Michel Shakodi, Democratic Republic of Congo

The situation for us, the human rights defenders of the Democratic Republic of Congo is currently critical, complex and precarious, especially in the south of the country. We work in a difficult environment still populated by ex-combatants - now servicemen and former warlords - now officials within the transition Government. In addition, Congolese and foreign militias from Rwanda (FDLR/Interahamwe), Uganda and Burundi operate in Kivu and l’Ituri in the Eastern province. Hence, violations of people's social and economic rights continue under the transitional regime. Therefore, we must continue to work for the promotion, protection and defence of human rights of this oppressed population. Unfortunately, denouncing or reporting these violations incurs wrath from unknown sources.

We live with these threats and risks without knowing where they come from: the authorities or the militias? We are targets for threats, kidnappings, assassinations, (most recently, that of the human rights defender, Mr Pascal Kabulungulu, killed by men in military uniform, at his home in Bukavu, Sud-Kivu, in front of his wife and children, in July 2005), intimidations - both written and oral. We fear that these threats and risks are increasing with the approach of the elections in June 2006, which we want to make transparent, free and democratic, in the hope of having leaders who are elected by and therefore controlled by the people. We fear they are trying to silence human rights defenders and their contributions to these elections. Some of us are occasionally interrogated by the police, and arrested or arbitrarily detained in the course of our work. We live in fear of assassination at every moment (especially in the evenings and at night, when armed incidents between gangs erupt in the area). We are terrorised by terrible and criminal acts (against women and their children, against human rights defenders and against men) that we have been seen since the wars of 1998 up until the present day. In the face of these acts, many Congolese human rights defenders have sought exile abroad -but if we all leave, DRC will be dominated by barbarity.

Neither the Congolese government, nor the international community represented by the United Nations mission in DRC, MONUC, provide protection for human rights defenders in DRC. For the crimes committed against us, justice is limited to messages of condolence and/or promises to investigate that will never materialise, and if they did place, the results would never be made known by the Congolese leaders.

Despite this vulnerability, we - human rights defenders - who have remained here are not deterred; we are resolute and determined to continue to work for this just and noble cause: the protection of human rights. We try to unite against these many risks, threats and dangers, and in spite of the absence of government protection and the impunity it supports, we call incessantly on them to recognise their responsibilities to respect and protect the rights of citizens and of those who work to observe these basic duties of the Congolese leaders.

We thank those from around the world who have supported us, who exert pressure on our government to respect not only the human rights of the general population, but also of those who fight for human rights, and to fight against the impunity of those who attack defenders of Human Rights. Their support gives us strength and courage. Together we think that one day DRC will be a country where human rights and human rights defenders will be the first priority of the leaders of this country.