Martyrs of Democracy, February 16

Twenty years ago, on February 16, 1992, Congolese Christians responded to a call by the Catholic Church to protest peacefully and demand the reopening of the Sovereign National Conference (Conference National Souveraine - CNS in French). The conference was a democratic forum composed of delegates who represented all layers of the society in the Congo (Zaire at the time) from members of civil society, political parties, the military, the diaspora, as well as the president himself. This conference was tasked with interrogating the country’s history and finding a way to deal with the multidimensional national crisis (political, economic, social, cultural, and moral) that the country was facing in 1990.

On January 19, 1992, then-Mobutu-appointed prime minister Nguza Karl-I-Bond announced the suspension of the Sovereign National Conference on radio and television. This decision to suspend the CNS angered many Congolese who had high hopes that this democratic process would help the country extricate itself from dictatorial rule. The Catholic Church, which at the time distanced itself from Mobutu's regime and became more vocal about Mobutu's human rights abuse, made a call to all Christians and civil society groups for a massive demonstration to reopen the Sovereign National Conference. Thousands of marchers from all backgrounds converged on the Tata Raphaël stadium. Police and soldiers opened fire on the marchers before they could reach their destination, killing more than forty people. This incident, which caused international outcry as news began to enter the western world, forced the government to reinstate the CNS in April 1991 and served as a pivotal point in Congo's struggle toward democratization.

In his book "The History of the Congo," Dr Didier Gondola revisits this important date and give us the reason why Christians in the Congo took to the streets. He says: "In early 1992, Mobutu decided to disband the Sovereign National Conference (Conference Nationale Souveraine - CNS), an assembly whose main task was to create a new constitution and organize democratic elections. In response to this decision, strong opposition mounted among Kinshasa's independent churches. On February 16, 1992, thousands of church members took their grievances to the streets of the capital in what was dubbed by its organizers as the "March of Hope" (Marche de l'Espoir). Marchers held banners demanding the reopening of the CNS, and they chanted songs against violence and dictatorship. The peaceful march ended in a bloodbath when the army intervened and gunned down dozens of demonstrators. The March of Hope has since been held up as a major turning point in the relations between the church and state. It was also an event that precipitated the end of Mobutu's regime."

Today, the Catholic Church is repeating a similar call for action from the Congolese people and their allies. Through The Congo Council of Catholic Apostolate of the Laity (Le Conseil de l'Apostolat des Laïcs Catholiques du Congo -CALCC in french), the church urges the participants to demonstrate peacefully and non-violently. Political parties and civil society groups also joined the call, sharing that they will demonstrate in solidarity with the Christians in demanding the truth of the polls.

CALCC Spokesperson, Bishop Thierry Nlandu, insists that participants in the demonstration must conform to the organizers' request and abide by the fundamental desire of the Congolese, which is "that the truth of the poll be exposed in broad daylight." The march has two objectives:

1. To determine the truth of the November 28th polls
2. To call on the Independent National Electoral Commission to step down

ASHADO, a premier human rights organization in the Congo, has demanded that Congolese officials ensure that the constitutional right to peacefully assemble is not violated by the security forces and asks of the organizers to show respect for law enforcement officials.

Click here to see cities participating in the commemoration of the March of Hope!

Plane Crash Kills President Kabila’s Main Adviser

A private plane crashed in Bukavu, South Kivu today. Major players in Congo's political landscape were on the plane and have been pronounced dead. Most importantly was Augustin Katumba Muanke who served as special adviser to President Kabila. It is widely reported that he was the main figure in a parallel government that shaped policy for the Kabila regime. Also on board and suffered injuries were Matata Mponyo Mapon, Minister of Finance, Marcelin Cishambo, Governor of South Kivu province and presidential adviser Antoine Ghonda.

The plane crashed when it overshot the runway. The crash occurred at 1 PM local time at the Kavumba Airport in Bukavu, South Kivu. Soldiers from Congo's military and the United Nations Security Mission in the Congo, Called MONUSCO rescued several injured passengers from the plane and . The two pilots of the plane died in the crash.

The Democratic Republic of Congo is one of the most dangerous places to fly in an airplane. However, the crash presents the greatest danger to the Kabila regime. The loss of Katumba Muanke is potentially fatal for the Kabila government.

MESSAGE OF THE CENCO TO THE CATHOLICS AND TO THE CONGOLESE PEOPLE. « COURAGE AND TRUTH »

Version Francaise!
The Congolese is thirsty for Justice and Peace.

