Thousands abandon homes, flee fighting in Congo

[CHIMO]

GENEVA - About 35,000 people have fled fighting in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo in the past three days, according to United Nations reports.

This brings the total number of people who have fled ethnic fighting in Congo's Ituri Province to more than 80,000 since the beginning of the year.

Land disputes between the Lendu and Hema tribes reportedly triggered a new spate of fighting between the two ethnic groups last month.

Some are staying at four camps protected by UN peacekeeping forces. But thousands of others who have fled their villages are hiding in the bush and jungle, unable to receive assistance.

http://www.cbc.ca/story/world/national/2005/02/12/congo050212.html

[seemslikeadream]

1. Congo plans to clamp down on "blood" mineral

Congo plans to clamp down on "blood" mineral
09 Feb 2005 17:41:00 GMT

Source: AlertNet


CAPE TOWN, Feb 9 (Reuters) - Congo, which has logged success in stemming the flow of "blood" diamonds fuelling conflict, said on Wednesday it plans to extend the campaign to high-tech mineral coltan, mined by rebels in the east of the country.

Coltan, essential for power storage in cell phones, is mined by hand in the Congo by small-scale miners scrapping off the surface mud in river banks. The mineral, short for columbite-tantalite, is a metallic ore comprising niobium and tantalum and is found mainly in the eastern DRC.

At the height of the five-year civil war that devastated the Democratic Republic of Congo, rebels were reported to be earning $20 million per month by mining coltan, also used in nuclear reactors and computer chips.

"We know coltan has a role in destabilising the east of Congo ... We are putting together a plan to boost the control of coltan," said Victor Kasongo, chief executive of Congo's Centre for Evaluation, Expertise and Certification.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x1224233