Goma, 9 September 2010 - The outbursts of violence, armed gangs activities in Walikale and Masisi territories and the numerous cases of human rights violations have led the United Nations Stabilization Mission in DRC ( MONUSCO ) to launch the "Operation Shop Window " in the areas of Pinga - Kibua -Walikale, at least until September 15 .This Operation is designed to reassure the population and show MONUSCO commitment to use all its resources to enhance the protection of civilians.

The " Shop Window" area covers 4000km2, which includes all of the localities affected by the recent looting and mass rape .

The operation is being carried out by some 750 peacekeepers to establish contact in every village with local leaders, administrative authorities, civil society leaders and the population to collect information on armed groups to better counter their criminal activities.

The plan is to create SCD (small temporary deployment bases) which will enable MONUSCO to organize patrols to reassure the population and deter all forms of aggression. Eight out of nine new operational bases have been set up and 355 soldiers are currently deployed, often backed up by attack and observation helicopter. As on September 6, 165 patrols and 21 helicopter reconnaissance flights were conducted in the area of Walikale - Kibua - Pinga .

Planning for an extension of the original operation will involve additional troops, armored vehicles transported by helicopter and the participation of the Congolese Armed Forces ( FARDC ) with whiom a joint operation is in progress. At the end of " Operation Shop Window " the FARDC will have to assume responsibility and continue to secure the ground.

Positive impact

"Operation Shop Window" has already produced some positive results, such as the surrender of 27 elements from Mayi Mayi at Pinga and the arrest of 4 others at Luvungi. The displaced populations have also begun to return and since the beginning of the operations, no human rights violations have been reported .

The ultimate goal of the operation is to deter other acts of violence and demonstrate that, in case of emergency, MONUSCO has the capacity for a significant land and airmobile response .

In New York, Under - Secretary General for Peace keeping Operations, Atul Khare, pleaded on September 7 at the Security Council for " keeping the military pressure on illegal armed groups, the implementing non-military measures to solve the problem of the FDLR , to fight the illegal exploitation of resources that clearly brings the violence in the region and to restore state authority in areas of conflict."

Khare reiterated at the same Security Council the importance of ending impunity and mobilizing the necessary resources to bring to justice those responsible for these crimes. He recommended that members of Council should adopt sanctions against leaders of the Democratic Liberation Forces of Rwanda (FDLR), both inside and outside the DRC .