Bukavu, 10 February 2011 - The South-Kivu military court started a public hearing on Thursday, 10 February 2011 in Baraka, 35 km from Fizi and 260 km south-west of Bukavu for the eleven soldiers of the Congolese Army, indicted for crime against humanity for alleged rape, forced imprisonment and assaults on civilians, as well as other degrading treatments and acts of terrorism committed in the night of 1st and 2nd January 2011 in Fizi.

The public hearing was held with the help of MONUSCO, which provided logistical support in transporting dozens of people from Bukavu to Baraka. Among those transported were the indicted soldiers, lawyers, members of the South-Kivu military as well as NGOs. MONUSCO also provided military escorts during the operation.

The public hearing is expected to last ten days during which elements of MONUSCO South-Kivu Brigade will conduct day and night patrols at the different sites where victims and witnesses are being accommodated as well as around the National Police detention cell where detainees are held, pending their transfer to a more secure site.

This first hearing held in the province attracted large crowds, including members of the national and international media, representatives of NGOs and senior members of the UN System.

Biliaminou Alao / MONUSCO