On December 21, 1998, the Congolese Community of Los Angeles and the Friends of the Congo in Southern California have files a petition to the Secretary General of the United Nations to condemn the invasion of the Democratic Republic of the Congo by Tutsi extremist governments of Rwanda, Uganda and Burundi and to denounce the failure by the United Nations to act appropriately in violation of its founding mission and its own charter.
For information, please contact Mokwala at (213) 427-8439
The following is the text of the petition in its integrity.
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To Honorable Kofi Annan
Secretary General of
the United Nations
and Burundi
copies to the UN Security Council, governments of Rwanda and Uganda
Dear Mr. Secretary General:
The Congolese Community of Los Angeles and the Friends of Congo in Southern California urgently bring to your attention the following:
I. On August 2, 1998, Rwanda, Uganda, and later Burundi invaded the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This act of aggression is a flagrant violation of the following provisions of the United Nations Charter:
Chapter I, article 2 (3): " All members shall settle their international dispute by peaceful means in such a manner that International Peace and Security and Justice are not endangered"
Chapter I, article 2 (4): All members shall refrain in their international relation from the threat or use of force against territorial integrity or political independence of any State, or in any other manner inconsistent with the purposes of the United Nations"
Chapter VI, article 33 (1): " All parties to any dispute, the continuance of which is likely to endanger the maintenance of International Peace and Security shall, first of all, seek a solution by negotiation, mediation, conciliation, arbitration, judicial settlement, resort to regional agencies or arrangements, or other peaceful means of their own choice".
Chapter VI, article 35 (1): " Any member of the United Nations may bring any dispute, or any situation of the nature referred to in article 34 to the attention of the Security Council and the General Assembly"
II. Although the evidence of their aggression is overwhelming and that these three countries have publicly admitted their aggression against the Congo, the United Nations, including the General Assembly and the Security Council, failed denounce, condemn, or take appropriate actions against these countries as mandated by UN Charter. By failing to act, the United Nations has committed great prejudice against the people of the Congo and has therefore violated its founding mission as well as the following provisions of its own charter:
Chapter I, article I (1) and (2): " Purposes and Principles"
Chapter V, article 24 (1) and (2): " Functions and Powers of the Security Council"
Chapter VII, article 39 (1): " Actions with respect to threats to peace, breaches of peace and acts of aggression"
We believe there is no reason, whether justifiable or not, to support the violation of the UN founding mission and of its charter.
In light of the above, we, Congolese of Los Angeles and Friends of the Congo in Southern California,
- Considering that Rwanda, Uganda and Burundi are members of the United Nations. As such, they have agreed to adhere to the principles stipulated in the above referenced provisions
- Considering the irrefutable evidence of their aggression
- Considering the support given to this aggression by certain super powers, particularly the United States
- Considering the violation by the United Nations of its own charter
- Considering the unecessary suffering and losses caused to the Congo and its people
DEMAND THE FOLLOWING:
-To the UN and all international bodies to respect and implement all clauses and principles set forth in the UN charter without bias
- An unequivocal condemnation by the UN of the invasion of Congo by Rwanda, Uganda and Burundi
- The immediate and unconditional pullout by Rwanda, Uganda and Burundi from the Congo
- The reparation by Rwanda, Uganda and Burundi for all the suffering and losses incurred by the Democratic Republic of Congo and its people
- That an immediate arm embargo be imposed on Rwanda, Uganda and Burundi as well as a ban on all military training currently provided by the United States under such programs as The African Crisis Initiative, the International Military Education and Training, the Joint Combined Exchange Training and the Rwanda Interagency Assessment Team
- A coordinated and immediate humanitarian relief, i.e, medicine, food supplies, housing and sanitation to assist the people of the Congo
WE INVITE the international community to objectively help in finding durable solutions not only in the Congo, but in the entire Great Lakes region. A permanent solution should include the establishment of intergral Democracy and capacity building institutions in all countries in the region, including in Rwanda, Uganda and Burundi.
WE THANK the governments of Zimbabwe, Angola, Namibia and Tchad for their unconditional support to the people of the Congo and for upholding the United Nations mission and principles.
Respectfully,