere, al « ristorante », al sarto, alle donne che vendono sassi , ad i bambini che ti attendono con un sacchetto per accompagnarti al mercato.
Tu cammini in mezzo a queste capanne che sembrano tutte uguali, e forse sono uguali.

Non c’è tempo per stupirsi o per chiedersi nulla. Alle 17.00 bisogna rientrare in città. Le strade sono ancora insicure.
Bande di soldati che da mesi non ricevono i salari si mischiano ai famigerati Hutu che da tempo agiscono in questo settore del Congo per stabilizzare la regione.
Ma per rendere ancora più complesso questo dramma ci sono poi le aspirazioni dei Banhamulenge, dei generali in cerca di fama e di gloria.

Si l’on se demande pourquoi il y a tant de problèmes en RDC, on n’a qu’à consulter la liste des articles à ce sujet sur le site web www.afrik.com

J’ai lu plusieurs articles intéressants ce matin, et j’ai découvert les nombreux groupes qui se battent en ce moment sur le sol congolais.  Actuellement il y a trois grandes opérations qui ont lieu. (et je sais que je simplie beaucoup les conflits)

1. Comme on le sait déjà, les armées congolaise, ougandaise et soudainaise poursuivent Joseph Kony et l’Armée de Résistance du Seigneur (ARL/LRA) dans l’Est congolais.

2. L’armée congolaise se bat avec les rebelles tutsi congolais tel que le groupe du Conseil national pour la défense du peuple (CNDP).  J’entends parler aussi des Maï-Maï, groupe tutsi pro-gouvernemental.  L’ancien chef du CNDP Laurent Nkunda a été arrêté au Rwanda la semaine dernière, après avoir été limogé par le nouveau leader du CNDP Bosco Ntaganda.  Et apparemment, le CNDP participe avec l’armée congolaise dans le conflit ci-dessous.  Lire les articles: http://www.afrik.com/article16135.html, http://www.afrik.com/article16169.html

3. L’armée congolaise s’est allié avec le Rwanda à la poursuite des rebelles hutu rwandais des Forces démocratiques de libération du Rwanda (FDRL).  Apparemment on a réussi à son but de rapatrier plus de 6 000 rebelles hutu du génocide rwandais de 1994.  Lire l’article: http://www.afrik.com/article16326.html

La présence de tant de troupes étrangères exacerbe les problèmes à  l’intérieur du Congo qui existaient bien avant l’entrée des autres pays africains.  Ces pays interviennent souvent contré le gré du gouvernement de Kinshasa mais aussi à  l’invitation de l’Etat congolais.  On ne peut pas résoudre tous les problèmes en même temps.  Et peut-être ne peut-on  résoudre aucun problème…

I don’t even know where to begin when it comes to this subject. I guess it started because my husband had to write a paper on genocide. He chose the current situation in the Eastern Congo, but couldn’t decide what aspect to write about. Looking through his info I found out about the war against women that is happening right now in the DRC.

Besides actual death, women are terrorized with the fear of sexual assault and the resulting pregnancies, HIV/AIDS infections, exile from their families, incontinence, and death of their spirit. Rape, sexual slavery, and violence are a daily occurrence… females as young as six and as old as seventy have reported being gang raped. In a period of six months in 2003, one medical clinic received over 550 sexual violence victims. In South Kivu 40 women are raped daily. These are extremely disturbing statistics. And probably not even completely accurate, because if they don’t have to, these women do not report what happened to them. They are too ashamed and scared that there families will no longer want them.

This is a little bit of a special that was on HBO about the Women of the Congo.

And here is one of the soldiers explaining why they rape. This is just one group… there are over 11 fighting, and all have different reasons why they are raping their women and children.

