[justify]A peasant group Mukulima KIJIJINI (The farmer in the community) that is formed by farmers in the Eastern Congo province of South Kivu composed mainly of ethnic Bashi is raising an alarm over what it calls suppression of its leadership. The group claims that there is a ploy by the Congolese Government to eliminate Bashi leaders who are not Kabila sympathizers.
The call for attention seen by this writer raises an alarm over the kidnapping, detention and assassination of prominent Bashi individual whose misfortunes have never been conclusively investigated by the Central government therefore implying that it (government) is responsible for the violations claim Mukulima Kijijini.
Mukulima Kijijini Spokesman Ruphin Bahati told this writer that the Bashi community in general has been victim of numerous government violations due to its refusal to cooperate with invasive foreign parties in the DR.Congo and what he calls desire by President Kabila’s government to silence the community over the occupation of its territory.
“They killed Floribert Chebeya, Serge Maheshe, Didas Namudjimbo, Pascal Kabungulu and lately the disappearance of our ethnic Prince MUHIGIRWA WAKABAMBI Christian. We have been asking and believe that we have the right to know as Congolese citizens why us and not others” Ruphin Bahati said on phone from Bukavu.
Floribert Chebeya dubbed by the United Nations as the “Champion of Human right” was a Human Rights Activists from the Bashi ethnic group who was brutally killed alongside his driver. His death prompted over 50 international organizations to call for an investigation which is inconclusive at this point. Serge Maheshe and Didas Namujimbo were journalists working with the U.N owned Radio Okapi in the Congo.
Prince MUHIGIRWA WAKABAMBI Christian a decision maker in Luhwindja kingdom has been missing since September 2011. According to Ruphin Bahati, his disparition has been linked to a Gold Mining conflict between two mining corporation that operate in the Kingdom. One company is linked to powerful government forces and vows to take over all mining reserves in the Kingdom.
Christian MUHIGIRWA WAKABAMBI who served as secretary general of one of the company has been the most vocal and even held political interests against the sitting government. Ruphin Bahati thinks that his outspokenness and political interests rubbed the government the wrong way. Things did not stop there as his wife whereabouts are unknown and after his Mother in law house in Goma (North Kivu) that served as hideout was ransacked last August.
“Since his disappearance, South Kivu governor Marcellin Shishambo promised to investigate and bring to book those responsible. Until today, we have been kept in the dark just like in Chebeya case. If he is dead, why can’t they give us his remains so that we can give him a decent burial?” Ruphin Bahati concluded
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