01:00:10:00

1

01:00:34:23

COMMENTARY

In Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, government soldiers are getting ready for morning prayers.

UP SOT  - SINGING

01:00:44:01

The text for today’s sermon is taken from recent events, and focuses on the need to protect civilians, who’ve become targets in an endless cycle of fighting and violence.

UP SOT

PRIEST – Halleluja

01:01:02:03

These soldiers are still on full alert after the rebellion led by the M23 movement last November.

UPSOT – PRIEST (French/ Swahili)

…looting during operations…

01:01:22:21

When the rebels attacked the key eastern town of Goma, the Congolese Army was ordered into full retreat.

2

01:01:31:03

COMMENTARY

They came here, to the town of Minova about 50 kilometres away.

01:01:35:22

It’s a thriving market town and has largely been spared the years of fighting, which has caused the death of over 5 million people.

01:01:44:09

Women in particular have become targets. Rape has become one of the key weapons of this war.

3

01:01:53:06

COMMENTARY

A centre provides sanctuary and support for survivors and children, born from rape and rejected by their families.

01:02:01:21

The founder witnessed what happened when the

soldiers came to Minova last year.  Its too dangerous to show her identity.

4

SUBTITLES

01:02:10:18

“WOMAN 1”

It was the 22nd November…

01:02:17:18

…we saw soldiers and tanks…

01:02:23:18

Soldier’s wives

 shouted on the streets…

01:02:28:14

‘run, run run, the M23 have entered,

 if they see you…

01:02:34:05

 …you’ll be raped

and they will kill you”.

5

01:02:38:11

COMMENTARY

But it wasn’t the M23 rebels, it was soldiers from the Congolese army. They were angry and humiliated after being ordered to withdraw, retreating from their positions from their positions which left their wives and children as well as  their home town of Goma wide open to the rebels

6

Anonymous

SUBTITLES

01:02:57:23

CAPTAIN

We arrived in Minova,

I was with my company at 1630hrs.

01:03:02:13

The soldiers were in retreating

7

Anonymous

SUBTITLES

01:03:04:23

MAJOR

Morale was low, we were shocked

 to have lost our positions.

8

SUBTITLES

01:03:16:05

SERGEANT “BONIFACE”

We were all demoralized

and disappointed.

01:03:22:22

We thought they’d betrayed us.

9

SUBTITLES

01:03:26:13

CAPTAIN

There were over 2,000 soldiers

 out of control, with no orders.

10

SUBTITLES

01:03:35:24

WOMAN 1

There were so many soldiers,

 with tanks everywhere.

01:03:38:16

The women were afraid and asked me if

 we were going to die.

01:03:41:15

I said ‘No, we’ll not run,

Let’s eat first’.

01:03:43:13

TC:03:39

Music track: “REDRESS opening maybe”

TC OUT: 01:04:

11

01:03:48:13

COMMENTARY

As night fell the situation got worse

12

SUBTITLES

01:03:56:22

 SERGEANT “BONIFACE”

We’d lost all hope, we weren’t thinking

 like human beings anymore.

01:04:03:08

It was night, we arrived here

 after crossing the bridge.

01:04:10:24

It wasn’t as though you knew

 how many women you were going to rape.

01:04:15:08

That day it wasn’t many,

 there must have been three.

13

SUBTITLES

01:04:22:03

SOLDIER “MATESO”

It’s true that we raped here.

01:04:24:08

We found women,

because they can’t escape…

01:04:30:24

…you see her, you catch her, you take her away,

 and you have your way with her.

01:04:35:10

Sometimes you’d kill her…

01:04:38:11

…when you finished raping,

then you’ll kill her child.

01:04:44:06

You rape and you carry on.

 14

01:04:48:22

COMMENTARY

In other parts of town, people were unaware of what was about to happen.

01:04:53:11

One woman was sitting in her boutique when she heard gunshots outside.

15

SUBTITLES

01:04:58:21

“Woman 2”

Suddenly the soldiers came.