Courage and Truth (see. II Corinthians 7, 14)

Message of the extraordinary plenary assembly of the CENCO to the Catholics and to the Congolese people.

Introduction
1. May God bless the people of the Congo. May God be good and full of grace. May God manifest his goodness and grant the Congolese people with peace ! (see. Numbers 6, 24-26).

2.We, the Cardinal, Archbishops and Bishops, members of the National Episcopal Conference of the Congo (CENCO) have come together in an extraordinary plenary session in Kinshasa from January 9 to 11, 2012, and we have analyzed the observation report conducted by our Church regarding the elections.
In a spirit of prayer and faith in the future of our country, we address this message to the Catholics and to the Congolese people in order to learn the lessons from the current electoral process.

Achievements of the election process
3.We welcome the determination, maturity and civism of our people, who, in November 2011 went to the polls in difficult conditions in order to designate sovereign rulers. We congratulate our government for being able to largely finance the elections, which proves that we can succeed in building our country if we put resources and goodwill.

We acknowledge the logistical efforts of the INEC to deploy electoral material despite the challenges and the poor infrastructures of our vast country. We also congratulate all the electoral observers and witnesses who have made many sacrifices to perform their duty.

Failures
4. However, the result of this work has disappointed many Congolese. In our message called “Election year: what should we do?” (Ac 2, 37) published on February 25,, 2011, we said we wanted the elections to be transparent, truthful and peaceful , so that Congo can be part of the respectable and dignified nations of the world. [1]. In the message of December 3rd, 2011, the CENCO reaffirmed that our goal was not to publish the results and that its observation mission encouraged the Congolese people, the political actors, and the INEC to rely on the election results. On December 8, 2011, the General Secretariat of the CENCO highlighted the positive aspects of the election process, as well as its serious irregularities and weaknesses. This is why, on December 12, 2011, the Cardinal Archbishop of Kinshasa issued a statement denouncing the non-conformity to truth and justice of the provisional results released by the INEC.

5. Today, it is clear that, according to the final report of the Election Observation Mission of the CENCO and testimonies gathered by the various dioceses and other sources, that the electoral process took place in a chaotic environment. There are many failures, cases of proven and planned fraud, fatal incidents, deaths, and a climate of terror in order to force people to fill the ballot boxes. There is more. What is now happening in the compilation of the legislative election results is unacceptable. It is a shame for our country.

6. We believe the election process was marked by serious flaws that question the credibility of the election results. We call upon the organizers to demonstrate courage, honesty and accept the consequences. We believe recognizing one’s own mistake is a sign of greatness. However, if politicians take the risk of governing the country by challenge, the internal tensions that are controllable on the short term will result in a serious and inextricable crisis. We encourage an inclusive approaches and dialogue in order to serve the best interests of the Congolese nation. It is time for courage and truth.

Our prophetic mission
7. We remain faithful to our mission of watcher for the people of God (see. Ez 3, 17), we see several challenges to overcome in order to establish the rule of law in the DR Congo, and for the well being of the Congolese people. However, we do not intend to fight a political battle for the creation of a fair society. We do not plead for a political party either. As Pope Benoit XVI said “the Church cannot and shall not replace the State, but the Church cannot and shall not stay away from the fight for justice. This is why, “in our prophetic mission, each time the people asks the Church for help, the Church wants to be ready to give hope (see. 1P 3, 15), because a new day has come (Ap 22, 5) [3]. We borrow words from Pope Benoit XVI : “Because of the Christ and by loyalty to his life lessons, our Church feels that it has to be present where people are suffering and has to break the silence about the persecuted innocents »[4].

8. Therefore, we will not stop denouncing situations that jeopardize the creation of a democratic state. You do not build the rule of law in a culture of fraud, lies, terror, militarism and flagrant violation of the freedom of expression. If democracy is a power of the people, by the people and for the people, the people must be respected. In the current situation, the Congolese people are being hurt and feel extremely frustrated. They are the powerless witnesses of a process that does not reflect their will and looks more like an arrangement between political actors.

Peace in the Truth
9. «The Church has a duty of truth to accomplish, a vital mission, it is a favor made to the liberating truth » [5]. The election process will consolidate a democratic culture and the pacification of the country. We want peace. The peace we want shall not exist without truth, justice and respect for the people. It is in the name of peace that the Church encourages Congolese leaders to promote justice and show their love for the truth. What will be the values of our youth if the only thing they know is the anti-value system?

