Congolese Woman testifies before US senators about sexual violence in Congo

[Melodies4guitar]

This is heartbreaking. I want so badly to help them.

[o0LoveLove0o]

I wish someone would help these people. I think sometimes we don't know who to help. Which move is right or wrong. Who is getting the aid. These people need to stop hurting their people.

[mrfamilyman1000]

1994 in Rwanda The Genocide killed near 2 million in 100 days. Using clubs with nails and machettes. Children, women and men were mutilated and familys completly wiped out. Un born children were cut out of wombs and husbands made to watch. They went beyond rape and cut out virginas and "chopped" people to death. The congo is were the hutu retreted and the war has claimed millions of other helpless victims ever since. It has been going on for 10 years ever since. No one will help them.

[adronaman]

all the bst and justice for the women of the great lakes of Africa. and for human kind..

[Fadjiiii]

The criminal Swedish government and police are throwing people who seeks asylum in jail. Marie Antoinette from Burundi is in jail in Sweden beacuse she was seeking asylum, she has done NO crime. Sweden is the worlds biggest fraud. Swedish government is robbing Africa since 1956. Swedish weapons is killing 100000 children in Irak, Africa, Afghanistan, Indonesia etc etc. Marie was beaten and by Swedish police and they put paper in her mout to stop her pray to God. Devil will take you said police!

[buashraf]

Heshimajamani. I also believe Balala was honest and I could easily vote for him for president. But when he was vying for the ODM presidential ticket, a Kenyan I know was really mad about it saying that we cant vote for an Arab. Nonetheless when he paved way for Raila, the same Kenyan went round singing the patriotism that Balala had shown for giving way to Raila. The truth is Kenya is a highly polarised society. The politicians take advantage of this. There´s too much ethnicity talk in politics

[HeshimaJameni]

Museveni is one of the players who await their day in court at The Hague for the involvement of Uganda's security forces on behalf of his fellow dictator and buddy, president Kibaki, for his security forces' killing of innocent civilians in western Kenya. Kibaki was on Uganda TV with Museveni the same night following his hurried swearing-in. Museveni advised Kibaki during the delay of the election results. The truth is now coming out... stay tuned.

[buashraf]

Heshimajameni. I know you are entitled to your opinions but to say the least I dont think Kibaki qualifies to be called a dictator. Kibaki can not beat Kagame, Museveni or Meles Zenawi. I am not Kibaki's supporter as you can prove from my comments here on youtube. Museveni is the worst thing that has ever happened in Uganda.

[HeshimaJameni]

Buashraf, I would beg to differ with you on this one. Kibaki squandered a golden opportunity after winning the 2002 elections and trashed all his campaign pledges of zero tolerance on corruption which he turned it to "its our time to eat" and IMPUNITY. New constitution in 100 days, Devolution of powers. Bomas, Kilifi Draft and the REFERUNDUM, He opted for the continuation of Moi's IMPERIAL PRESIDENCY. The Armenian brothers and media raids. The state of insecurity e.g., Kuresoi, Mungiki, etc.

[buashraf]

Heshimajamani most of what you said is true but ofcourse some facts are debatable because there is no sound proof to some of them. I am not a Kibaki fun then do I sing to Raila's tune. I believe that we need a total overhaul of Kenyan leadership. That said and done, those facts that you pointed out, do they qualify the definition of a dictator. In the US, where I studied, some places were no go zone because of crime. Is that in anyway a recipe of dictatorship?

[buashraf]

HeshimaJameni Let us be sincere. The fall-out ind the Narc government was a question of a deal gone sour. Did anybody before the 2002 election ask you whether you wanted to have a PM after the elections? Were involved in the MOU preparation? These people wanted to take Kenyans for a ride. What has the average Kenyan gained from this huge cabinet in the name of coalition government? I dont care whoever is the president or the PM but I need an ethnicity free enviroment. I need a united Kenya.

[HeshimaJameni]

Mr. Buashraf, I think I am sincere about my evaluation of Kibaki. He is the president, and the buck stop with hin. The fallout of Narc was/is no excuse. Yes, the Narc deal went sour but what of his deal with the electorate? He still enjoys the privileges of imperial presidency (with or without Raila and Kalonzo). This is where Kibaki should have shown leadership and rally the people. I don't believe Kenyans are tribalistic. We are just victims of these greedy goons. And greed knows no tribe.

[HeshimaJameni]

One reason I don't trust Raila in particular is his obsession with posts! To him, politics is a game of who gets what post! Build infrastructure throughout the country and not just in Nairobi, for God's sake, and the people will use their innovation and prosper.They will all stop migrating to Nairobi. CDF money cannot build national infrastructure such as roads, railways, airports, etc. And crreating posts at the top won't put food on the table of poor families either!

[HeshimaJameni]

And lastly Mr. Buashraf, how do you explain the fact that Kibaki's salary is higher than that of the presidents of France, the US, and most if not all the leaders of the so called donor countries? These other leaders pay high taxes by the way while Kibaki and all of our law makers don't pay taxes! If this is not dictatorship then what is the definition of a dictator if I may ask.