01:05:01:06

Without warning

they started to beat us, over and over again.

01:05:08:00

There were three who raped me

 two from the front…

01:05:12:17

…the other said he wouldn’t go

 where the others left their dirt.

01:05:16:11

So the third took me from the back.

01:05:20:14

I thought I was going to die

16

01:05:27:02

TC: 00:05:18

MUSIC TRACK:

“REDRESS opening maybe”

TC OUT

01:05:36:16

COMMENTARY

At the centre soldiers were also on the rampage, two groups had already been, looting and raping the women.

Then a third group arrived

17

SUBTITLES

01:05:39:10

WOMAN 1

So I stayed calm and

 told the women to not be afraid.

01:05:42:05

If I have to die,

 I’ll die here with you, I will not run.

01:05:49:18

They made me sit and started touching me,

 they ordered me to give them money.

01:05:54:05

I said I don’ t have money.

01:05:56:05

All the children around me.

01:06:00:05

Then they stared to rape the women

from the dormitories, I saw it all.

01:06:10:08

The girls who’d run away

came and said they’d been raped again.

01:06:15:20

It was terrible,

I thought they were going to kill me.

18

01:06:23:08

COMMENTARY

One of the girls had been brought to the centre some months before after being raped by militia in the hills. She’s only 14 years old.

19

01:06:32:08

14 YEAR OLD

SUBTITLES

When we heard the gunshots

 we came out of the house.

01:06:36:02

Everyone was running

and looking for a place to go.

01:06:38:20

There was no time to find

 someone to go with.

01:06:43:01

We ran into the bush.

01:06:45:12

The soldiers started to search

and beat people in the bush.

01:06:49:03

They found us three girls

 and they raped us.

01:06:53:19

They beat us badly and they left.

01:06:56:15

MUSIC TRACK

“REDRESS opening maybe”

07:15

20

01:06:58:08

COMMENTARY

Throughout the town and the surrounding villages the soldiers were in a frenzy

21

01:07:04:18

ASTON

SERGEANT “MATESO”

FARDC

SOLDIER “MATESO”

SUBTITLES

01:07:07:07

We met other people,

we killed just for the sake of it.

01:07:11:02

We raped, we destroyed everything,

 everything in our path.

22

01:07:25:17

ASTON

SERGEANT “BONIFACE”

FARDC

SERGEANT “BONIFACE”

SUBTITLES

01:07:27:21

When we enter homes,

we open the door and find them hiding.

01:07:30:17

They try to scream,

so we tell them to stop screaming.

01:07:34:03

When we see that she’s screaming

sometimes we let her go.

01:07:38:16

Or you’ll find her hiding in the bush

and have sex with her there.

23

01:07:46:03

COMMENTARY

The soldiers felt cut adrift, Two of the most senior generals had been relieved of their command. One for smuggling weapons. 

It left a power vacuum with only the soldiers immediate superiors to restrain them. But in Minova they didn’t.

24

01:08:03:09

ASTON

IDA SAWYER  

Human Rights Watch

IDA SAWYER – HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH  

The officers do not control their troops, they do not make efforts to discipline their troops, or to give orders to their troops not to carry out abuses against the civilian population. They do not intervene to stop the rapes to stop the looting. And that’s what we saw during the, the Minova area rapes, where the officers did not intervene and allowed this to happen.

25

01:08:25:20

COMMENTARY

Yet in Minova the level of chaos was so high this Sergeant says he was even ordered to rape by his commanding officer

26

SUBTITLES

01:08:34:17

SERGEANT “BONIFACE”

The Commander gave us an order,

 and he was the one who started to do it.

01:08:41:21

There was shooting everywhere.

01:08:45:23

He told us to surround him

so he wouldn’t get shot.

01:08:51:01

The he started raping her.

01:08:54:19

He told us to go and rape women.

