Des victimes congolaises du massacre de Kilwa réclament justice à la Cour suprême du Canada

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Des victimes congolaises du massacre de Kilwa réclament justice à la Cour suprême du Canada

Montréal, le 31 janvier 2012 - L’Association canadienne contre l'impunité (ACCI), a exprimé sa profonde déception suite à la décision prise la semaine dernière par la Cour d'appel du Québec rejetant la décision de la Cour Supérieure du Québec dans la cause qui l’opposait à Anvil Mining. Tout en reconnaissant les difficultés rencontrées par les victimes dans leur tentative pour obtenir justice, la Cour d’appel a statué que le Québec ne disposait pas de la législation nécessaire pour entendre leur cause.

La société canadienne Anvil Mining est accusée d’avoir fourni du soutien logistique à l’armée congolaise qui, en 2004, a violé, tué et brutalisé les habitants de Kilwa en RD Congo. Selon les Nations Unies, on estime à 100 le nombre de civils décédés au cours de cette opération militaire, dont certains ont été exécutés et jetés dans des fosses communes.

L’ACCI, une coalition d’ONG représentant les proches des victimes du massacre de Kilwa, avait déposé un recours collectif en 2010 contre Anvil Mining Limited pour son rôle présumé dans le massacre. Anvil Mining nie toute action répréhensible.

Dans le jugement rendu la semaine dernière, les juges Forget, Wagner et Giroux de la Cour d'appel du Québec, ont déclaré que les liens avec le Québec étaient insuffisants parce que le bureau d'Anvil Mining situé à Montréal n'avait pas été impliqué dans les décisions menant à son rôle présumé dans le massacre. Ils ont également déclaré que les victimes auraient pu demander justice en RDC ou en Australie, où Anvil Mining y avait établi alors son siège social.

"Ma quête de justice n'est pas terminée", a déclaré Adèle Mwayuma, dont les deux fils ont été exécutés durant les massacres. «Notre cause doit être entendue, sinon que retiendra-t-on de la justice canadienne?"

« Nous sommes profondément déçus du jugement de la Cour qui aurait pour effet de priver les victimes de leur seul espoir d’obtenir justice », a déclaré Patricia Feeney, Présidente de l’ACCI, « Malgré ce nouveau revers sur la longue route vers la justice, l’ACCI va demander à la Cour suprême du Canada d'entendre la cause afin de déterminer si la Cour d'appel n’a pas erré en restreignant indûment la juridiction des tribunaux québécois et si elle n’a pas ignoré une preuve abondante selon laquelle l'accès à d'autres tribunaux était illusoire » a ajouté madame Feeney.

« La cause des victimes du massacre de Kilwa est importante car elle donne espoir à de nombreuses victimes de crimes contre l'humanité que les sociétés commerciales qui participent et profitent de ces crimes doivent rendre des comptes dans des juridictions où elles ne bénéficieront pas de la complicité de régimes et de systèmes judiciaires corrompus », à déclaré Emmanuel Nkumba, membre de l’ACCI.

L’Association canadienne contre l’impunité est représentée par le cabinet d’avocats de Montréal, Trudel et Johnston.

Pour plus d'informations, veuillez communiquer avec les membres de l'Association canadienne contre l'impunité :

· Matt Eisenbrandt, le Centre canadien pour la Justice internationale (CCIJ), (en anglais): + 1 604-569-1778 (au Canada)

· Denis Tougas, L'Entraide missionnaire, (français, anglais): + 1 514 270 6089 (au Canada)

· Tricia Feeney, RAID, (français, anglais): + 44 (0) 7796178447 (au Royaume-Uni)

· Andie Lambe, Global Witness, (en anglais): + 44 (0) 7809 616 545 (au Royaume-Uni)

· Georges Kapiamba, (français): 814043641 + 243, 995404514 + 243 (en RDC)

· Emmanuel Umpula Nkumba, ACIDH, (en français): + 243 997 025 331 (en RDC).

Congolese massacre survivors to pursue justice at the Supreme Court of Canada

For immediate release

Congolese massacre survivors to pursue justice at the Supreme Court of Canada

Montreal, January 31, 2012 - The Canadian Association Against Impunity (CAAI), expressed its profound disappointment with last week’s decision by the Quebec Court of Appeal overturning the decision of the Quebec Superior Court in the case against Anvil Mining Limited. While acknowledging the difficulties that the victims have encountered in their attempt to obtain justice, the appeal Court ruled that they lack the necessary legislation to allow the case to proceed in Quebec.