Here is one woman’s awful story:
Shami Alubu, 21, came out of the jungle and back to the town of Kibombo last year, although she can’t go home. In early 2002, while working in her fields, she was snatched by Mai Mai militants, who dragged her into town, then kept her there for a full day, beating and raping her with guns and sticks. The whole time, she was within earshot of her 7-month-old son Florent, who was sobbing wildly. When it was over, she limped back to her house — but at the sight of her, her husband ordered her away. “It was like he thought I wanted to go with the Mai Mai,” Shami says bitterly.

Isn’t this just so disgusting? The men in this region have let themselves turn into animals over a war that wasn’t theirs to fight in the first place. It moved into the Congo from Rwanda and many of the arms used by the militias were provided by the United Nations.

Another interesting quote- “When the United States assumes the Presidency of the Security Council next month, in January 2000 – the first month of the first year of the new millennium – I wish to announce today that we intend to make Africa the priority of the month.” U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations Richard Holbrooke Pretoria, South Africa, Dec. 6, 1999 In case you were wondering, about 4 million people have died in the DRC since this statement was made.

And, Since the outbreak of fighting in August 1998,
* Some 5.4 million people have died
* It has been the world’s deadliest conflict since World War II
* The vast majority have actually died from non-violent causes such as malaria, diarrhea, pneumonia and malnutrition—all typically preventable in normal circumstances, but have come about because of the conflict
* Although 19% of the population, children account for 47% of the deaths
* Although many have returned home as violence has slightly decreased, there are still some 1.5 million internally displaced or refugees
* Some 45,000 continue to die each month
It should be painfully obvious to everyone that these people need our help. And a lot more then some countries we are currently “liberating”. The problem is our government doesn’t see big dollar signs, so why bother helping. Hopefully our efforts will be put to better use with the change in office…. we’ll see though.

For More Info:
Stop Raping Our Greatest Resource
Peace Women
Amnesty International
International Rescue Committee
Congo Women
Women of the Congo
Women for Women
MSF International

Moonstruck Mommy

Engagées dans le processus d’intégration dans l’armée nationale, les milices Mai-Mai ont vite fait de se débarrasser de près de 200 enfants soldats. La Monuc, Mission de l’ONU au Congo, s’est félicitée de ce nouveau développement de la situation au Nord-Kivu.
On doit reconnaître que les milices Mai-Mai n’avaient aucune alternative, ne pouvant pas se permettre de présenter comme “soldats” à intégrer dans les FARDC, des “enfants” dont certains avaient été, selon la Monuc, enrôlés par ces milices depuis une dizaine d’année. Quel age pouvait avoir des enfants aujourd’hui “libérés” au moment de leur enrôlement? Pas plus de dix ans d’âge pour certains d’entre eux.
On note également que le procès Thomas Lubanga devant la CPI et les menaces d’arrestation de Bosco Ntaganda pour des crimes liés à l’enrôlement des enfants dans la milice de l’UPC en Ituri ont eu un effet bénéfique. De nombreux seigneurs de guerre dont des chefs de milices Mai-Mai ont certainement peur de se retrouver dans le collimateur de Luis Moreno Ocampo, le procureur de la Cour pénale internationale.
Tant mieux pour nous si ces chefs de milices comprenennt enfin qu’ils étaient engagés dans l’illégalité. Mais on sait que les crimes qui sont de la compétence de la CPI ne sont pas imprescriptibles et que donc la CPI pourrait toujours se saisir de ces chefs de guerre. Ce serait tout de même une question d’équité. Si Thomas Lubanga peut être poursuivi pour ces crimes d’enrôlement des enfants de moins de 15 ans dans sa milice, pourquoi les autres devraient-ils y échapper, d’autant plus que ces enfants ont participé aux nombreux conflits armés qui ont marqué le Kivu depuis 1996. Comme quoi, la peur du gendarme est le commencement de la sagesse pour ces seigneurs de guerre.
Franck Baku

 per accedere all’articolo originale di peacereporter, clicca qui

L’Unicef spera di riuscire a ottenere la liberazione di almeno 1.500 bambini
“Un totale di 85 bambini dai 7 ai 17 anni sono stati liberati nei giorni scorsi dalle milizie Mai-mai”, ha annunciato Veronique Taveau, portavoce dell’Unicef.