[buashraf]

Heshimajamani. I normally challenge people on this one. People who worship the two fellows, Kibaki and Raila, when the MPs were awarding themselves the hefty salaries during the NARC goverment, none of all the siting mps complained except Balala. It was all in the news. Whether Balala was sincere or not it is another matter all together, But atleast he said something. Where was Raila, Kalonzo, Kibaki; Ruto etc? Kenya is not a dictatorship, otherwise what is Raila or ODM doing in a dictatorship?

[HeshimaJameni]

Kenya is a dictatorship, I insist. And Raila, ODM, Kibaki, PNU, Kalonzo, the whole lot including all the elected MPs are the dictactors. What I mean is that they betrayed the people's trust. Not all dictators are bad per se. Take an example of Nyerere, he was sincere.He even in restrospect admited that he made "honest" mistakes. He rallied his people to sacrifice and stand up to the western powers both intellectually and in his deeds on the question of the liberation of the entire continent.

[HeshimaJameni]

I believe Balala was sincere. He sometimes shows some indications of inclination towards the people. I don't know whether it is self doubt or what. But he could be a legitimate leader in terms of his honesty. I think he should go for it this time. Kenyans might surprise him... in a positive way.

[Ichliebemusikundybd]

Castrate men at birth=Less violence : ))

[sekofo]

If USA wants to end those atrocities both USA and UK need to cut military and financial assistance to RWANDA and to UGANDA because those two countries unde kagame and Museveni are executing the internationa plot to occupy and exploit the conglese minerals freely even as raping and killing come with the soldiers of those contries in Congo.

[toeg1]

Why is the world so silent about this atrocity? Are these people less deserving because they aren't from Western countries? Where is the outrage?

Just listening to one person in a committee is worthless. There must be action and the world needs to stand for these women and stop this suffering.

No one in the West moves because the minerals that are mined are more important than the lives of these women and children. Quit the BS Senator Boxer, what is the US doing???

[wildpeachatl737]

Tears are rolling down my face as I listened to Ms. Nabintu's testimony but I kept watching and listening as it's imperative that the world does the same about the conditions in the Congo Republic. This has gone on for years and can no longer be ignored.

The US government can't solve the entire problem. This is a problem that the global community must address to arrive at a permanent resolution and this may not be the most expedient move, but is clearly a move in the right direction.

[wildpeachatl737]

Until the American public demands through their elected official that substansive effort is made in conjunction with the international community to bring an end to the violence and madness, things, sadly, will never change.

Take a stance and make your voice heard as these courageous women have done.

[monokozome]

My brother! it is the U.S. problem. It does not matter if the U.S. got to it or not!

To kill 7 millions of innocent people to extract some gold and minerals, which are not even theirs?

I say this: the past was the War of Liberation of Congo - But from now on is the war for REVENGE!

I KNOW how to liberate the Congo. AND REVENGE!

[wildpeachatl737]

It's sister, and I disgaree, it's a global problem but the US should take the lead.

You do what you gotta do and good luck with that. If it's revenge you seek, then by all means, but if I could leave you a quote by Frances Bacon:

"In taking revenge, a man is but even with his enemy; but in passing it over, he is superior."

Careful - don't turn into what you reject...

[jtbell30]

Really... this stupid act will change anything there? Nope. Fucking think deeper drones.

[MissahLowery]

Life has been this way in africa for decades..rich merchants raping and stealing her resources for prohits and capital gain..ever watch blood diamond?

[TetuaMaana]

What's life like in the rest of Congo (i.e. outside eastern Congo)?

[frankatunda]

Misery, simple is the word ! City's roads are destroyed and trash all over the town squares. In some quarters drinking water doesn't run for days or weeks. Schools don't have pupils, teachers are sometimes unpaid for 5-6 months. You cannot go to a hospital and expect to be treated in an emergency room = It does not exist anymore. A Humanitarian disaster...that is the word !!!

[TetuaMaana]

Thinking about this stuff can drive you insane. Living it must be indescribable.

If this is what's happening to the women, what's happening to the men?

[jtbell30]

The men get their rape on and then smoke a ton of weed. It's like Detroit. LOL!

[AfricansArise]

Man this is absolutely horrible to hear.

The question I have is, what we mobile phone consumers do to help to counteract this? I mean, is there somekind of Fairtrade mobile phones or something like that? Maybe we need to start engaging with our mobile phone operators and manufacturers to get them to act?

[davedonelson]

U.S. Senators Sam Brownback (R-KS), Dick Durbin (D-IL), and Russ Feingold (D-WI) have introduced the Congo Conflict Minerals Act of 2009. It will require U.S.-registered companies selling products using columbite-tantalite, cassiterite, or wolframite, or derivatives of these minerals to annually disclose the country of origin of those minerals and the State Dept. to work to stop financing of war activities with these minerals.

[AfricansArise]

That's good. Do you know if there is a similar thing in the UK?

[davedonelson]

I'm afraid I don't know...but there should be.

[TetuaMaana]

Hey Bro, If you want to sign a petition...

- Google 'downing street petitions' and click on the first search result

- There's a facility on the website to search petitions, enter 'awareness civil war congo'

[AfricansArise]

Thanks sis. I'll check it out.