KINSHASA, Sep. 4 (CWNews.com/Fides)

    Christian and other organizations in the Democratic Republic of Congo said this week that rebel groups have begun targeting scapegoats after four human rights activists were arrested on August 29 in rebel-held Bukavu. The arrests occurred after an explosion in the city on August 26, killing 13 persons and leaving at least 50 injured.

    The arrest, news of which was released only on September 1, concerns Paulin Bapolisi, Gervais Chirhalwirhwa, Regine Mutijima, and Aloys Muzalia. The four activists were first put in prison in Goma and then moved to a penitentiary in Kisangani in the Central African country. The same sources say the number of arrests will increase because the rebels of the Rassemblement Congolaise pour la Democratie (RCD), supported by neighboring Rwanda and led by Emile Ilunga, are also targeting politicians recently appointed by the Kinshasa government to the Constituent Assembly, members of the Catholic Church, and others.

    The same group of rebels has prevented Archbishop Emmanuel Kataliko of Bukavu from returning to his diocese since February this year. The archbishop is confined to Butembo, also in the rebel-controlled area, and is unable to exercise his ministry. On September 4, Cardinal Etsou Bamungwabi of Kinshasa, president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference in Congo, was due to visit Archbishop Kataliko, who was elected his deputy in the bishops' conference by the other bishops. This increase in pressure could signal concern on the part of the rebels about the cardinal's visit.

    The representatives of various nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) in the city of Kivu said the increase in pressure has a political objective: "The Lusaka accords recognize civil society [NGOs] as the fourth voice in the political debate to restore a state of law. But the RCD wants to annihilate the civil society component so it can have a free hand."

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