La liberazione è avvenuta nella zona del Nord Kivu, regione orientale della Repubblica Democratica del Congo, teatro di sanguinosi scontri tra esercito governativo e milizie ribelli. La liberazione degli 85 bambini è avvenuta gradualmente: “Un primo gruppo di 65 minorenni, tra i quali due bambine, sono stati liberati giovedì. Altri 20, tra i quali tre bambine, sono stati liberati domenica. Tutti erano affamati, traumatizzati e spaventati” e adesso sono stati trasferiti a Goma, presso un centro di smobilitazione dell’Unicef. E’ partita la ricerca dei familiari dei bambini liberati, ma la Taveau ha sottolineato che si tratterà di un “processo lungo e lento”. L’azione dell’Unicef per ottenere la liberazione di altri bambini soldato andrà avanti: “Speriamo di poter ottenere la liberazione di un numero significativo, circa 1.500 bambini”. Le stime ufficiali delle Nazioni Unite parlano di almeno duemila bambini in mano alle milizie nel Nord Kivu.

When I read the breaking headline that Nkunda had been arrested, and by Rwandan forces to boot, I immediately thought that Rwanda and Congo had cut a deal. I was more than a little surprised to see that Rwandan troops had been allowed into greater Kivu to take out the FDLR, or remnants of the Interhamwe and ex-Forces Armées Rwandaises who carried out the genocide in 1994. Especially given the fact that Kinshasa has had very tumultuous relations with Kinshasa late due to the collusion between Kigali and Nkunda, the Congolese Tutsi general who rebelled and has been giving Kinshasa a lot of problems in Kivu these days, especially around Goma.

Apparently, I’m not the only one who thinks a deal was made, since John Prendergast from the ICG says as much at the end of the Times article today:

Gen. Laurent Nkunda, the fearsome Congolese rebel leader whose national ambitions and brutal tactics threatened to destabilize eastern Congo, was arrested Thursday night along the Congolese-Rwandan border, United Nations officials said on Friday.

According to the U.N. officials and statements made by the Congolese military, General Nkunda was trying to escape a joint Congolese-Rwandan military offensive that was intended to wipe out several rebel groups terrorizing eastern Congo.

He was captured at a small border town called Bunagana after trying to resist Rwandan troops. “He’s going to Kigali,” said Lt. Col. Jean-Paul Dietrich, a U.N. spokesman, referring to Rwanda’s capital.

The arrest could be a turning point for Congo, which has been mired in rebellion and bloodshed for much of the past decade. It was also a stunning turn of events because Rwanda had recently been accused of supporting General Nkunda, who was widely considered to be an agent for Rwandan business and security interests in eastern Congo.

Although he never controlled more than a few small towns in the verdant east, he was widely considered to be Congo’s No. 1 troublemaker. His troops are tough and brutal and were recently accused by United Nations officials of massacring civilians.

General Nkunda was also believed to harbor ambitions to overthrow Congo’s weak but democratically elected government, which threatened to draw in Congo’s neighbors and plunge the entire central Africa region back into war.

On Thursday evening, hundreds of Rwandan troops converged on Bunagana, one of General Nkunda’s mountain strongholds. Congolese officials said he refused to be arrested and crossed over into Rwanda, where he was surrounded and taken into custody, apparently without violence.

It was not clear what will happen to General Nkunda now. Earlier this week, Rwanda sent several thousand soldiers into Congo as part of a joint operation with Congolese forces to flush out Hutu militants who had killed countless people in Rwanda’s genocide in 1994 and were still haunting the hills on the Congolese side of the border.

But few expected the Rwandan troops to go after General Nkunda. He is a Tutsi, like Rwanda’s leaders, and he had risen to power by fighting these same Hutu militants. A United Nations report in December accused high-ranking Rwandan officials of sending money and troops to General Nkunda.

