Dear Ambassador Rice:

The situation in eastern Congo has deteriorated significantly in the last year. The recent operation in the east, Kimia II, has made it clear that it is likely impossible to reconcile the two aspects of MONUC’s mission – protecting civilians while supporting the Congolese army, FARDC. We now have mounting evidence of FARDC’s frequent perpetration of brutal atrocities, which adds to devastation already heaped on the Congolese by the FDLR and other rebel groups.  I urge you to lead the UN Security Council in:

• Forming and deploying a civilian protection expert group that would put forward specific measures to improve strategies to protect civilians in eastern Congo.
• Instructing MONUC to immediately cease all support to the FARDC until clear procedures and the means to implement and evaluate them are put in place to prevent violations of  international humanitarian law.
• Putting pressure on the Congolese government to remove commanders with known records of human rights abuse from operational responsibilities.

Sincerely,