Dispatches No. 243 - 29 August 2008

Democratic Republic of Congo: fragile peace deal in the east endangered by heavy fighting

In the early hours of 28 August, intense clashes lasting for several hours erupted between government forces and rebels loyal to renegade General Laurent Nkunda in the Rutshuru region (approximately 50 km from Goma, the capital of the North Kivu province). The UN Peacekeeping mission MONUC has dispatched patrols and negotiated with the two sides, restoring calm to the area — but the situation remains tense. The recent confrontation is reported to be one of the heaviest since the signing of a peace deal struck at the beginning of this year between 22 warring parties, among them Nkunda's CNDP. [29/08/08]

News:

Reports : Dominican Republic: Haitians to be provided with legal assistance to protect their labour rights

With the assistance of the US embassy, JRS launched a project to provide legal assistance and run public awareness campaigns on workers’ rights to Haitians in the Dominican Republic — in particular their rights as migrant workers. [29/08/08]

Publications:

JRS leaflet: Flee for your life and risk imprisonment without crime

For over 20 years JRS has been serving, accompanying, and defending the rights of, refugees held in detention. JRS staff around the world - in Europe, the US, South Asia, Asia Pacific, Southern Africa, Eastern Africa and in the Caribbean - visit people in detention who have not been charged with, or convicted of, any crime. These people have been deprived of their liberty simply for entering or remaining in a country or moving without authorisation. JRS is concerned about the inadequate conditions in which refugees, asylum seekers and migrants are being held in detention and about their lack of access to proper procedures. [19/06/06]