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CNN Live Saturday
French Troops Lead European Intervention in the Congo
Aired June 07, 2003 - 14:13 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Now to chaos in the Congo. French troops are leading a European intervention force. Their mission, to try and stop the latest bloodshed in the African nation. Fighting between rival militias has been centered in the northeastern town of Bunia. CNN's Catherine Bond is there and joins us now by videophone -- Catherine.
CATHERINE BOND, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, perhaps one of the most shocking aspects of this crisis in the Congo is it's taken four years to grab the world's attention. Four years of reports of massacres in this (UNINTELLIGIBLE) countryside, and 4,000 deaths reported between last August and this April alone by human rights organization.
(UNINTELLIGIBLE) of the bloodshed coming to (ph) the town of Bunia before the world popped (ph) up and noticed. The French began to arrive yesterday. They intend to bring about 700 soldiers, to which would be added 700 more from other nations. There's already 700 U.N. peacekeepers here, but operating under a far more limited mandate. It's hoped that the French will be able to carry through their mandate of disarming, or de-militarizing the town, getting militias out of Bunia town, and regrouping them in camps around the town.
WHITFIELD: Now, Catherine, it's been reported that there are children now being recruited to take up arms. What are you hearing from your end?
BOND: Yes, a number of cameramen who were out on the streets today said they did see child soldiers fighting today, that despite denials from the armed groups that they were using child soldiers. They said that those in the process of being demobilized, but we do know that the United Nations Children's Fund is working with a number of different armed groups in the Congo to try to encourage them to demobilize their child soldiers, and it does seem to be the case that children are still being used (UNINTELLIGIBLE) at the moment, which of course is deeply disturbing, because it deprives children of a childhood. It means they grow up feeling resentful, and it's also extremely dangerous for the minors involved.
WHITFIELD: From Bunia, Catherine Bond, thank you very much.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired June 7, 2003 - 14:13 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Now to chaos in the Congo. French troops are leading a European intervention force. Their mission, to try and stop the latest bloodshed in the African nation. Fighting between rival militias has been centered in the northeastern town of Bunia. CNN's Catherine Bond is there and joins us now by videophone -- Catherine.
CATHERINE BOND, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, perhaps one of the most shocking aspects of this crisis in the Congo is it's taken four years to grab the world's attention. Four years of reports of massacres in this (UNINTELLIGIBLE) countryside, and 4,000 deaths reported between last August and this April alone by human rights organization.
(UNINTELLIGIBLE) of the bloodshed coming to (ph) the town of Bunia before the world popped (ph) up and noticed. The French began to arrive yesterday. They intend to bring about 700 soldiers, to which would be added 700 more from other nations. There's already 700 U.N. peacekeepers here, but operating under a far more limited mandate. It's hoped that the French will be able to carry through their mandate of disarming, or de-militarizing the town, getting militias out of Bunia town, and regrouping them in camps around the town.
WHITFIELD: Now, Catherine, it's been reported that there are children now being recruited to take up arms. What are you hearing from your end?
BOND: Yes, a number of cameramen who were out on the streets today said they did see child soldiers fighting today, that despite denials from the armed groups that they were using child soldiers. They said that those in the process of being demobilized, but we do know that the United Nations Children's Fund is working with a number of different armed groups in the Congo to try to encourage them to demobilize their child soldiers, and it does seem to be the case that children are still being used (UNINTELLIGIBLE) at the moment, which of course is deeply disturbing, because it deprives children of a childhood. It means they grow up feeling resentful, and it's also extremely dangerous for the minors involved.
WHITFIELD: From Bunia, Catherine Bond, thank you very much.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
