In a 23 February 2001 press release, Journaliste en danger (JED) referred to the People's Forces for Self-defence (Forces d'autodéfense populaire, FAP) as a [translation] "paramilitary group established by the deceased President Laurent-Désiré Kabila for the purposes of surveillance and denouncement of 'enemies of the people' in Kinshasa/Masina."

When reached in Kinshasa on 9 July 2003, the JED president provided the following information.

Immediately after war broke out in August 1998, former President Laurent-Désiré Kabila called on citizens to organize themselves as the people's forces for self-defence in order [translation] "to drive out the enemy." Encouraged by the participation of youths from the commune of Masina in Kinshasa City in [translation] "tracking" certain persons considered to be [translation] "enemies of the nation," the former president requested that people be recruited from all the communes in Kinshasa and throughout the country to serve in the FAP.

Consisting primarily of unemployed youths, members of the FAP came from all backgrounds, including companies, universities and public administrations. Both employed persons and students could enlist and still continue with their usual activities.

The work of the FAP, whose members did not bear arms, consisted mainly of denouncing individuals suspected of being members of or conspiring with rebel groups. However, the FAP were also known for sometimes arresting people before handing them over to the competent authorities.

Membership in the FAP was voluntary, even though the government authorities [translation] "urged" many people-especially youths-to enlist. Recruits did not receive any wages. However, after participating in demonstrations supporting the regime, they sometimes received [translation] "sums of money and food."

Current President Joseph Kabila dissolved the FAP after some of its members joined the Congolese Armed Forces (Forces armées congolaises, FAC).

The statements made by the JED representative could not be corroborated by the other sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

According to the Congolese newspaper Le Potentiel, the former president had given the responsibility of [translation] "making the People's Forces for Self-defence operational in the Congolese capital" to Christophe Muzungu, Vice-governor of Kinshasa (14 Dec. 2000). Quoting statements made by Muzungu, the same paper indicated in its 19 December 2000 issue that [translation] "approximately 120,000 troops have, in fact, already enlisted, but initially 100,000 of them will be trained. [Muzungu] hopes that between now and January-February 2001, Kinshasa will have an FAP that is 400,000 to 500,000 strong" (Le Potentiel).

No description of the People's Forces for Self-defence membership card could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Journaliste en danger [Kinshasa]. 9 July 2003. Telephone interview with the president.

_____. 23 February 2001. "Mise à jour d'alerte : JED proteste contre le harcèlement d'un journaliste canadien à Kinshasa." (LEXIS/NEXIS)

Le Potentiel [Kinshasa]. 19 December 2000. Missely. "FAP : Muzungu annonce un enrôlement potentiel de 1 500 000 éléments à Kinshasa." http://www.digitalcongo.net/fullstory.php?id=567 [Accessed 9 July 2003]

_____. 14 December 2000. Missely. "Kabila charge Muzungu de rendre opérationnelles les forces d'autodéfense populaire à Kinshasa." http://www.digitalcongo.net/fullstory.php?id=529 [Accessed 9 July 2003]

Africa Confidential 2000-2002

Africa Research Bulletin 2000-2002

Belgium. October 2002. Centre de documentation des instances d'asile (CEDOCA). Rapport de mission à Kinshasa (République démocratique du Congo) du 16 juin au 5 août 2002.

Dialog

Info-Congo/Kinshasa 2000-2001

IRB Databases

Mondes rebelles 2001

Internet sites, including:

Africatime

Allafrica

Digitalcongo.net

European Country of Origin Information Network (Ecoi.net)

ReliefWeb