CPTnet
12 November, 2005
BUKAVU, DRC: Meeting with the PIDP

On October 30 in the city of Bukavu, Democratic
Republic of Congo (DRC), CPT members had a meeting
with PIDP an organization for the defense of h the
Human Rights of Pygmy people. The pygmies, or Batwa,
are the indigenous people of this region of Africa.
They were living here before either the Bantu or
peoples living near the Nile River came into the area
and long before European colonizers arrived. PIDP is
struggling to have them recognized as the indigenous
people and have protections put in place to safeguard
their rights.

Pygmies are often disrespected by other ethnic groups
in the area. People from other groups have told us
that when groups with whom they are in conflict want
to insult them, they call them "Pygmies."

Much of the Pygmies' land is in national parks even
though Pygmies were living on it long before the
current nation and national parks existed. Most of the
fighting takes place in the forests and mountains that
are the pygmies' homes. They have all suffered
atrocities, including the rape, other torture, and
theft that afflict all of the civilians that live in
the conflict areas where armed groups live off of the
resources of the population. They have also been
subjected to instances of cannibalism by the militias. Because of the
fighting in the areas where they used to live, many Pygmies have been forced
to migrate into the cities and towns. When they do this they are cut off
from their means of livelihood and forced to live on charity. Because of the
economic strain, the majority of their children do not receive adequate
education and are unable to enter into the economies of the urban areas.

Though they have not allied with any armed group, they
are targeted and killed by all because the fighting
takes place on their land. No political party has
taken a stand about their human rights. Though all
groups are supposed to be represented in the
transitional process that is aimed toward creating a
unified government and elections, next year, they are not represented.
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Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) seeks to enlist the whole church in
organized, nonviolent alternatives to war and places teams of trained,
peacemakers in regions of lethal conflict. Originally a violence-reduction
initiative of the historic peace churches (Mennonite, Church of the Brethren
and Quaker), CPT now enjoys support and membership from a wide range of
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