No information on a demonstration held on 14 August 2001 in Kinshasa could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

However, sources did report incidents of violence in Kinshasa on 15 August 2001, during which a street child was killed by a police officer in the city's central market, while hundreds of others were arrested (VSV 15 Aug. 2001; AI 17 Aug. 2001; Info-Congo/Kinshasa July-Aug.-Sept. 2001, 6; Country Reports 2001 2002, Sec. 5).

In reaction to the death of their companion, street children assaulted the police station in the central market, seriously injuring a police officer who was rushed to Kinshasa General Hospital (VSV 15 August 2001; AI 17 Aug. 2001), where he later died from his injuries (ibid.; Info-Congo/Kinshasa July-Aug.-Sept. 2001, 6).

La Voix des sans voix (VSV) described the events of 15 August 2001 as follows:

[translation]

On Wednesday, 15 August 2001, a street child was fatally shot three times in the hip and stomach by a police officer in front of the Central Market's Pavilion 6. The victim was being chased by the officer for stealing money from a woman, and tried to resist arrest by splashing the officer with hot water.

Upon learning of the death of one of their own, angered street children rallied in an attack against the police. They vandalized the Central Market police station, burned all the documents there and destroyed the prison cell doors, allowing all the prisoners in custody to escape. The police chief of the Central Market station was roughed up and seriously injured by a knife to the back of the head. The chief and some injured street children were taken to Kinshasa General Hospital.

This incident created widespread panic among vendors and shoppers, who lost their goods as street children threw bottles in all directions.

Two truckloads of military police (MP) arrived on the scene some time later and proceeded to arrest the street children, finally bringing the situation under control.

Ten or so street children were apprehended and, hands bound behind their back, were taken to the Special Services of the Kin-Mazière national police before being jailed. Others were taken to the Kin-Ouest mobile police battalion headquarters near Kinshasa General Hospital, or brought to Kokolo camp.

It is worth nothing that on Tuesday, 14 August 2001, a street child was reportedly shot in the leg in front of the Memling Hotel by a member of the military at the wheel of a Mercedes carrying the president's mother. The shooting occurred when street children, who had recognized the president's mother, approached and surrounded the car to beg for money. It seems that, immediately after the shooting, the military driver started the car and drove away. The injured child was reportedly taken to Kinshasa General Hospital (15 Aug. 2001).

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.

Amnesty International (AI). 17 August 2001. "Democratic Republic of Congo: Over 200 Detainees, Including Around 100 Street Children." (AI Index: AFR 62/025/2001).

Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2001. 2002. United States Department of State. Washington, DC. http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2001/af/8322.htm [Accessed 26 Apr. 2002]

Info-Congo/Kinshasa [Montreal]. July-August-September 2001. Nos. 170 and 171. "Révolte des 'shégués'."

La Voix des sans voix (VSV) [Kinshasa]. 15 August 2001. "Communiqué de presse no 046/RDC/VSV/CD/2001 : manifestation de violence contre les enfants de la rue." http://www.congonline.com/vsv/communiques/2001/1508b.htm [Accessed 16 Apr. 2002]