The UN mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has begun to investigate reports of violence committed by a group of militiamen in 2007, according to a U.N. statement issued on Tuesday.
"We found 72 cases of sexual violence, including four rapes of expectant mothers which caused miscarriages, as well as torture and serious injuries to men," said Akim Mumeme, a doctor and head of the team's medical unit.
On July 21, 2007, a group of Mai Mai militia, headed by Colonel Thoms, besieged the village of Lieke Lesole, some 360 km northeast of Kisangani in the northeaster province of Orientale, committed looting, torture and massive rapes of women and young girls under an operation called "Etakata," meaning "cleansing" or "clean city," the U.N. mission, known as MONUC, said in the statement.
The DRC army had arrested some members of the Mai Mai militia. Last week a U.N. human rights team, accompanied by magistrates, lawyers and doctors, took statements and testimonies and examined victim of the assaults.
This meant that military tribunals could now begin, said Captain Thom Mutombo, the auditor of Kisangani's military court.
Source:Xinhua
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