HL Deb 10 November 2004 vol 666 cc78-9WA
Lord Avebury

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they are satisfied that the United Nations Organisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUC) has sufficient resources to carry out the tasks given to it in the revised mandate of Security Council Resolution 1565 of 1 October. [HL4625]

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean

Security Council Resolution 1565 of 1 October authorised the deployment of a further 5,900 military personnel with the necessary specialist force enablers. We expect this enhancement of the mission to improve its effectiveness and to enable it to carry out the given tasks.

An assessment mission from the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations has recently returned from the Democratic Republic of Congo where it undertook further detailed planning for the troop increases and looked in detail at the restructuring and reorganisation of the mission to improve its effectiveness.

Lord Avebury

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What action the United Nations Organisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUC) took to—(a) prevent the armed attack on Kilwa, Ituri province, by forces under the command of Alain Ilunga Mukalyi; (b) to stop the torture and killings of civilians in Kaliko by the People's Armed Forces of Congo under Jérome Kakwavu; and (c) to apprehend the alleged 8,500 Interahamwe génocidaires still sheltering in South Kivu. [HL4626]

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean

MONUC does not have a military presence in Kilwa which is situated in Katanga. There was no specific information or warning of the attack prior to it taking place.

MONUC has a brigade employed in Ituri but in such a large area there is difficulty in identifying or apprehending the militia forces as most come from the local community. MONUC was not made aware of any attacks until after they had been perpetrated.

MONUC has already repatriated over 11,000 foreign combatants. UN Resolution 1565 authorised MONUC to undertake voluntary repatriation and to continue to work with the forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo to locate the remaining ex-FAR/Interhamwe and encourage them to enter the Disarmament, Demobilisation, Repatriation, Resettlement and Reintegration programme.

Lord Avebury

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they are satisfied that the United Nations Organisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the contributing states (including the United Kingdom) between them have sufficiently robust and effective procedures in place to ensure that crimes by their own personnel are brought to court. [HL4684]

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean

There have been no allegations against UK personnel serving in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). I can assure the noble Lord that any such allegations would be thoroughly investigated and the appropriate action taken.

There is a system in place within the United Nations Mission in the DRC to investigate offences by its personnel. In addition, the UK supports the Security Council's call in its Resoution 1565 for troop contributing countries to take appropriate disciplinary and other action to ensure full accountability in cases of misconduct involving their personnel.