|
Allegations of Abuse by Members of SANDF
in DRC
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
FOR ORAL REPLY
QUESTION NO 14
QUESTION TIME: 08 SEPTEMBER 2004 - WRITTEN QUESTION
NO 390 TRASNFERRED FOR ORAL REPLY, PUBLISHED IN THE
INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 8 OF 06 AUGUST 2004
MOULANA M R SAYEDALI-SHAH (DA) TO THE MINISTER OF
FOREIGN AFFAIRS:
(1) Whether her department has been informed or taken
note of allegations that members of the SA National
Defence Force serving on the United Nations peacekeeping
force in the Democratic Republic of Congo sexually abused
children in that country; if so, what are the relevant
details;
(2) Whether an official in her department has been
in contact with the relevant authorities in the United
Nations regarding these allegations; if not, why not;
if so, (a) what is the name and position held by the
official and (b) what were his or her findings;
(3) Whether a South African representative is assisting
the UN with the investigation into the allegations;
if not, what role does South Africa intend playing in
this investigation; if so, what are the relevant details;
(4) Whether any evidence has been found substantiating
allegations of SANDF members' involvement in these abuses;
if so what are the relevant details? N461E
REPLY:
(1) - (4)
The Department of Foreign Affairs is aware of the allegations
made in the media against SANDF members serving in the
United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of
the Congo (MONUC).
When these allegations surfaced in various media reports,
the Department of Foreign Affairs, through the National
Office of the Co-ordination of Peace Missions (NCOPM),
located within the Africa Branch of the Department contacted
the MONUC Liaison Office in Pretoria and had discussions
with Ambassador Bruno Pennaneach, the head of the office
regarding the allegations.
Ambassador Pennaneach informed the NOCPM that the United
Nations was aware of the allegations of sexual exploitation
and abuse levelled at members of MONUC. He stressed
that the United Nations regarded these allegations in
an extremely serious light, to the extent that an independent
team from the United Nations Department of Peacekeeping
Operations (UNDPKO) has been sent to Bunia, in the eastern
Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to investigate
these allegations. Presently, the UNDPKO team is in
Bunia conducting its investigations. In this regard
the UNDPKO cannot release any information until their
investigations have been concluded.
It should be noted that at the time that all the allegations
pertaining to sexual exploitation and abuse in Bunia
were reported in the media, there were only ten South
African National Defence Force (SANCDF) members stationed
in that town. All ten are members of the Military Police
(MP) detachment deployed in Bunia. Furthermore, all
ten are presently assisting MONUC with regard to 'preventive
and deterrence patrols' so as to ensure that further
incidents do not occur.
END
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
FOR ORAL REPLY
QUESTION NO 14
QUESTION TIME: 08 SEPTEMBER 2004 - WRITTEN QUESTION
NO 390 TRASNFERRED FOR ORAL REPLY, PUBLISHED IN THE
INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 8 OF 06 AUGUST 2004
MOULANA M R SAYEDALI-SHAH (DA) TO THE MINISTER OF
FOREIGN AFFAIRS:
(1) Whether her department has been informed or taken
note of allegations that members of the SA National
Defence Force serving on the United Nations peacekeeping
force in the Democratic Republic of Congo sexually abused
children in that country; if so, what are the relevant
details;
(2) Whether an official in her department has been
in contact with the relevant authorities in the United
Nations regarding these allegations; if not, why not;
if so, (a) what is the name and position held by the
official and (b) what were his or her findings;
(3) Whether a South African representative is assisting
the UN with the investigation into the allegations;
if not, what role does South Africa intend playing in
this investigation; if so, what are the relevant details;
(4) Whether any evidence has been found substantiating
allegations of SANDF members' involvement in these abuses;
if so what are the relevant details? N461E
REPLY:
(1) - (4)
The Department of Foreign Affairs is aware of the allegations
made in the media against SANDF members serving in the
United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of
the Congo (MONUC).
When these allegations surfaced in various media reports,
the Department of Foreign Affairs, through the National
Office of the Co-ordination of Peace Missions (NCOPM),
located within the Africa Branch of the Department contacted
the MONUC Liaison Office in Pretoria and had discussions
with Ambassador Bruno Pennaneach, the head of the office
regarding the allegations.
Ambassador Pennaneach informed the NOCPM that the United
Nations was aware of the allegations of sexual exploitation
and abuse levelled at members of MONUC. He stressed
that the United Nations regarded these allegations in
an extremely serious light, to the extent that an independent
team from the United Nations Department of Peacekeeping
Operations (UNDPKO) has been sent to Bunia, in the eastern
Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to investigate
these allegations. Presently, the UNDPKO team is in
Bunia conducting its investigations. In this regard
the UNDPKO cannot release any information until their
investigations have been concluded.
It should be noted that at the time that all the allegations
pertaining to sexual exploitation and abuse in Bunia
were reported in the media, there were only ten South
African National Defence Force (SANCDF) members stationed
in that town. All ten are members of the Military Police
(MP) detachment deployed in Bunia. Furthermore, all
ten are presently assisting MONUC with regard to 'preventive
and deterrence patrols' so as to ensure that further
incidents do not occur.
END
|