Attack on the integrity and dignity of people
10. In this context, we condemn the public campaign orchestrated by the Cardinal. All these insults have shocked the Catholics and many others. This shows the emergence of a single thought which condemns all contradictory opinions. We condemn all the insults and threats against the president of the CENCO, because democratic debates don’t allow personal attacks.

11. We cannot remain silent in front of all these abuses: physical threats, human rights violations, kidnappings, intimidations, and the confiscation of public means of communication by a political family. Because of their political opinion, bishops, clergy and peaceful citizens are still the victims of these threats.

12. We encourage the Catholics and the Congolese people as a whole not to resort to violence, because violence breeds violence. It provokes destruction and misery. We call upon the Congolese Diaspora, those who share our concern for a better Congo, and those we know make great sacrifices to help the Congolese living in Congo, not to resort to violence and find peaceful means in order to contribute to the construction of a truly democratic Congo. As our divine Master did, we must respond to violence with love. (see. Mt 5, 43-44).

Recommendations:
13. We recommend:
- The Congolese people must not become pessimistic, hopeless, violent, tribal and xenophobic. The Congolese people must come together around the Christian and democratic values of justice and truth, they must grow together in the awareness of their national unity and sovereign power and use it in legality and vigilance;

- The politicians must prove that they are mature actors that have the capacity to organize, take their responsibilities, improve the political debate by stopping all injures , lies and by expressing their deep concern for the civism and well being of the population;

- The current INEC team must have the courage to question its own actions. They must absolutely correct the serious mistakes that have broken the trust the Congolese population had put in them. They shall otherwise resign.

- The Parliament must urgently review the composition of the INEC which is no longer trusted by the population. The Parliament shall also include civil society representatives for more independence and abstain from amending articles of the Constitution;

- The government shall learn the lessons from this election debacle and invest the adequate material for the elections and use these resources on time for future elections. The government shall also abstain from using public funds for personal gain and realize that the people want change.

- The National Police and the Armed forces must be professional, protect the population and most importantly refuse to obey unfair orders.

- The Supreme Court must be independent and conscious when making decisions in electoral disputes. The credibility of the judicial power lies in it.

- The international community shall primarily take into consideration the interest of the Congolese people, not be complaisant, support the quest for justice, peace and respect the self-determination of the Congolese people.

Conclusion
14. Our country is currently going through times of uncertainty and anguish. Our faith in God and our trust in humanity, which was created in the image of God, convince us that these feelings can be overcome if there is a change in the hearts, the mentality and the actions. It is necessary to love the country and to abandon selfish interests in order to find ways to bring about peace in the DR Congo. The peace we want can only be found in justice and love for the truth. The peace that is granted without justice is only ephemeral and illusory. The justice of men, if it not the fruit of reconciliation, truth and love remains uncompleted. It is love, justice and truth that trace the paths of the real justice and peace we want for the DR Congo.

15. May the prayer of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Queen of Peace and Notre-Dame of Congo, whose heart is always oriented towards the will of God, support any conversion, consolidate all initiatives for reconciliation, dialogue and strengthen all efforts for a Congo that is thirsty for justice and peace.

Kinshasa, January, 11, 2012
[1] Cf. CENCO, Election Year: What should we do ? (Ac 2,37), n° 23.
[2] Benoît XVI, Lettre encyclique Deus caritas est, n° 28.
[3] Benoît XVI, Exhortation apostolique post-synodale Africae munus, n° 30.
[4] Benoît XVI, Exhortation apostolique post-synodale Africae munus, n° 30.
[5] Benoît XVI, Exhortation apostolique post-synodale Africae munus, n° 22

Martyrs Day

Today, January 4th 2012, marks the 53rd anniversary of the courageous uprising of young Congolese in Kinshasa, then Leopoldville, to demand an end of Belgian colonialism. As the people took to the streets, several hundred died as they were shot with live fire by Belgian security forces though this was a peaceful march. Nine days later the King of Belgium announced that in due time Belgium would grant Congo full independence. The courageous stance by that generation of Congolese served as a key catalyst for Congo’s independence in 1960. This day is known as the Day of the Martyrs of Independence.

As we remember the courageous fighters of that time, we should know that Congolese today inside and outside are organizing to regain control of their country. From Kinshasa to Lubumbashi, Brussels to Seoul, London to Washington, Congolese have risen with one voice demanding that their voice be heard and their will be respected in spite of the fraudulent attempt to steal the November elections.