27

SUBTITLES

SERGEANT “MATESO”

01:08:58:14

I raped because my Commander

started to rape first.

01:09:04:10

On my own,

I’ve raped fifty three women.

01:09:09:06

I don’t know how old they were,

  older women around 30 or 40 years old.

01:09:17:23

Younger women, babies around 3

 and kids aged 5 and 6 years old.

28

TC IN: 01:09:23:17

MUSIC TRACK

Studio 9 Dark Intro

TC OUT: 01:10:06:12

01:09:31:10

COMMENTARY

Women in Eastern Congo know they are at their most vulnerable to rape when they go to gather food, in the fields or the forest.

What they never thought would happen was to be attacked by groups of their own soldiers in their homes.

Aware of troop behaviour, Colonel Kubuta knows he must inspire his soldiers to follow the correct moral code.

 UP SOT

29

SUBTITLES

01:10:02:05

01:10:11:08

ASTON

Rev KUBUTA SHEMUSOBYO

FARDC

Lt COL Rev KUBUTA SHEMUSOBYO (military priest)

The message we’ve emphasised to the military

is that we were civilians.

01:10:13:08

We have no right

to attack the civilian population.

01:10:16:15

We cannot rape them,

 we cannot loot.

01:10:23:04

We cannot bully them.

01:10:27:19

We are here to protect

 the civilians and their possessions…

01:10:33:02

…despite the difficult

 situation during operations.

30

01:10:36:24

COMMENTARY

It’s a message that may be getting through to some of the soldiers.

31

01:10:41:02

SERGEANT “BONIFACE”

I realised there was no point doing this,

I was just destroying people.

01:10:48:22

So I realised I can’t continue doing this,

my conscience told me it wasn’t good.

32

01:11:04:20

COMMENTARY

But a culture of looting and rape has pervaded the nations armed forces, and the integrating of untrained and uneducated militia men into the  army has proved disastrous.

As thIs former child soldier can testify

33

SUBTITLES

01:11:20:19

SERGEANT “MATESO”

I entered when I was between 8 and 9.

01:11:26:21

I started as a Mai Mai in Shabunda,

 then I left and entered the Government.

01:11:33:05

Then I left the Government

and entered the PARECO.

01:11:36:09

Then I left the PARECO

 and went back to the Government…

FADES DOWN

34

01:11:40:02

COMMENTARY

His unit was even bribed to fight with the rebels for a short period last November, before rejoining government troops in Minova and taking part in the mass rapes.

35

SUBTITLES

SERGEANT “MATESO”

01:11:51:13

Raping gave us a lot of pleasure…

…when we rape we feel free.

36

TC IN: 01:11:59:12

MUSIC TRACK:

“Congo 2a”

TC OUT: 01:12:51:05

01:12:08:12

COMMENTARY

It’s estimated that hundreds of thousands of women, children and even men have been raped.

01:12:18:19

Many say they expect it, at least once  but will probably be abused three or four times. Their daughters born from rape are now being raped too.

01:12:31:05

So why is this happening?

It’s a question the women ask themselves

37

SUBTITLES

WOMAN 2

01:12:35:11

We wondered in our hearts,

we asked ourselves…

01:12:40:12

why are they doing this?

01:12:43:18

Don’t they have women like us?

01:12:46:12

That’s what we wondered…

01:12:49:02

…because they’re all just

 destroying and destroying.

38

01:12:52:07

WOMAN 1

I think they loot because the

 government doesn’t pay them.

01:12:57:21

That’s why they

 loot for food.

01:13:01:03

If they’d only looted, without raping,

 we would have understood.

01:13:03:21

We would have thought

 they’re just hungry, it’s the hardship.

01:13:08:19

But they raped as well.

01:13:11:14

Maybe they raped because

they hadn’t had sex for a while.

01:13:15:14

  But it wasn’t just that,

they took women by force.

01:13:21:11

It’s beyond raping,

 it’s not just sexual appetite.

01:13:25:06

Maybe they think the country is exhausted.

