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Monuc Condemns Supreme Court Vandalism

United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (Kinshasa)
NEWS
November 22, 2006
Posted to the web November 22, 2006

By Eoin Young

At the weekly press briefing on November 22, 2006, MONUC condemned the
vandalism of yesterday's violent Supreme Court protest, which left the court
badly damaged, and disrupted legal proceeding on claims of election
irregularities by presidential candidate J.P. Bemba.
The Court was badly damaged by an angry mob of 200 pro-Bemba supporters, who
were involved in violent protests with the police that subsequently led to the
building being set ablaze.
"MONUC strongly deplores and condemns this armed and violent incident, as well
as the acts of vandalism on the Supreme Court yesterday," MONUC spokesman Kemal
Saiki said.
"A lot of blood has already been spilt in this country, and the Congolese have
understood and accepted that the 'hatchet must be buried'. MONUC reminds those
who refuse to understand this, that protests can only be held by peaceful and
legal means, through the rule of law," he added.
MONUC praised the exemplary actions of the forces of law and order, as a tense
and violent situation was defused by the arrival of MONUC troops, and the
'exemplary actions' of the Congolese National Police meant that there was no
one killed or injured yesterday.
In addition, MONUC reiterated its appeal to the Congolese people to remain
calm, so that the democratic processes are allowed to progress, without
recourse to violence.
"Legal procedures exist for contesting the election results. The political
leaders have the responsibility to appeal to the population, especially their
own supporters to stay calm and respect the verdict of the ballots," Mr. Saiki
underlined.
A joint commission of enquiry, comprising of MONUC, the DRC prosecutors office,
and the Congolese National Police, are already investigating the events
surrounding the arson attacks on the Supreme Court, and their findings are
expected in the next few days.
Meanwhile, the plight of children in DRC, particularly street children, was
also emphasised at today's press conference.
MONUC deputy spokesperson Jean Tobie Okala said that street children are often
the victims of arbitrary arrest and the attendant violence that goes with it.
"MONUC and its Child Protection division want to remind the Congolese people
and the authorities of avoiding the tendency to accuse street children of all
the problems of insecurity, especially in Kinshasa." he said.


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