With this awakening, the youth of the Congo are more than determined to resist the hijacking of the future of their country. They aim to fulfill their founding mothers' fathers' prophecy that they will write their own history. A grassroots movement throughout the Congo and outside has begun with one word... INGETA... a word in Kikongo meaning "So be it." Young Congolese have come together to develop a platform connecting them worldwide and celebrating the martyrs of their country.

On this day, we hope you join the Congolese in their pursuit of true independence... and that day will come sooner than one might think.

Click here (Francais) to learn more about Ingeta!

More information on Martyrs Day:

http://congofriends.blogspot.com/2011/01/day-of-martyrs-of-independence.html

http://www.newsaboutcongo.com/2011/01/day-of-the-martyrs-of-independence.html

Congo: Elections, Democracy and The Diaspora Awakening

The November 28th Presidential and legislative elections were fraught with tremendous irregularities and widespread charges of fraud. The National Independent Electoral Commission (CENI in French) announced on December 8th that Joseph Kabila won the elections with 49 percent of the vote and long-time opposition, Etienne Tshisekedi garnered 32 percent.

The Supreme Court validated the results published by CENI and dismissed a challenge to the results by the opposition, led by presidential candidate Vital Kamerhe. The opposition categorically rejected the results as fraudulent. Nonetheless, Joseph Kabila was sworn into office on Tuesday, December 20th, where only one head of state (Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe) attended although 12 other African heads of states were expected to attend. Ambassadors from foreign nations, including the United States, were present for Kabila's swearing-in.

Rejecting the results, Etienne Tshisekedi announced that he would have his own swearing-in among the people at the 80,000 capacity Martyrs Stadium on Friday, December 23rd. Being under virtual house arrest, Tshisekedi was confined to his residence by the Kabila regime. The government also prevented the population from entering the stadium with a heavy show of force from the police, armed forces, and presidential guard. The regime blocked routes leading to the stadium with heavy tanks and artillery. Instead of a swearing-in at the stadium in front of a large audience, Etienne Tshisekedi had to perform the ceremony at home in his garden. In addition to domestic pressure, the government is experiencing intense international pressure; the European Union has said it will re-evaluate its cooperation with the DRC and make judgments based on how the political crisis unfolds and Mme Christine Lagarde, head of the International Monetary Fund said she is following the situation in the Congo with a particular focus on the rule of law and the political climate, especially the pre and post-electoral periods.

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is at a critical juncture in its tenuous march towards peace and stability. The Kabila regime suffers from a severe crisis of legitimacy and the future of the democratic project is in the balance. Stability will be fleeting without legitimacy. What is at stake in the Congo is not merely an election but respect for the will of a people and the future of democracy in the heart of Africa.

The Carter Center said the Presidential results announced by the CENI "lacked credibility," while the Archbishop of Kinshasa, Cardinal Laurent Monsengwo, said that the results announced by the CENI reflects "neither the truth nor justice." The European Union chimed in, noting that the process evinced a lack of transparency, with its missing polling stations and lost results totaling an estimated 1.6 million votes. South Africa noted that the elections were"generally OK," while the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the African Union (AU) found little wrong with the elections. Nonetheless, the CENI has ceased the counting of the legislative results and invited an international technical team from the United States and England to help with the counting of the legislative results, which are expected to be announced by January 13th - a constitutional deadline that will be difficult to meet.

Congolese in the diaspora have responded with universal outrage and have taken to the streets throughout the globe. Demonstrations have occurred in London, Brussels, Paris, Berlin, Rome, Johannesburg, Tel Aviv, Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa, New York, Washington and numerous other cities around the world. The central demand of the demonstrations is that the will of the Congolese people be respected. Click here to see videos of Congolese demonstrations!

Due to greater access to information combined with the freedom to express themselves, Congolese in the Diaspora have voiced the frustrations and concerns of their countrymen and women. The Congolese population inside the country has been under a military clamp-down with tanks in the streets, omnipresent security forces, SMS shut down (a major tool of communication for Congolese), and opposition television shuttered. Moreover, the Kabila regime has already demonstrated a willingness to use its armed and security forces to fire on unarmed civilians (see Human Rights Watch Report) and round-up and disappear civilians (see Amnesty International and Voix Sans Voix Statement).

The best option to rescue the country from a descent into a deeper crisis is the activation of a national mediation mechanism supported by the international community (Southern African Development Community (SADC), African Union (AU), European Union, United Nations and United States). However, political will on the part of the political class to prioritize the people's interests over partisan interests is a necessary prerequisite for this option to be successful.

