Information on the Bundu Dia Kongo is limited among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

Sources refer to Bundu Dia Kongo (BDK) as "a Kongolese fundamentalist religious movement" (Episcopal Divinity School 30 Nov. 2001), as "a sect" (United Nations 20 Sept. 2000), as "a church" (ASADHO 2000) and as "a new non-Christian religious movement" (Bernhard 1997).

According to two Congolese human rights organizations, five members of Bundu Dia Kongo (BDK) were arrested on 14 February 2000 at Le Petit Jardin Hotel in the town of Matadi by the security forces while they participated in the cultural week (semaine culturelle) held in the Bas Congo Province (VSV Jan.-Feb.-Mar.-Apr. 2000; ASADHO n.d.).

Accused of [translation] inciting the Bas Congo people to revolt (VSV Jan.-Feb.-Mar.-Apr. 2000) and [translation] threatening state security (ASADHO n.d.), Ne Muanda Nsemi (BDK spiritual chief), Ndombe Basu-Kininawo, Malozi Ma Mpanzu, Mpingulu and Puati Ngoma were taken to the capital Kinshasa and detained in harsh conditions at Lemera prison of the ANR (National Intelligence Agency) (VSV Feb.-Mar.-Apr. 2000; ASADHO n.d.). They were released on 10 March 2000 (ibid.).

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.

Association africaine de défense des droits de l'homme (ASADHO). n.d. "Rapport ASADHO 1er semester 2000." http://www.neomedia.it/personal/Congosol/rapp/rapp.Asadho1-2000.html#anchor211105. [Accessed 29 Jan. 2002]

Bernhard, Wendy Lee. 1997. Bundu Dia Kongo: A New Non-Christian Religious Movement in Zaire. Th. M. Miss. Fuller Theological Seminary. http:www.fuller.edu/swm/abstracts/africa.html [Accessed 30 Jan. 2002]

Episcopal Divinity School, Weston Jesuit School of Theology. 30 November 2001. "The Library: Titles Added to the Online Catalogue During May 2000. http://www.edswjst.org/lib/acquisitions/may2000.htm. Accessed 30 Jan. 2002]

United Nations. 20 September 2000. Questions relatives aux droits de l'homme : situations relatives aux droits de l'homme et rapport des rapporteurs et représentants spéciaux : Situation des droits de l'homme en République démocratique du Congo. http://www.hri.ca/fortherecord2000/bilan2000/documentation/genassembly/a-55-403.htm [Accessed 29 Jan. 2002]

La Voix des sans voix (VSV), Kinshasa. January-February-March-April 2000. "Bulletin d'information pour la défense et la promotion des droits de l'homme." http://www.congonline.com/vsv/rapports/2000/Rapport23.htm [Accessed 29 Jan. 2002]

Africa Confidential [London] 1999-2001.

Africa Research Bulletin [London] 1999-2001.

IRB Databases.

Info-Congo/Kinshasa [Montréal] 1999-2001.

Jeune Afrique [Paris] 1999-2001.

Keesing's Record of World Events [Cambridge] 1999-2001.

LEXIS/NEXIS.

Mondes rebelles. 1999-2001.

Le Nouvel Afrique-Asie [Paris] 1999-2001.

Political Handbook of the World. 1999.

World News Connection (WNC).

Websites including:

Amnesty International Online.

ASADHO.

BBC Africa.

CongOnline.

FIDH.

Human Rights Watch Online.

Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND), Royaume-Uni.

International Crisis Group (ICG).

Médias congolais.

Observatoire de l'Afrique centrale.

Observatoire international des prisons (OIP).

Office fédéral des réfugiés (ODR), Suisse.

Panafrican News Agency (PANA).

ReliefWeb.

Le Soir.

La Voix des sans voix (VSV).

Search Engines including:

Google.

Lycos.

Yahoo.