Anvil Mining, a Canadian corporation, is accused of providing logistical support to the Congolese army who raped, murdered and brutalised the people of Kilwa in the DRC. According to the United Nations, an estimated 100 civilians died as a direct result of the military action, including some who were executed and thrown in mass graves.

The CAAI, an NGO coalition representing relatives of victims of the 2004 Kilwa massacre, filed a class action in 2010 against Anvil Mining for its alleged role in the massacre. Anvil Mining denies any wrongdoing.

In the ruling last week, Justices Forget, Wagner and Giroux of the Quebec Court of Appeal, stated that there was insufficient connections to Quebec because Anvil Mining’s Montreal office was not involved in decisions leading to its alleged role in the massacre. They also stated that they believe the victims could have sought justice in the DRC or Australia, where Anvil Mining’s had its head office.

“My quest for justice is not over” said Adele Mwayuma, whose two sons were executed during the massacres. “Our cause must be heard, otherwise what remains of Canadian justice?”

“We are deeply disappointed that the Court would deprive the victims of what could be their only remaining hope to seek justice,” said CAAI president Patricia Feeney. “Despite yet another setback in the long road to justice, we will ask the Supreme Court of Canada to hear the case to determine whether the appeal court’s interpretation of Quebec’s jurisdiction is unduly restrictive, and whether it ignored abundant evidence indicating that access to justice in other countries has proved misleading,” Ms. Feeney concluded.

“This case is crucial as it provides hope for numerous victims of atrocities to seek justice against companies who seek to profit with impunity while operating with corrupt regimes and judicial systems,” said CAAI member Emmanuel Nkumba.

The Canadian Association against Impunity is represented by the Montréal based firm Trudel & Johnston.

For more information, please contact members of the Canadian Association against Impunity:
• Matt Eisenbrandt, Canadian Centre for International Justice (CCIJ), (English): +1 604 569-1778 (in Canada)
• Denis Tougas, L’Entraide missionnaire, (French, English): +1 514 270 6089 (in Canada)
• Tricia Feeney, RAID, (French, English): +44 (0) 7796178447 (in the UK)
• Andie Lambe, Global Witness, (English): +44 (0) 7809 616 545 (in the UK)
• Emmanuel Umpula Nkumba, ACIDH, (French): +243 997 025 331 (in the DRC)
• Georges Kapiamba, (French): +243 814043641, +243 995404514 (in the DRC)

Association Canadienne contre l'impunité (ACCI)

On 8th November 2010, an association representing Congolese citizens filed a class action in a Montreal court against the Canadian company, Anvil Mining Limited. Over the past 6 years, RAID has investigated and extensively documented the events that occurred in the Kilwa, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in October 2004. Patricia Feeney, RAID's Executive Director, is the President of the newly created Association canadienne contre l’impunité (ACCI – Canadian Association Against Impunity), whose members include families of the victims of the Kilwa massacre, Global Witness, Congolese and Canadian NGOs. The purpose of the Association is to help the families seek a remedy from the Superior Court in Quebec against Anvil Mining Limited, a company, that by providing transport and other logistical support to the Congolese Armed Forces, allegedly enabled soldiers to perpetrate a massacre and carry out other human rights violations against the civilian population.

The law firm McCarthy Tétrault will represent Anvil Mining Limited.

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“Precedent for extraterritoriality - Canadian justice for Congolese victims”

Rights and Accountability in Development (RAID) and Global Witness are inviting the academic and human rights community to a discussion around the class action filed against Anvil Mining Limited on 8 November 2010 by relatives of victims and survivors of the Kilwa massacre. The claimants allege that the company, by providing logistical assistance, played a role in human rights abuses, including the massacre by the Congolese military of more than 70 people in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2004. For more information please see the press release.

Date: Thursday, 18th November 2010
Time: 4.30 pm
Location: Doughty Street Chambers, 54 Doughty Street, London, WC1N 2LS http://www.doughtystreet.co.uk/about_chambers/contact_us/location_map.cfm

The Congolese citizens are supported by RAID, Global Witness, and Canadian and Congolese NGOs in bringing the claim. The plaintiff is represented by the law firm Trudel and Johnston.