Continue to take action and support Congo's pursuit of democracy:
"Our offices have gotten quite a bit of input from the Congolese Community in the US for which we are grateful." U.S. Senator Christopher Coons

1. Contact key world leaders and demand that they refrain from recognizing Joseph Kabila as President of the DRC.
2. Demand that the technical team from the United States and England assess both the legislative and presidential results.
3. Participate in teach-ins to learn about what is at stake in the Congo and the nature of Congo's democratic movement. (Click here for comprehensive list of actions!)

On January 17, 2012, the 51st anniversary of the assassination of Patrice Lumumba, Friends of the Congo and its allies will join in solidarity with the Congolese people by organizing a rally, teach-in and Lumumba Commemoration in Washington, DC and New York City. We call on our supporters and people of goodwill throughout the globe to join in solidarity with the people of the Congo as they continue the over 125 year pursuit to control and determine their own affairs.

Stay abreast of the latest developments on the elections by visiting our elections corner or follow us on Facebook or Twitter for regular updates.

Congolese Women Occupy The United States Embassy in Kinshasa

Congolese Women of the opposition have been occupying the entrance to the U.S. Embassy in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. They have been staying overnight since Monday December 19. The group is led by Denise Lupetu (UDPS), Martine Bukasa (UNC), Honorine Bokashanga (A), Christine Masengu (MPCR), Elise Kalombo (RCDN), Pascaline Kudur (FIS). The women dropped off a memorandum at the U. S. Embassy regarding the fradulent reelection of Joseph Kabila. Below is the memo:

With great sorrow, the Congolese people, helpless, represented by women of the political opposition and as part of a global witness, attest to the hijacking of the 2011 presidential elections. Indeed, with great consternation, Congolese women of the political opposition denounce the extortion of the people's victory in the 2011 elections by the organizing authority, the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI in French), in complicity with the forces of the outgoing government. A great outcry has gone out from numerous sources, in the press and elsewhere, denouncing the serious irregularities in the operations of the presidential elections, including:

- Pre-checked ballot papers for candidate number 3 (Mr. Joseph Kabila);

- Refusal and prevention of opposition witnesses to have access to some polling stations or to attend the emptying of ballot boxes;

- The malicious intent to withhold certified polling results from opposition witnesses;

- Relocation and removal of certain centers and polling stations;

- The prevention of some witnesses of the opposition from attending the compilation of results;

- Ballot stuffing, for candidate number 3 [Joseph Kabila] and candidates for parliament who are members of the presidential majority;

- The complicity of some security officers (the Republican Guard, the National Police, the Direction Générale de Migration - Homeland Security, the services of the ANR - secret service, the CENI officials, state agents), with the hidden intention of facilitating fraud.


Despite these glaring irregularities, the suffering people have witnessed the will they expressed at the polls stolen by CENI, which has facilitated the reversal of the trends in favor of their candidate Joseph Kabila.

The President of the CENI, Mr. Ngoy Mulunda, demonstrated support for Kabila early in the election process and unceasingly defended him, despite claims that he was serving an independent institutional role.

The incumbent created the same situation with its position vis-à-vis the CENI. Who does not remember the blank ballots found in 2006 in Mr. Ngoy Mulunda's offices, located at Avenue de la Justice, when he was not part of the 2006 electoral commission?

The Democratic Republic of Congo, our country, looks by all perspectives like a banana republic devoid of any law. The highest courts, namely, the Supreme Court of Justice, which is expected to uphold the law, has become simply an instrument of Joseph Kabila's power or better yet his own personal property. Despite all the accusations and blatant irregularities noted by the various stakeholders in the elections of November 28, the Supreme Court, which makes the final decision on election results, ultimately did nothing but express the will of the CENI and not the will of the Congolese people. Faced with this blatant theft of the Congolese people's voices, the people expect nothing less than the recovery, by any means necessary, of its hard-won victory at the cost of human life, to reference the 18 Congolese killed November 26, 2011 at Tshangu.

As if this were not enough, the Conseil Superieur de l’Audiovisuel et de la Communication (CSAC - media regulator/censor) exploited by the dictatorial power of Mr. Joseph Kabila, blocked the signals of three television channels Radio Lisanga Télévision (RLTV), Congo Média Channel Télévision (CMC TV), Canal Congo Télévision (CCTV), all stations close to the opposition. The Congolese population have also been deprived of their liberty to communicate by elimination of the use of SMS.

