Congo’s ‘civil society’ unites to oppose threats to forests and peoples rights

[Guest guest]

RAINFOREST FOUNDATION

 

PRESS RELEASE

 

Monday 1st March 2004. For immediate release.

 

Congo's `civil society' unites to oppose threats to forests and

peoples rights

 

Non-governmental organisations in the war-ravaged Democratic Republic

of Congo (DRC) have today formed a unique alliance to challenge

the `development' of the country's rainforests, which could include a

vast increase in industrial logging [1].

 

The organisations represent communities from across the country,

including people from 27 different ethnic groups [2]. The new network

will inform forest communities about proposed new laws, and a `re-

zoning' of the country's forests, that will potentially affect the

rights and livelihoods of millions of Congo's poorest people [3]. Up

to 60 million hectares of Congo's rainforest – an area the size of

France – could be threatened by logging companies in the coming years.

 

Joseph Bobia, spokesperson for the Congolese development

organisation, CENADEP, [4] said:

 

" The voices of the Congolese people have so far been ignored in the

plans for the future of Congo's forests. By working to ensure that

local communities' rights and access to the forests are recognised in

the new laws, we hope to prevent future conflict between local

communities, loggers and the administration. "

 

Adolphine Muley, of the Union of Indigenous Women (UEFA) [5] said:

 

" Indigenous people welcome this initiative by civil society. Our

voices have to be heard when it comes to making decisions about the

forest in which we live. "

 

Roger Muchuba of the human rights group Héritiers de la Justice [6],

said :

 

" Congo's forests are the concern of all Congolese people, not just

policy makers and officials. Civil society is taking the initiative

of informing the population about the new laws, as the World Bank and

the FAO have so far failed to do so. "

 

Rene Ngongo, of the environmental group, OCEAN [7], said:

 

" Ignorance of our rights can be a matter of life and death. It is

essential for communities to know what is going on to ensure that

their rights are respected. "

 

More: Stop the carve up of the Congo forests

http://www.rainforestfoundationuk.org/s-Stop%20the%20carve%20up%20of%

20the%20Congo%20forests

 

 

 

For more information:

 

Joseph Bobia, CENADEP, Kinshasa.

Tel: + 243 98 311 827 (office)

+ 243 98 18 21 45 (mobile)

e-mail: jbbobia

(Note: French language enquiries only. Kinshasa is one hour ahead of

London time)

 

Simon Counsell, Rainforest Foundation, London:

Tel: +44 (0)207 251 6345 (office);

+44 (0)7941 899 579 (mobile)

e-mail: simonc

www.rainforestfoundationuk.org

 

 

Notes to editors:

 

[1] The coalition was formed at a meeting in Kinshasa of leading non-

governmental organisations, which concluded today. Funding for this

initiative is being provided by the Rainforest Foundation.

 

[2] The 27 ethnic groups represented in the network so far are:

Shigombe, Yombe, Tembe, Yansi, Boma, Mongo, Mbuza, Mgbandi, Twa,

Hema, Lendu, Alur, Lokele, Shi, Rega, Baluba, Shonge, Balubacat,

Malwa, Tetela, Luba, Tandu, Mboma, Rund, Mbund, Mgoli, Sakata

 

[3] The World Bank, together with the UN Food and Agriculture

Organisation (FAO), is supporting the development of new forestry

laws in the Congo, as well as the `zoning' of the country's entire

forest area. World Bank documents obtained by the Rainforest

Foundation reveal that the Bank is aiming to `create a favourable

climate for industrial logging' in the Congo, and envisages a 60-fold

increase in the country's timber production. However, as many as 35

million people (75% of the national population) are dependent to some

extent on Congo's forests for their survival.

 

[4] CENADEP is the National Centre for Development and Popular

Participation (Centre National d'Appui au Développement et à la

Participation Populaire).

 

[5] UEFA is a group that primarily works with Twa `Pygmy' women in

South Kivu, eastern DRC, an area that has been particularly severely

afflicted by Congo's civil wars.

 

[6] Heritiers de la Justice is a long-established human rights group

based in Bukavu, eastern DRC.

 

[7] OCEAN is an environmental organisation based in Kisangani,

Oriental Province, eastern DRC.