Members of the Panel will include:
Chair: Richard Hermer (Barrister, Doughty Street Chambers - to be confirmed)
Speakers: Tricia Feeney (Executive Director, RAID), Seema Joshi (Legal Advisor, Global Witness), Richard Meeran (Partner, Leigh Day and Co.) and Bruce Johnston (Partner, Trudel and Johnston)

The discussion will include a focus on the events that happened in Kilwa in October 2004 and the quest for justice. Particulars relating to the Canadian class action application will be discussed as well as the wider significance of this case and its implication for corporate accountability globally.

The discussion will be followed by a drink reception.

This event is by invitation only. As spaces are limited, please RSVP by Tuesday, 16 November to eivolunteer@globalwitness.org. If you have any queries about the event, please call Blanka Geszti on 020 7492 5846 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              020 7492 5846      end_of_the_skype_highlighting or Seema Joshi on 079 1251 7126.

RAID's Director a Panellist at NHRI Conference in Edinburgh

The International Coordinating Committee of National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs)will host a panel event on the current review of the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises.

Confirmed panellists include:

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Roel Nieuwenkamp, Chair of the Working Party, OECD Investment Committee
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Tricia Feeney, of RAID (Rights and Accountability in Development) and a founding member of OECD Watch
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Dr Claire Methven O'Brien, Coordinator, ICC Working Group on Business and Human Rights
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Speaker from UK National Contact Point for the OECD Guidelines

The discussion will be chaired by Dr Jonas Christoffersen, Director of Danish Institute for Human Rights and Chair of the ICC Working Group on Business and Human Rights.

The event is organised to stimulate discussion amongst NHRIs regarding the current Guidelines review and reflect on potential roles and opportunities for NHRIs within the Guidelines framework.

The panel will take place 9 October 2010, from 1:30-3 PM in the Scottish Parliament. The panel is held as a side event to the 10th ICC Biennial International Conference of National Human Rights Institutions.

http://www.humanrightsbusiness.org/?f=news

Human Rights and Natural Resource Training in Lubumbashi

During the month of August 2011 RAID ran a human rights and natural resources training programme in Lubumbashi for NGOs from different provinces in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The three-week intensive programme was funded by the Open Society Institute for Southern Africa (OSISA). RAID's Congolese partners, Southern Africa Revenue Watch (SARW) and Action Contre l'Impunite pour les Droits Humains (ACIDH,) provided facilitators and expert speakers.

The programme took place in the Centre de Retraite, "Les Buissonets", in the Tabac quarter of Lubumbashi. The twenty-nine participants were introduced to international human rights instruments and the Congolese legal framework including the Mining Code and Forest Code. A central focus of the programme was on research methods and the participants undertook field work in selected mining sites in Katanga. Speakers included Alexis Mikanji, the head of the Centre d'évaluation d'expertise et de certification des substances minérales précieuses et semi-précieuses (Ceec, Congo's Regulatory Mining Body); Jean Pierre Muteba, a civil society representative on the Executive Committee of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI;) Maitre Georges Kapiamba, the Deputy Director of ASADHO and a leading human rights lawyer; Maitre Marc Walu of MONUSCO's human rights division; and Professor Arthur Kaniki, an environmental expert at the University of Lubumbashi. The final part of the programme was devoted to advocacy. At the end of the programme the participants presented their research findings, which will be published on OSISA's website.

Lively Debate in Katanga About Chinese Companies in Katanga

RAID’s latest report ‘Chinese Mining Companies in Katanga’ was the subject of a lively radio discussion on Radio Okapi (the local UN-run radio station) on 8 October 2009. Jean Pierre Okenda, a member of RAID’s research team, participated in a debate with H. E. Ferdinand Kambere , the Congolese Minister of Labour and Social Welfare ( l’emploi et prévoyance sociale) and the Vice President of the Employers Federation of Katanga. The Minister congratulated RAID on its report. The debate can be heard on: http://www.radiookapi.net/files/audio_file_17951.mp3

See also: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/africa/article6871943.ece

And; African Mining Intelligence, 14/10/09: RAID Singles Out Chinese Firms for Criticismhttp://www.africaintelligence.com/C/modules/login/DetailArt/ LoginDetailArt.asp?rub=login&lang=ang&service=ART&context=HIS&doc_i_id=71540545

And: China Labour Net 'Survey Confirms Widespread Abuse by Chinese Mining Companies in the Congo': available at: http://www.worldlabour.org/eng/node/259