The Terror Crusade Moves On to the Congo

Via NY Transfer News * All the News That Doesn't Fit

Reuters via Yahoo - June 13, 2002


U.S. to Hunt Down "Suspects" Fueling Congo's War 

ROME (Reuters) - The United States is to launch a campaign next month
to hunt down "terror" suspects it believes are responsible for
fueling the war in Congo and for the deaths of U.S. and British
citizens in Uganda three years ago.

With rewards of up to $5 million for information leading to their
arrest, U.S. authorities said on Thursday they were absolutely
determined to bring the perpetrators to justice.

"We are prepared to be as aggressive as possible in tracking these
people down," Pierre-Richard Prosper, U.S. ambassador-at-large on war
crimes issues, told reporters after talks with Congolese President
Joseph Kabila.

"Our target right now is a group of 15 or so individuals who we
believe play a key leadership role in funding, fueling and commanding
the conflict in Congo," he said.

"These at-large indictees also form the leadership of a terrorist
group, the Army for the Liberation of Rwanda (ALIR), a group that is
linked to the killing of American and British citizens in Bwindi
National Park in Uganda in 1999."

Americans may be dispatched to central Africa to help investigate and
pursue the suspects, he suggested, but the bulk of the operation
would be carried out by Congolese authorities on the ground, with the
U.S. providing an overseeing role.

"There will have to be U.S. people that monitor the overall program
and are active in some form or other in the country, but I don't want
to discuss the details," he said.

Prosper, who has also launched a campaign to hunt down those behind
the 1994 Rwandan genocide, said he had complete backing from Kabila
for the operation, which is set to begin in July.

"I asked the president if we could work together to seek out these
individuals and bring them to justice, believing it would be a key
element to help return his country to peace and stability," Prosper
said. "The president supports the approach."

There are concerns an aggressive operation to root out Rwandan
suspects in Congo could aggravate tensions in the region, where at
least six neighboring countries are involved in the five-year
conflict in the Congo.

But Prosper said he also had the backing of Rwanda.

"We've spoken to Rwanda regarding this program and they are
supportive. They understand that we need to find peace in the region.
Rwanda needs to withdraw from the Congo and we believe this plan is a
key component to address that problem."

Prosper said any individuals arrested would be handed over to the
United Nations ( news - web sites) International Criminal Tribunal
for Rwanda, which is responsible for trying crimes against humanity,
war crimes and genocide.

 
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