.- The
U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has expressed its “deep concern”
over what they call the arbitrary arrest and detention of two human
rights workers in the African nation of Congo.
In a letter to
Ambassador Serge Mombouli of the Republic of the Congo, Bishop Thomas
G. Wenski, chairman of the Bishop’s committee on International Policy
joined the voices of the U.S. bishops “with those of our brother
bishops in the Republic of the Congo” in expressing dismay over the
arrest of Brice Makosso and Christian Mounzeo.
He pointed out that the two have “now been held in custody since Friday, April 7, 2006 without charge.”
Bishop Wenski
cited an April 10th declaration from the Conference of Bishops of the
Congo (CEC) which stated that the prelates are “particularly alarmed by
the numerous irregularities in judicial procedure leading to this
incarceration that would suggest other, less explicit motives for this
affair.”
“The U.S.
bishops”, he said, “share the apprehension that these two men may be
suffering harassment as a result of their tireless efforts to ensure a
measure of transparency in the management of your country’s abundant
natural resources, rather than for any sort of malfeasance.”
Calling for
justice and due process of law, he added that “the U.S. bishops request
you to convey to your government an urgent appeal for the immediate and
unconditional release of…Makosso and Mounzeo, as well as for an end to
all forms of harassment of, or reprisals against, these two defenders
of human rights.”
The USCCB
reported that Brice Makosso is Permanent Secretary of the Justice and
Peace Commission of the Congo Bishops’ Conference, while Mr. Christian
Mounzeo serves as President of the Peace and Human Rights Group (RPDH).
U.S. Bishops appalled by arbitrary arrest of human rights workers in Congo
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