Africa in general and the Democratic Republic of Congo in particular were encouraged by the involvement of the international community in resolving post-election conflicts in Ivory Coast by applying pressure to determine the truth of the polls and restore the will of the Ivorian people. This Ivorian situation has undeniable parallels to the Congolese situation. This is why the Congolese people believe that the international community has no excuse for this silence; we believe it should be held accountable for the consequences of its silence. The Democratic Republic of Congo, our country, has no need of strong men; instead it needs strong institutions.

Appeal To World Leaders Regarding The 2011 Elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo

On November 28, 2011, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) held its second presidential and parliamentary elections since the devastating war that began in 1996 and continues to claim lives in the eastern part of the country. Assassinations, intimidation, and other human rights violations have been documented since the beginning of the electoral process. Human Rights Watch reported that of the 18 people dead as a result of electoral violence on November 26, the majority of those killed were shot dead by President Kabila’s Republican Guard soldiers in Kinshasa.

On December 9, 2011, the preliminary presidential election results were announced. The electoral commission reported that Joseph Kabila was the leading candidate with 8,880,944 votes, or 49% of the votes cast. He was followed by Etienne Tshisekedi with 5,864,775 or 32%.

The Archbishop of the Catholic Church in Kinshasa, Cardinal L. Monsengwo Pasina says the results correspond neither to truth nor justice. The Carter Center who observed the elections said that they lacked credibility. The Carter Center also observed that 2,000 polling station results numbering 750,000 votes were missing in Kinshasa alone. The European Union deplored the lack of transparency, and the irregularities in the collection, compilation and publication of the results. They also noted that results from 4,875 polling stations totaling 1.6 million votes were missing.

Steps taken by the Kabila regime ranging from the change in the constitution, appointment of a member of his party and close adviser as president of the electoral commission, and the stacking of the Supreme Court at the outset of the launch of the electoral campaign all strongly suggest a premeditated attempt to rig the elections or produce a fraudulent outcome.

In light of the acute political crisis in which the Congo is trapped, Friends of the Congo recommends that world leaders get fully engaged immediately and advance the following:

1. Refrain from recognizing Joseph Kabila as winner of the 2011 presidential election.

2. Facilitate a high-level mediation process made up of the Southern African Development Community, the African Union, The European Union, The United Nations, select respected former African heads of states and representatives from the United States, England and China.

3. Assure that the will of the people is accurately reflected in the legislative elections.

It is critical that the current political crisis in the Congo is given the attention it deserves with the particular focus on making sure that the will of the Congolese people is respected.

Friends of the Congo
Washington, DC
December 16, 2011

Occupy the Phones, to the U.S. Senate, for the Congo

Friends of the Congo and the African Great Lakes Advocates Coalition* would like to urge Occupiers and others of goodwill in the U.S., from Massachusetts, California, New Jersey, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, New Hampshire, Illinois, Delaware, New Mexico, Tennessee, Idaho, Florida, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Georgia, Wyoming, and Utah, to Occupy the phones to the U.S. Senate for the Democratic Republic of the Congo (D.R.C).

The D.R.C. has held a presidential election that even the conservative International Crisis Group, an organization of international capital managers and their government and military allies, characterizes as dangerously indefensible. The fierce resistance of the Congolese people has left "the international community," most of all foreign heads of state, thus far unwilling to acknowledge the victory of sitting President Joseph Kabila. Please call and encourage your Senators on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to

ARE THESE YOUR SENATORS? IF YES THEY ARE PART OF THE FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEE, SO CONTACT THEM ABOUT THE D.R. CONGO

If you live in the following states - Massachusetts, California, New Jersey, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, New Hampshire, Illinois, Delaware, New Mexico, Tennessee, Idaho, Florida, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Georgia, Wyoming, Utah - we need your support in calling your senators and posting info on their facebook page about the situation in the Congo.

Here is a small script

Hello, my name is ___________. I am a constituent of Senator ___________. I am calling in regard to the Senate Hearing on Thursday December 15 on Congo's elections that Senator ________ 's committee will be hosting. I want to thank Senator ______ for holding this hearing.

According to Public Law 109-456, it is US policy to support democracy in the Congo. In this respect, I appeal to Senator ______ to:

1. Demand that the US government does not recognize the current elections results published by the Congolese Independent Electoral Commission (CENI) in light of the Carter Center's, European Union's and Catholic Church's report about the irregularities during the electoral process.

2. Assure that the will of the Congolese people is respected per their vote on Nov. 28th.

Thank you!

Click here to learn more about the elections!