[...]

“Rwanda and Congo have cut a deal,” said John Prendergast, a founder of the Washington-based Enough Project, which campaigns against genocide. He said Congo had allowed Rwanda to send in troops to vanquish the Hutu militants, something Rwanda has been eager to do for some time.

“In exchange, the Congolese expected Rwanda to neutralize Nkunda and his overly ambitious agenda,” Mr. Prendergast said. “Now the hard part begins.”

Of course, alliances in Central Africa are mutable and often give rise to strange bedfellows and friends turned bitter rivals. Kampala and Kigali have been allies and enemies, I can never seem to tell which of the many sides the various Mai Mai militias are on, and Kabila père saw a drastic change in relations with the Ugandans and Rwandans who helped put him in power just to try to overthrow him a couple of years later. All this to say that the dynamics of the conflicts in this region are anything but static, so we’ll see what the newest twist will bring.

By the by, I picked up a review copy of  Lemarchand’s The Dynamics of Violence in Central Africa. I haven’t had time to read much, but one thing from the introduction did strike me: he considers it a given that Kagame was involved in the assassination of Habyarimana, which sparked the genocide in 1994. This is a claim that I’m not at all sure of, and if anything, the fact that France supports it so vehemently makes me  doubt it that much more.

Suntem teferi.Asta pentru cei care ma iubesc si-si faceau probleme sa nu patim ceva    Totul a mers cam asa….

La 10 a venit vecinul instalatorului,cu propriile-i scule ,inclusiv cu lampa de gaz,pentru care ,al meu ,cumpara de dimineata o butelie.Cand sa racordeze arzatorul la butelie,sau invers,ma rog…habar n-am,ceva nu era in ordine,ca vad ca fug amandoi pe scari in jos,afara din casa,ca arzatorul vecinului era…cam inghetat,dar totodata curgea din el gaz lichid,daca pot sa spun asa,facand abstractie de meseria mea, era cam defect,deci cu probleme.I-am dat apa calda sa-l dezghete,dar nimic..intre timp al meu fugi la Practic si-si cumpara un arzator si inc-o butelie,sa fie!

Si au inceput demolarea izolatiei doar pe la coturi..nimic,apoi au demolat si izolatie de pe vas,ca presupunea inghetul in apa din vasul cel mare.Eu stateam cu mana pe conducte,pe doua din ele,ca-s trei,deci pe tur si retur si era numai turul fierbinte.Au mai muncit ei pe acolo,pret de 2 ore in total,timp in care mesterul(caci e mester,ce mai in colo si-n coace,am aflat chiar ca are o pensie babana de tot,de bun ce-a fost pe vremuri… )a plimbat flacara de-a lungul conductei,in coace si-n colo,in mai multe puncte ale conductei,pe la coturi si pe unde a crezut el c-ar fi gheata,cand apa calda a inceput sa vina si pe retur.(nu este vorba de returul din calorifere,sa ne intelegem,in casa avem caldura,mie mi-e chiar prea cald,insa legatura cu vasul de expansiune,asta era blocata).Hai,ca explic de poate pricepe si un copil,    .

Deci asa se dezgheata o conducta,cu flacara de gaz, provenita dintr-un arzator cu butelie (arzator din ala de parlit porcii),care este plimbata pe conducta,incet si cu rabdare.Raspund celor care intra aici si pun astfel de intrebari.Cred ca cu frigurile astea prelungite multa lume a avut de furca cu conducte inghetate.La munte a inghetat si conducta de apa rece.Noi inchidem la inceputul iernii acea conducta,de la robinetul din curte.

