On June 12, 2024, the eyes of the international community turned to the Military Court of North Kivu, where two prominent environmental defenders, Mr. KATEMBO MUGARUKA Rodrigue and Mr. LUKOO BAHATI Emmanuel, find themselves in the crosshairs of justice, accused of serious crimes, including acts of murder, looting, arson, and armed robbery.
The case has sparked passionate debate, highlighting the challenges faced by environmental protectors in their daily struggle to preserve fragile ecosystems. ACEDH’s Green Lawyers have taken up the defense of these two men, emphasizing the importance of ensuring the rights of Rangers in their crucial conservation mission.
The accusation primarily rests on allegations of armed robbery and looting, with claims that the two defenders stole construction materials, including 750 bags of cement, several iron bars, and 800 sheets of metal, stored in a house located in Virunga National Park in Nzulo. To substantiate these accusations, documents such as the Plot Registration Certificate in the park and invoices were presented.
However, the defense has questioned the veracity of these documents, arguing that they may have been falsified to harm their clients. They have particularly pointed out that the alleged supplier of the construction materials is a fictitious entity, thus questioning the credibility of the evidence put forward by the prosecution.
To clarify this complex matter, the Court has ordered two crucial actions for the next hearing, scheduled for Wednesday, June 19, 2024: requisitioning the Goma One-Stop Shop and the telecommunications operators Airtel and Orange to verify the existence of the company mentioned on the invoices, as well as conducting an on-site visit to the headquarters of this alleged company.
This decision underscores the importance of conducting a thorough and impartial investigation, thereby ensuring that the truth comes to light. The future of these two environmental defenders rests on the judiciary’s ability to distinguish facts from fiction and to recognize the fundamental value of their commitment to preserving our precious natural heritage.
It’s important to note that support is being shown for the Rangers. Through a program developed by the Congolese Association for Ecology and Human Rights (ACEDH) and its partners, including Global Climate Legal Defense (CLIDEF), who have a program supporting climate defenders, among them the two Rangers, the five other aforementioned Rangers, and many other climate defenders in the DRC. Together with the Virunga Foundation, they are providing support to these climate defenders. They are all determined and mobilized to ensure effective protection of the interests of climate defenders and land defenders. This program to defend climate defenders is the flagship initiative of ACEDH within its collaborations, partnerships, and international advocacy networks against the criminalization and unfair trials faced by the Environmental Law Alliance (ELAW), Indigenous Land and Environmental Defenders (ALLIED) and the (IUCN NL).
The June 12, 2024 hearing once again sheds harsh light on the challenges faced by Rangers in the performance of their duties, underscoring the urgency of guaranteeing their rights and integrity in this crucial struggle for the protection of our planet. The quest for justice for these two defendants is a matter that transcends national borders, calling for deep reflection on the essential role of environmental defenders in safeguarding our common future.
By Franck zongwe lukama
