Conservation Center, Inc.--the non-profit organization running the
flagship Okapi Conservation Project (OCP) in the Ituri rainforest in
Orientale Province--confirmed, in a statement posted yesterday and
updated today, that FARDC and MONUSCO combat troops seized back the
wildlife reserve on Monday, June 25, from warlord Morgan Ekasambaza
and his militiamen.
The militiamen had been occupying the wildlife reserve for two days
while wreaking havoc in the surrounding towns and hamlets.
Lukas's full statement reads:
"Okapi Conservation Project (OCP) – Update, June 26, 2012
Posted on June 27, 2012 by Scott
Okapi Conservation Project (OCP) – Update
June 26, 2012 5:00 PM ET
"The Congolese army and UN troops are in control of Epulu and the road
is open through the Reserve. People are starting to come out of the
forest where they have been hiding the last 48 hours. There have been
many conflicting reports coming out of Epulu and we have decided to
wait to release more information until it can be verified by a known
reliable source. One of the ICCN senior rangerstraveled into Epulu
with UN forces and is making a thorough report on the situation at the
Station which he plans on filing late tonight or early in the morning.
Once we receive his report we will provide a detailed summary of his
findings. We have been in contact with a senior OCP staff member who
istrying to get back to Epulu and once he is there we will have access
to information on a regular basis. This is a trying time for all
involved and we appreciate your concern and support.
"The Wildlife Conservation Network has generously offered to accept
donations on behalf of the Okapi Conservation Project's emergency
fund.
"Go to www.WildNet.org/support/ and click on okapi on the pull down menu.
"John Lukas
President
White Oak Conservation Center, Inc.
1615 Riverside Ave
Jacksonville FL 32204
904-860-4686."
(Page Address: www.okapiconservation.org/uncategorized/okapi-conservation-project-ocp-update-june-26-2012/)
While one can certainly let out a sigh of relief over this
development, the fact remains that Mai-Mai terrorists led by warlord
Morgan Ekasambaza left a staggering toll in their wake: 15 okapis
killed for bushmeat, more than 26 people killed, and more than 70
women raped, according to various reports by Radio Okapi.
The occupation and the mayhem brought to the fore the shortcomings of
Congolese military planners.
A point hammered down by Ituri civil society leader Jean-Bosco Lalo,
who, according to Radio-Okapi, on Monday angrily told Gen Jean-Claude
Kifwa, the commander of FARDC 9th Military Region, at his press
briefing:
"You can't allow a town like Epulu to be besieged for more than 48
hours while we live in a country that's supposed to have an army!"
During those 48 hours, warlord Morgan Ekasambaza and his
blood-drenched bandits set up a makeshift road tolls charging $250 on
trucks coming from Bunia, Butembo and Goma en route to Kisangani.
Truckers who couldn't pay the toll saw their merchandise plundered and
their female passengers raped--including a student from Kinshasa on
her way to visit her family.
Morgan Ekasambaza is also reported to have replenished his war chest
with $25,000, the market value in the area of the 500 grams of gold
he'd seized from gold diggers and traders.
The flight of warlord Morgan Ekasambaza ends an 11-day crime and
killing spree during which these terrorists ran amok around and in
Epulu.
***
PHOTO: Okapis Kijana (male) and Tatu (female), 2010
PHOTO CREDITS: Facebook/Okapi Conservation Project (OCP)
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