01:13:27:15

That it’s a dead country.

01:13:29:15

That's why women must die,

 that’s what I am thinking.

39

TC IN: 01:13:33:01

MUSIC TRACK

Studio 9 Dark Intro

TC OUT: 01:14:04:13

01:13:43:10

COMMENTARY

Perhaps justice could help to save the country.

Yet in this part of Congo, it seems to be fractured and forgotten like the Minova court house

40

01:13:53:19

IDA SAWYER

we have seen no, no clear improvements in the behaviour of groups and that largely seems because there is complete impunity.

Um, in that the commanders most responsible for these horrific abuses that we’ve documented in the eastern Congo, are not brought to justice.  Instead they are most often rewarded, and given positions, and power and wealth

and this sends a message to lower ranking soldiers and the other militia leaders that the way to get power, wealth, positions in Congo is by raping and killing and committing horrific abuses on the civilian population

TC IN: 01:14:27:05

MUSIC TRACK

Congo 2a

TC OUT: 01:15:01:12

they’re meant to protect.

41

01:14:34:16

COMMENTARY

There have been some trials for rape, but despite convictions, the women who have risked their lives to testify often see the perpetrators walk free

42

SUBTITLES

01:14:44:12

WOMAN 1

The victim sees that

 the rapist’s been punished.

01:14:50:19

Then you do all

 the psychological work with the victim.

01:14:56:06

 You tell them that life is worth living.

01:14:58:24

But then they see, within a week,

 the rapist is walking on the streets again…

01:15:03:08

It is said that they will be punished.

01:15:08:07

But I’ve never seen anyone who has raped,

  looted or killed being punished.

01:15:15:16

I’ve never seen that,

 really there’s nothing like that here in Congo.

43

01:15:21:00

COMMENTARY

But there are signs that the tide is slowly turning and the crimes in Minova may prove to be a test  case.

Evidence is being collected by military  prosecutors for a trial

44

01:15:35:18

ASTON

MOKUTA AMDONDO Military Prosecutor, North Kivu

SUBTITLES

01:15:39:11

MOKUTA AMDONDO

Military Prosecutor, North Kivu

We have today not only the right,

 But also the duty …

01:15:42:09

…to prosecute these soldiers.

01:15:44:19

To arrest them and to put them

in front of the appropriate courts.

01:15:52:08

We must do it for

the civilian population…

01:15:57:16

…to whom we must provide

legal security.

01:16:01:20

We must act urgently…

01:16:05:24

…also for the  honour

 of the military justice

TC IN: 01:16:08:19

MUSIC TRACK

“Studio 9 Dark Intro”

TC OUT: 01:16:28:19

45

01:16:13:02

COMMENTARY

But the crimes were committed at night and one of the many challenges facing the investigators is that the victims cannot identify their attackers.

46

SUBTITLES

01:16:23:11

WOMAN 1

There were so many groups

 you wouldn’t be able to identify them.

01:16:25:22

They enter the house and the bedrooms.

01:16:30:02

Others will take stuff away.

47

SUBTITLES

14 YEAR OLD

01:16:32:15

I don’t know them.

01:16:34:21

They were 3 of them

 and they found us 3 girls.

48

SUBTITLES

01:16:38:08

WOMAN 2

How can you recognise someone

 at 10 o clock at night?

01:16:42:10

I didn’t see their faces,

I don’t know them.

01:16:47:08

How can you see someone

 who is hitting you in the eyes?

01:16:50:19

How will you know someone

 Who’s inserting a guns barrel…

01:16:54:01

… in your mouth…

01:16:55:21

… and then another one

 in between your legs?

