The following information was provided by the executive secretary of Héritiers de la justice, a Bakavu-based Congolese human rights organisation, during 23 and 24 telephone interviews.

There is a church called Église adventiste du septième jour (Seventh Day Adventist Church) on Émery Patrice Lumumba Avenue in Bukavu. The church is headed by three persons: Reverend Pastor Mutimanwa Chaka (for the past five years), Pastor Mark Ndamiya and a legal advisor named Kazas (for the past 3 years).

The Héritiers de la justice representative indicated that his organisation is not aware of any problems the church experienced in 2000. He added that one of the church leaders he contacted stated that there were no unusual problems his church faced during 2000.

Corroborating information could not 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.

Reference

Héritiers de la justice, Bukavu. 25 October 2002. Telephone interview with the executive secretary.

Additional Sources Consulted

Africa Confidential 2000-2001.

Africa Research Bulletin 2000-2001.

Info-Congo/Kinshasa 2000.

IRB Databases.

Jeune Afrique/L'Intelligent February-December 2000.

Keesing's Record of World Events 2000.

LEXIS/NEXIS.

Resources Country file. RDC.

Websites, including:

AllAfrica.

Africatime.

Amnesty International.

DigitalCongo net.

FIDH.

Héritiers de la justice.

Immigration & Nationality Directorate, Royaume-Uni.

Observatoire de l'Afrique centrale.

Office fédéral des réfugiés (ODR) de la Suisse.

ReliefWeb.

La Voix des Sans Voix (VSV).

Search Engines, including:

Google.

Lokace.

Lycos.