Rebels attack Patrol Post: 1 ranger dead, 3 seriously wounded and 1 kidnapped
Category: Crises | Date: May 20 2007 | By: admin
I have taken this post from Atamato’s blog:
At 4h00 this morning Mai Mai rebels attacked the Burusi Patrol Post here in Virunga, leaving one park ranger dead, four critically wounded, as well as kidnapping Officer Monya. There were 10 Park Rangers stationed at Burusi, including the Conservateur and the Conservateur Communicateur.
Rangers and Trackers in Tshiaberimu
The Burusi Patrol Post is the sub-station and also the entry point for the Tshiaberimu area in Virunga, where there are lowland gorillas.
It was reported on this blog that only 10 days ago the Mai Mai in Muramba, of the Jackson group, were rumoured to be around 50. But following meetings between the Mai Mai and the farmers of Mulango wa nyama, with plans to attack ICCN Patrol Posts in order to continue cultivating within the park, there numbers were able to quickly swell. This information was reported on several occasions to the Commander Brigade and MONUC, but to no effect.
ICCN have deployed two troops of the Advance Force of Congo Rangers to track the attackers, as well as contacting the military authorities of the eighth, based at Butembo. It is feared that the Mai Mai have plans to attack the lowland gorillas as they are now heading towards the Patrol Post of Kalibina, where the gorilla monitoring takes place.
We urgently need funds to support the Advance Force, as well as money for the hospital bills for the Park Rangers who are critically wounded. Please donate now, all money received will go directly to this cause.
UPDATE
Two troops have been deployed. Troop 1 to Tshiaberimu and Troop 2 to Ishango. Troop 3 have cut short their 10 day patrol at Byangolo and are now on standby at Mutsora. Some units from the Congolese military have also been deployed.
We have also just found out that there were a total of 13 people who have been taken hostage, and now they are with the Mai Mai somewhere in the forest.
The Burusi Patrol Post was completely ransacked by the Mai Mai; all stock, arms, as well as family possessions, have been taken.
Technorati : Con, Mai Mai, Wildlifedirect
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4 Responses to “Rebels attack Patrol Post: 1 ranger dead, 3 seriously wounded and 1 kidnapped”
Paul Burgess, on 22 May 2007
What horiffic news! My thoughts and prayers are with you all, and with the families of those who have been so senselessly murdered protecting such beautiful animals. I have sent a small donation and hope it goes some way towards helping you in this time of desperate need. I am also passing on deatils of your appeal to as many people as I can. I am so full of courage and admiration for you all and the excellent work you do. It would be unthinkable if the gorillas were to come to harm.My thoughts are with you all.
Ann, on 22 May 2007
hi,
when you all have time, can we get an update on how the rangers are doing and what the mai mai rebels are up to?
we are all very worried.
Global Voices Online » D. R. Congo: Park Rangers Attacked, Flying Over Katanga, Music Meets Social Activism, and Ants 2 - Brian 0, on 22 May 2007
[…] Congo Rangers blog provided this update: There were a total of 13 people who have been taken hostage, and now they are with the Mai Mai somewhere in the forest. The Burusi Patrol Post was completely ransacked by the Mai Mai; all stock, arms, as well as family possessions, have been taken. […]
Dinge und Wesen » Blutbad im Nationalpark, on 28 Jun 2007
[…] wieder raus aus dem Kongo, wurde einer der Ranger im Virunga Nationalpark von Mai-Mai-Rebellen erschossen, weitere verletzt. Im Süden des Parkes schlachteten Wilderer eine Gorilla-Mutter ab. Das Baby wird […]
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