Peacekeepers cut deals with rebels

NEW DELHI: The Indian Army is finally admitting that three of its peacekeepers including a Lieutenant Colonel bought gold in Congo from a rebel group that carried out much of the Rwandan genocide of 1994 that saw more than 8 lakh people butchered in a few weeks.

A court of inquiry is under way here against them, according to sources.
The gold turned out to be fake and the dealer who sold it was brought to the Indian battalion camp in eastern Congo “to recover money”, according to information emerging on the conduct of Indian peacekeepers in the 2006-07 period in Congo.

The dealer was part of the FDLR (Democratic Liberation Forces of Rwanda), mostly made up of Hutus who played a crucial role in the 1994 genocide and are now based in eastern Congo. This was where the Indian Army unit was also based.

The Army, however, is refuting allegations that Indian soldiers exchanged ammunition for ivory with the rebels, and UN rations for gold. A BBC report on Monday said it had confidential UN reports that Indian soldiers had bought drugs from these FDLR rebels, and did not support efforts to disarm them.

Besides, Indian troops may have  flown a UN helicopter into a game reserve to deliver ammunition in exchange for ivory.

In the past, the Army has resolutely denied all such allegations. But last year, Defence minister AK Antony asked the Army to join the UN in investigating allegations against the Indian troops.

Reports from Congo, where the UN’s largest peacekeeping mission is at work, had said both Indian and Pakistani soldiers were involved with the rebels.

The Indian Army sent a Lieutenant General and two other officers to Congo to investigate. They found evidence that the accused had bought wrought gold, which later turned out to be fake, from rebels but did not find any evidence to substantiate other allegations.

Based on the findings the Army is “conducting further investigations”, an official said.