29/03/08

República Democrática del Congo


fotografía de Carlos Villalón


fotografía de Eddie Isango

No hay suficiente petróleo ni recursos "valiosos" en el Congo para justificar una intervención de los países de primer mundo en el conflicto. Mientras tanto, el mercado negro florece y líderes prolongan y explotan la guerra y a la gente normal.

"My father and mother are farmers - they cultivate other people's fields and people pay them. I left school because my father had no money to pay fees. I was 14 and in the third year of primary school.

One day a girl friend who I studied with visited me at my house and told me to join the armed forces. My friend was in a Congolese rebel faction.

She said that she was doing well, and that I would do well if I joined. So, that's why I joined up.

I was with the group for two years. I used a gun many times, in many battles. We fought the Rwandans over the DR Congo because it is our country.
We suffered a lot. I had lice in my hair.

In the morning they would take us to guard places like the houses of a military authority. We also had to do all the cooking for lots of people who were there. It was hard work.

They didn't start to rape me at the beginning, for the first year. It was later on that it began.

There were many little houses in the military camp where girls and men stayed. Then, the military men took us as their women; they didn't consider the fact that we were still children.
At any time they wanted, they came and had sex with us. There were so many men. You could have one man who had sex with you and then he left. Then, a second came and then went back to his home and so on.

They did what they wanted with me. Even if you refused, they did anyway - they would insist.

I felt like I had no more energy left within me. I felt so weak and feeble and like I had lost all of my intelligence.
Seven of us girls were treated that way. Now, I feel very bad here [pointing to her lower abdomen or reproductive area].

There was no way for me to escape and come back. We were far from here. One day, when they sent me to the market, I saw my uncle. I hid in the car and I managed to get home and now I live with my family.

We had so many difficulties in this war. The military pillaged our house and they killed my aunt in May 2004.

I was studying in fourth year of primary school when a government soldier raped me. He took me on the road by force when I left school. He was the first man that I knew and he raped me. Then he carried me to his military camp and he left me there like his wife.

I returned home later the same day. I told my parents. They said that it wasn't my fault.

When I fled, I didn't know it, but there were soldiers who followed me without me knowing.
Later the man [who raped me] came to my house. He found my parents there and he threatened them. So, my parents sent me to live with other family members.

Then I realised that I was pregnant.

When my parents found out, they chased me away. They told me that they couldn't take care of the baby as they were already having difficulties. I was very worried.

Now I live with a neighbour who has a distant relationship with my mother.
It is a life of suffering there. We eat with difficulty, even to find soap is difficult. It is hard. I regret I will have a baby soon. I have nothing to eat and to clothe it with. I was raped against my will.

It is terrible because it isn't just me affected by this. There are many girls who visit me who also say that they are suffering."

Aimerance, 17 años.

"I've been to war. I've raised twins. If I had a choice, I'd rather go to war."
George W. Bush

"In such a world of conflict, a world of victims and executioners, it is the job of thinking people, not to be on the side of the executioners."
Albert Camus

5 comentarios:

Adriana Degetau dijo...

Caray

http://www.elpais.com/articulo/reportajes/Violadas/selva/repudiadas/casa/elpepusocdmg/20080323elpdmgrep_1/Tes

Adriana Degetau dijo...

Caray

http://www.elpais.com/articulo/reportajes/Violadas/selva/repudiadas/casa/elpepusocdmg/20080323elpdmgrep_1/Tes

Xavier dijo...

Si y, qué se puede hacer? Es una lástima, y todavía faltan muchas tragedias por pasar antes de que se acabe...
No me sentí muy bien hoy con la humanidad...

Gaby dijo...

dios.... este tipo de post, me dan mucha tristeza.
pero definidamente es una realidad, y no podemos hacer oídos sordos!

besitos!!!!!!

one way dijo...

mmm, sí es salvaje y sí hay responsabilidades, en diferentes grados; creo que no queda más que empezar por lo que tenemos a nuestro alcance, ser consciente es un buen primer paso.