An article by a member of the national committee for the Union for Democracy and Social Progress (Union pour la démocratie et le progrès social, UDPS) dated 16 April 2002 mentioned, without providing further details, [translation] "the repression and detention of women in the UDPS" who took part in a march on Thursday, 11 April 2002 in support of the candidature of Étienne Tshisekedi wa Mulumba, president of the party, [translation] "for presidency during the transition."

In quoting remarks from other news agencies, the Agence France Presse (AFP) indicated, in an article published on 15 April 2002, that [translation] "on 11 and 12 April, the UDPS organized demonstrations in Kinshasa that were 'of minor significance, considering the number of participants,' ... [and] at the end of which some ten women and four men were stopped and questioned."

In an article published on 13 April 2002 that referred to other demonstrations organized by the UDPS, the Missionary Service News Agency (MISNA) stated, without specifying whether they were women, that "14 UDPS militants arrested in a similar demonstration on Thursday 11 April were released, though some denounced mistreatment and humiliation they experienced while in detention."

In an article published 11 April 2002, the Voix des sans voix (VSV), a Congolese non-governmental organization for human rights, expressed its concern regarding the [translation] "suppression of a peaceful march by female members of the UDPS that was organized for Thursday, 11 April 2002 in support of the Lusaka accord and the Sun City/South Africa candidacy of Étienne Tshisekedi wa Mulumba, leader of the party, for President of the Democratic Republic of Congo (RDC)." The VSV described the unfolding of events as follows:

[translation]

Demonstrators started at Sandoa Avenue around 8 o'clock, headed toward Cabu Bridge, and made their way down Kasa-Vubu Rond-Point Victoire Avenue, expecting to end at the intersection between Victoire and Université avenues, but the march was stopped at the École nationale de navigation when a police jeep surprised them. Four women were arrested on the spot: Alpha Denise Lupetu, Pauline Mputu, Mathilde Labuma and Kadjila.

At that time, activists who disapproved of the police manoeuvre were prepared to show their solidarity and be taken into custody. In less than fifteen minutes, two more police jeeps carrying more than ten officers met up with the activists who were protesting the arrest of their colleagues. The police took more women into custody: Kinkela, Henriette Tshela, Christine Kabedi, Anasthasie Nseya, Safia, Marie-Jeanne Masengu, Adolphine Muswamba, and Marie Nguya, as well as Nyembwe Kazadi and Macky, two male members of the youth wing of the UDPS (Jeunesse de l'UDPS, or JUDPS) (11 Apr. 2002).

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.

References

Agence France Presse (AFP). 15 April 2002. "L'UDPS (opposition) met en garde contre une généralisation des troubles en RDC." (Courrier AFP)

Missionary Service News Agency (MISNA). 13 April 2002. "DRCongo: Twelve Opposition 'Militants' in Support of Leader Arrested in Capital." (BBC Monitoring/NEXIS)

Union pour la démocratie et le progrès social (UDPS). 16 April 2002. Jean-Baptiste Bomanza. "50 combattants de l'UDPS arrêtés hier." Article published in Le Phare. http://fr.allafrica.com/stories/200204160426.html [Accessed 28 May 2003]

La Voix des sans voix (VSV) [Kinshasa]. 11 April 2002. "Communiqué de presse no 030/RDC/VSV/CD/2002 : une marche pacifique des femmes militantes de l'UDPS réprimée." http://www.congonline.com/vsv/communiques/2002/1104.htm [Accessed 27 May 2003]

Additional Sources Consulted

Africa Confidential 2002

Africa Research Bulletin 2002

Belgium. October 2002. Commissariat général aux réfugiés et aux apatrides. Service de documentation et de recherche (CEDOCA). Rapport de mission à Kinshasa (République démocratique du Congo) du 16 juin au 5 août 2002.

IRB Databases

Jeune Afrique/L'Intelligent April - May 2002

Keesing's Record of World Events 2002

Resource Centre country file. RDC

Internet sites, including:

Africatime

Allafrica

Amnesty International

Digitalcongo.net

Human Rights Watch (HRW)

Reliefweb