Below is a press release by the Democratic Liberation Forces of Rwanda (FDLR), a Rwandan opposition group based in Paris, on the current crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
FDLR PRESS RELEASE No. 01/SE/CD/JANUARY/2009
The FDLR condemn any declaration of war to solve political problems: for the resolution of the Rwandan political problem, an inter-Rwandan dialogue should not continue to be a taboo.
Following the report of the Council of Ministers of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) that the Congolese government has opted to carry out forced disarmament of the Democratic Liberation Forces of Rwanda (FDLR) in collaboration with the soldiers of the Rwandan Patriotic Army, the FDLR wish to declare to the public and the International Community the following:
The FDLR strongly condemn the various wars that have ravaged and still continue to mourn the Great Lakes region of Africa since 1st October 1990 with the attack on Rwanda by the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF-Inkotanyi) and condemn once again in the strongest terms the various wars that have ravaged the Congolese people, particularly the ongoing war in the Eastern Province and in North Kivu.
The FDLR are in no way responsible for these wars and are not involved in the ongoing fighting taking place in Eastern DRC under the leadership of the puppet of the Kigali regime i.e. Laurent Nkundabatware and Bosco Ntaganda.
The FDLR remind the Congolese government and the entire International Community especially the UN Security Council, the European Union and the African Union that they are convinced that confrontation can in no way solve the African Great Lakes region crisis. Only a direct and frank dialogue between the different actors can ensure lasting peace and sustainable prosperity in the region which is ravaged by recurring and hegemonic wars.
The FDLR welcome the option adopted by the governments of Sudan, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Uganda and Burundi to solve the political problems of their countries through dialogues with their armed and unarmed oppositions, and urge the authorities of the DRC and Rwanda to adopt the same approach with regard to solving the political problem of Rwanda.
The FDLR remain convinced that the neutralization of their forces can in no way solve the political problem of Rwanda, let alone the crisis ravaging the Great Lakes region of Africa. Therefore, they call upon the International Community, especially the UN Security Council, the European Union and the African Union to become more involved in the research and the establishment of lasting peace in Rwanda and throughout the African Great Lakes region by peaceful means through dialogue among all stakeholders in the conflict.
The FDLR invite the Congolese government and the International Community to prevent proliferation of threats of war in a region already scarred by hegemonic wars that led to genocides, war crimes, crimes against peace and crimes against humanity.
The FDLR reaffirm their commitments made in Rome as stated in their Declaration of 31st March 2005.
The FDLR remind the International Community that their members are willing to return peacefully to Rwanda under the strict implementation of the Rome Declaration of 31 March 2005 which is the only known framework of the search for peace in which they were associated. Thus, they urge the Congolese government, the International Community, the European Union, the African Union and the Community of San'Egidio that provides mediation, to engage actively and positively in the immediate implementation of the commitments made by both parties in Rome on March 31st and April 2nd, 2005.
The FDLR urge specifically the different stakeholders in the process of Rome, including the DRC government, to fulfill their commitments and to be actively involved in the establishment without delay of an International Steering Committee that will identify and implement accompanying measures as agreed on in Rome.
The FDLR reaffirm their full readiness to dialogue with all women and all men of goodwill wishing to explore ways and means to resolve peacefully the African Great Lakes region crisis in general and the political problem of Rwanda in particular.
The FDLR assure the International Community their support of all peace initiatives aimed at restoring truth, justice and democracy in Rwanda and peace in the Great Lakes region of Africa in which they will have been associated.
The FDLR remain convinced that the time for the use of force to solve a political problem is over and invite the Congolese government and the Rwandan regime to abandon a warlike language.
The FDLR urge the International Community not to support belligerent solutions to the Rwandan political problem but rather to work towards the holding of an inter-Rwandan dialogue as soon as possible.
The FDLR offer the way of dialogue and peace; those who offer the war as a solution to the crisis of the Great Lakes region of Africa should be held responsible for any consequences thereof.
Done in Paris on 14 January 2009
Callixte Mbarushimana
Executive Secretary of the FDLR