Residents of Democratic Republic of Congo's restive northKivu province are sharply criticizing President Joseph Kabila's administrationafter opposing the presence of Indian peacekeepers there. The government in aletter to the United Nations Secretary general Thursday it accused the Indianpeacekeepers of committing abuses. It adds that it strongly opposes additionalIndian troops in the country as part of the United Nations Security Councilsurge proposal to enforce UN peace initiative. But some security expertscondemn the government's move saying the absence of logistics from the Indiantroops would worsen the military instability in the country. From the easternDRC town of Bukavu, political analyst Shamave Miruho tells reporter PeterClottey there has been mixed reaction among Congolese about the government'sopposition to Indian troops.
"Thereare many people who like the Indians to go on acting in Congo because theUnited Nations Mission in the DRC, MONUC has done a lot of things, verypositive things in the country. For example they helped us to conduct theelection and they helped us stop Nkunda from taking control of some of thetowns and one such as the recent fighting in Goma. So, for this many peoplethink that well the UN forces are there generally and are doing a lot of greatthings. But on the other hand think that the problems are still there and havenot been solved so far because Nkunda is there and thousands of people havelost their lives," Miruho said.
Hesaid some Congolese are displeased with Indian troop who they describe as notbeen efficient.
"Veryrecently thousand of people were killed while they were near the UN camps andthey didn't do anything. And that is the reason why people think that if moretrips should be brought back to Congo, they shouldn't be Indian troops. Theyshould bring troops from other countries maybe for more strength and to bring somenew force to the mission because maybe the Indians have not been able to dowhat the population expected," he pointed out.
Miruhosaid some Congolese have been wondering why India is the only country that issupporting the UN mission there with logistical air support.
"Theopinion of the common people on the street, and they have been asking somequestions that is it only India who may avail logistical support to the UN? Isthere any other country, which can intervene? For example in the Europeanmembers who can intervene, but why don't they intervene? These are thequestions that the common people are asking themselves?" Miruho asked.
Hesaid there was need for President Kabila's to work more closely with the UNpeace initiative in the country.
"Ithink the Congolese government should collaborate with the UN in order to seewhich other country will avail its logistics in order to come and help theCongolese government because a number of allegations were made against Indiantroops. That they were involved in maybe sexual abuse and maybe in the trafficof minerals and so on although the results of the investigation has not beenpublished. But you know the people and the government have the feeling thatsomething has not been done in the right way," he noted.
Thedecision of President Kabila's government is expected to deeply embarrass theUnited Nations, which has about 44000 peace keeping troops in the DRC, alldeployed in the restive north Kivu province. India by far has the largestcontribution of soldiers to the UN mission in the DRC (MONUC). India has so farcontributed the largest amount of troops of about 12000 that reinforces theUnited Nations mission in the DRC. It also provides all the helicopter gunship(air power) of the UN mission.