Acum trebuie refacuta izolatia stricata,dar sotul meu nu este inca cranch,sau cum se scrie,ca n-a luat decat una mica,asa fiind obiceiul cand ai mesteri la treaba,trebuie sa inchini cu ei,ca altfel nu tine…lucrarea 

Ce sa va spun de compotul meu,ca avu un mare succes,i-am dat lu’nenea sambata un compot de pere si un otet de mere si azi mi-a spus ca n-a mai mancat asa compot bun,desi si nevasta-sa face…parsiv,ca stia ce-nseamna lauda,asa ca azi s-a mai ales cu un compot de piesici si cu o dulceata de capsuni.Cand l-am intrebat daca i-a placut nevestei lui compotul meu mi-a zis ca nici nu i l-a arata,hahahaha,de unde am tras concluzia ca…chiar era bun.

Multumescu-ti tie Doamne ca nu a trebuit sa folosim galetile cu apa si cu carpe pregatite prin jur pentru o eventualitate nefasta.De acum sotul meu poate ca o sa lase robinetul ala deschis tot timpul,ca asa ar fi trebuit,dar el e genul care se scumpeste la tarate.Noroc ca ma are pe mine care fac compot bun.

un necaz nu vine niciodata singur, pe cand mi se imbolnavise una din orhidee eram deja cu  capsele puse ,amandoi traitorii din aceasta casa, incalzita cu o centrala termica veche si la care nu am renuntat asa cum facusera multi altii ,dupa ce-au aparut centralele astea cu pornire elecrica.Acuma..faptul ca centrala este veche nu-i atat de rau pe cat faptul ca instalatorul,nenea care era artist in astfel de centrale prin anii 80,in acest oras,a plecat definitiv dintre noi,Dumnezeu sa-l odihneasca!Norocul nostru este mare totusi,ca inainte de a muri el,cu vreo 2 ani,ni s-a terminat soba,aceea in care arde focul,e din tabla groasa si are prin ea niste serpentine prin care circula apa ca sa se incalzeasca.Nu era din inox,asa ca am zis eu ca d-aia curge,asa ca ne-o facut domnu instalator alta soba,de data aia, din inox si eram fericiti,nu vroiam s-o inlocuim cu de-astea moderne,ca eu nu prea am incredere in lucru  nou,decat daca l-am probat.

Acum,desi n-au fost -31 grade C ca in alte ierni…pe vremuri,totusi,fiind temperaturi negative o lunga perioada, a inghetat apa pe acolo prin pod unde este vasul de expansiune.Doamneeee,ce-am mai tras!!Nu,nu la propriu ci de la zgomotele pe care le facea al meu,sus-jos,nervos,tropaind cand mi-era somnul mai…la final sau la-nceput.Ziua,in amiaza mare era liniste.Cum se insera,incepea nelinistea si-i veneau ideile,ca ce sa faca sa rezolve situatia.Ma rog,vasul acela este izolat termic,deci putea actiona doar pe la un robinet,dar cu ce credeti ca a incercat??Hmm?Cu foenul meu,la temperatura maxima ,dat.Nici vorba sa se dezghete,atat cat sa porneasca de jos in sus apa calda,desi la un moment dat se parea ca o ia,ca circula apa calda si pe acolo unde zicea ca-i inghetata,ca se modifica presiune.Dar,veni iar seara,asa ca…de cateva zile ne omoram nervii,cautam solutii,mi-a facut mie schita sa-i explic de ce scade presiunea aia de la  0,7 la 0,4,eu m-am straduit sa-mi amintesc dar i-am zis ca mai bine l-ar suna pe…Bernoulli,ca-i mai sigur raspunsul,iar daca nu raspunde Bernoulli,sa-l sune pe Petre Roman,poate are el solutia salvatoare,ca Iliescu vorbeste in dodii si pana-l bagi in meandrele…concretului inghetului apei din vasul cu pricina,pana zice el toata conferinta aia de nu te alegi cu nimic din ea,vine primavara.Asa ca  nervosul si dragalasul meu sot,pana la urma ma asculta si-l suna pe vecinul instalatorului,ca stiti cum este la noi,daca locuiesti langa specialist este imposibil sa nu te molipsesti si tu de meseria lui,c-asa-i la noi,pe aici.Na…si cand veni vecinul,eu tocmai eram catarata si spalam varful lamaiului de …praf,iar dumnealui,dupa ce a consultat cu atentie vasul de expansiune si vazu care-i problema,cu ochii lui, a propus sa incalzim vasul,dar nu cu foenul ci cu gaz de la o butelie,din alea de noi nu avem.Acuma,du-te Costica si cumpara butelie,dar fiind inchis,sambata inchide la Practic la 2 pm,asa ca mi-a mai venit inima la loc ca tare mi-e mie frica sa umblam cu foc deschis in pod unde izolatia de baza,,sunt chestii usor inflamabile.Oooffff,Doamne,desi eu nu-s omul trecutului acum regret ca atunci cand s-a facut instalatia asta eram atat de ocupata cu producerea firfireilor cu care s-o platim ca ,daca stiam ca nu se poate umbla la ea,ii ziceam sa puna vasul acesta pe tavanul din baia de sus,era suficient…suficient de inestetic,insa foarte util.