01:16:58:05

Then he leaves

 and another one enters

49

01:17:01:04

COMMENTARY

However, there is a legal precedent allowing for commanding officers to be put on trial should it prove impossible to identify the individual perpetrators

50

SUBTITLES

01:17:11:07

N Kivu Prosecutor - MOKUTA AMDONDO

The essence of this principle means …

01:17:15:23

…that the commanders of the units…

01:17:18:18

or the most senior officers…

01:17:21:20

…must be pursued on a criminal basis…

01:17:27:12

…for these serious crimes  on an international level…

01:17:34:02

…committed by soldiers under their control

at the time of the events.

51

01:17:42:09

COMMENTARY

Despite feeling both remorse and defiance, the two rapists told us they would face justice,

if their commanding officer gave himself up

52

SUBTITLES

01:17:51:06

01:17:52:20

01:17:56:00

01:18:01:12

01:18:03:22

SERGEANT “MATESO”

I can accept…

…that if they catch my Colonel

who ordered us to rape first …

…if they find him

then I will admit that I raped too

But if they don’t catch him

then I can’t admit to anything…

…because they’re

 the ones who sent us

53

SUBTITLES

01:18:05:13

01:18:10:12

TC:18:11

MUSIC TRACK

Congo 5a

01:21:50:14

STAFF SERGEANT “BONIFACE”

If those who committed these crime

 can be arrested and judged…

…then that would be good.

54

01:18:16:02

COMMENTARY

The women of eastern Congo need to believe there will be justice and an end to impunity because they continue to face the consequences of these crimes.

55

01:18:27:15

01:18:31:19

01:18:38:22

01:18:41:19

01:18:44:09

01:18:47:10

WOMAN 1

On the 22 November I received 130 cases.

Within those 130 cases,

there were 17 girls under 18 years old,

from 11 years old.

Women have become like goats.

Women don’t have any value in Congo,

 No value at all.

56

SUBTITLES

01:18:49:12

01:18:54:16

WOMAN 2

If justice is done,

maybe this will stop soldiers.

It’s just that they aren’t afraid of anything.

57

01:19:00:21

COMMENTARY

The crimes that were perpetrated in Minova in November 2012 could become a turning point.

If a trial goes ahead it would send an important signal that there are consequences for committing crimes and perhaps even an end to impunity.

59

01:19:18:00

01:19:24:03

01:19:29:20

01:19:33:14

01:19:39:04

01:19:45:23

01:19:49:23

01:19:53:03

01:19:55:22

01:20:00:04

01:0:07:24

01:20:13:13

01:20:19:19

01:20:23:00

TC IN:01:20:22:11

MUSIC TRACK

Congo 5a

TC OUT: 01:21:51:00

N Kivu Prosecutor MOKUTA AMDONDO

Today, we talk of massive collective rape

and looting by soldiers during their retreat.

It’s very important because it’s about women,

vulnerable people …

…who were raped, in the most deplorable way.

Those women must be protected

 against all forms of aggression…

…by the authorities.

Today they are the victims,

military justice must intervene,

it must intervene

to provide legal security for the population.

To neutralize the soldiers

 who have committed those grave crimes…

… at an international level.

59

01:20:33:06

COMMENTARY

To date eight commanders have been suspended from duty. Six of them are under investigation.

A trial has yet to be confirmed.

60

WOMAN 1

01:20:44:23

01:20:51:15

01:20:55:24

01:21:01:16

01:21:06:09

01:21:08:11

01:21:14:09

For those of us in Congo

and the villages, there’s no peace.

Before we had victims

 from the high plains.

I always thought it was

FDLR, CNDP who were raping…

…that it wasn’t

 our Congolese brothers.

But when I saw what happened…

…that our army has looted

 and raped their own people…

…our life in Congo has no meaning.

61

Credit roller – fade up

01:21:33:14

EDITOR

Emiliano Battista

Anita Sandhu

UNIT MANAGER

Bella Barr

COMPOSER

Steve Hamilton

A FILM BY

Fiona Lloyd-Davies

62

01:21:45:24

(STUDIO 9 FILMS LOGO fade up from black )

A STUDIO 9 FILMS PRODUCTION

© MMXIII

in association with

Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting