Open letter from Cork meeting to Irish Government on Congo conflict

international | anti-war / imperialism | press release Saturday June 28, 2003 03:31 by Fintan Lane - Cork Anti-War Campaign corkantiwar at hotmail dot com 087 1258325

A public meeting was held in Cork on Thursday evening to discuss the ongoing slaughter in the Congo. More than 3.5 million people have died in the Congo since 1998 as a result of war, but little interest has been shown internationally. The 50 or more people at the meeting (including many from the local African community) voted to publish the following open letter to the Irish government:

OPEN LETTER TO THE IRISH GOVERNMENT ON THE CONGO

Dear Sir/Madam,

At a well-attended public meeting in Cork on 26 June 2003, organised by the Cork Anti-War Campaign and with speakers from the Congolese-Irish Partnership and Amnesty International, those present voted to call on the Irish government to:

1. ensure that the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is given priority on its foreign affairs agenda;
2. use its significant influence with the governments of Uganda and Rwanda, and other African countries, to insist that they engage positively with negotiations and efforts to resolve the ongoing conflict in the Ituri region of the DRC;
3. ensure that the DRC remains on the international agenda, particularly through its presidency of the European Union in 2004.

Signed on behalf of those present,

Mr Pierrot Nagadi,
Chairperson, Congolese-Irish Partnership

Ms Bernadette McGonigle,
Chairperson, Amnesty International (Irish section)

Dr Fintan Lane,
Chairperson, Cork Anti-War Campaign