Sa nu uit sa trec pe lista de maine si un …extinctor.

I was in the OCHA security meeting today. Among other informations, we were told that a woman in Rutshuru had traumatically lost an eye while ressisting rape. Also a father and his son were killed in this town. In Bwito, several cases of forced recruitment of children by armed forces have been noticed. Many children hide day and night in the forests in order to avoid forced recruitment,as it is the case now between Katiru and Bangu. Also many cases of men forced to work for soldiers have been reported. There are also reports of women taken by mai mai and PARECO forces in order to be used as sexual slaves.

Meanwhile, PARECO and Mai Mai soldiers seem to be in Kukuku, while FARDC forces are now coming from the North, from Kanyabayonga towards Kibirizi. They are presently in Bulimbi. FARDC is also redeploying its forces in Bishumbi and Ishasa areas. There were also combats registered in Kishishe, Masisi, were IDPs had to escape to hide in the forests. Situation in this area remains difficult as Reuters reports.

While all this happens, the international community considers that the situation is “slightly better” (Javier Solana dixit).

One of the aspects of recent Congo coverage that has been woefully lacking is discussion of the Mai Mai, not to be confused with the Mau Mau of Kenya. Gettleman has a piece in today’s Times about the Mai Mai, which is a blanket term used to describe the local militias of Eastern Congo sometimes referred to as the Forces d’Autodéfense Populaire. This group is described by Congolese researcher Georges Nzongola-Ntalaja, in his people’s history of the Congo as such:

Their rise in 1993 was tied to conditions of political turmoil and economic crisis in which the increasingly large number of school drop-outs and other young men with nothing to do and no hope for further education or wage employment found a life of excitement in armed bands. Originally local militias organized to defend encroachment by outsiders, these fighters have grown so much in both organizational and operational capacity that they have become a major social force. Unfortunately, they lack the kind of leadership and training necessary to aquire political discipline and a scientific understanding of reality; to liquidate … “remnants of tribal mentality;” and to abandon “those rites and practices which are incompatible with the rational and national character of the struggle” (pp. 242-3).

The rites and practices mentioned by Nzongola-Ntalaja are the magic that makes up the bulk of the coverage of Mai Mai groups, when they’re mentioned at all in the western media. Just like Hezbollah is the sexy side of Lebanese politics, magical potions make for salacious news coverage. Much of Gettleman’s piece today, for example, focuses on this aspect of the Mai Mai. He doesn’t tell us which Mai Mai group the story is about or which ethnic group it represents, but he does spend the first quarter (or even third) of his article talking about magic.

The Mai Mai are an unorganized collection of local ethnic militias that have fought on many of the sides of the most recent conflicts in Eastern Congo. The catch-all phrase Mai Mai makes them sound much more unified than they actually are. There are a lot of ins and outs to these groups that bring to forefront larger issues in the Congo. For instance, the fact that they are usually called “local” is generally in opposition to Banyamulenge (often a catch-all term for Congolese Tutsi), whose Congolese bonafides are often called into question, implying that they are Rwandan or Burundian interlopers. The question of what it means to be Congolese in Greater Kivu is a complex and interesting question that I won’t get into right now.

What I will say is that the Mai Mai are important actors in the Congolese conflicts in the East, and the media owes us better coverage of their roles in the larger war and the most recent conflagration. This means less magic and more meat in news coverage. I know that the local color of magical potions makes for great copy, but it doesn’t help us understand what’s actually happening in the Congo.

Have you ever seen movies like “Hotel Rwanda” or “Last King of Scotland” (of course there are some more, these just seem to be the most known) ? Movies that tried to open our eyes on the terror, civilian killing and ongoing war in Africa. I guess most of you did see them. I naturally estimate that if you are reading this blog, you must be at last curious about the serious matters concerning international or racial conflicts.

Flooded by all the economical crisis news, big banks drop outs and our favourite sport events, very little news about the fighting in Congo are shyly emerging in global media. “The Topic is not catchy any more” I heard from one of my friends working for a big German newspaper. People in Europe do not care about Africa when they are facing the huge Banking Sector money avalanche, that caused already trouble in most of the European countries. In some of them it even reached critical level, like in Island which needs now international money loans. The United States had their own Civil War, more commonly known as the US presidential campaign, or they in general just assume Africa to be a far land with dragons still living there.

Albeit, war, slaughters of civilians, people in flight, rapes, violence are still serious matters that have to be spoken about, on and on and on, until we finally won’t have to speak about it ever again. You and me personally can do nothing about it, we have our lives, we have our problems. That is true somehow, because we can not do it directly, but yes we have the influence! We have the choice to remember, to speak about it, to make all the conflicts a main topic of the public opinion discussion.

Yes we have to do it, not just because we are so civilized and full of empathy, not just because helping is a “must” in our religion or believes. We have to do it, because every single one of us would have wanted that help if he were in that situation.  And if we start seeing problems of Africa, as our problems, as the human race problems, then we can make all the politicians act, act as our representatives, because that is why we have chosen them in first place. So yes we have influence.

Just believe it!

Now I would like to say a few words about the Conflict in Congo.

The fightings in the Democratic Republic of Congo is an echo of the Rwandan Hutu and Tutsi tribes conflict. This time it concerns two sides The Government of DRC, actually more likely the Mai Mai militia backed by the Government and the Laurent Nkunda rebel forces.

The fighting between those two militias and occurring local paramilitary groups or just mere bandits take a huge death toll among civilians in eastern Congo. This region of the country remains under Nkundas control.

Civilian people living on the side of the conflict, are moved by force out of their villages or just killed in brutal acts of chaos so common in the militias behaviour. Most of the casualties are the effect of the battle front shooting between the Mai Mai and Nkundas rebels, but many more are executed by each side after a ‘clearing’ of a town, in which people are believed to be supporters of the opposing sides of the conflict.

Neither the Government or Nukunda admit to have any responsibility of the deaths of civilians, in fact they deny United Nation fact sheets about the casualties. However the mass graves emerging in each town dragged into the conflict tell a very different story.

The UN answer to the Congese problem was presented on the summit in Nairobi (Kenya), where most of the regional leaders including Congolese President Joseph Kabila and the presidents of Congo’s neighbouring countries Paul Kagame of Rwanda, Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania, and Yoweri Kaguta Museveni of Uganda met with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. (Nkunda was not present)

Ban stated that it is actually impossible to enlarge the UN forces in the region, as it is already the biggest United Nations mission (17 000 peacekeepers). The conflict should be resolved by the cooperation of local leaders and the African Union, they should put all their effort into peace talks and try to maintain the cease fire.

It is also nessesary to stop to foreign support for Nkundas rebel forces, which is actually believed to flow from Rwanda. Rwanda president Paul Kagame denies that and assures about full support of his country in resolving  the conflict.

MP