Apr 29 2008
Soldiers Beat Up 3 Rangers
This is Diddy. Innocent and I have been busy learning new skills at a computer workshop. Since we still do not have access to the gorillas, this is a good time for that kind of training.
One thing we have been able to do is fight the charcoal trade. As you know from the last post by Emmanuel, the roadblock at Kibati has worked well, despite the complicity of the military in the trade.
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These pictures show a military truck rented by smugglers to transport charcoal.
The situation between us and the military is so bad that three of our Rangers (Mwanga bin Assani, Majori Gakuru, and Ndianabo Ido) have been attacked and injured by soldiers in the past few weeks. We now have 60 bags of confiscated charcoal at the Kibati roadblock, but it is not safe to keep such a large amount there. Thanks to your donations, we are renting a truck to take the stockpile to Rumangabo Station where it is safer.Â
Tomorrow we are going to a meeting in Uganda to share information with our counterparts from Uganda and Rwanda. I will tell you how that goes when we get back.
Daily news from the conservation frontline by Innocent and Diddy, and other Congolese rangers risking their lives to save mountain gorillas of the Virunga National Park in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo
Hi Diddy,
It is such dangerous work you & the guys do Diddy - I hope the three rangers are recovering. None of you should have to take such risks and be beaten like this. Your work in the face of such danger, is humbling.
Please take great care, as I’m sure you do - but we are thinking of you all every day.
Geez, terrible news today
Are the rangers ok?
Diddy and Innocent, please, please take care of yourselves and stay safe.
I am thinking Diddy that maybe you should not say where you take it to - and keep that a secret! I don’t want you to be harmed or the others any more —
Y’all be extra careful out there. I hope Mwanga bin Assani, Majori Gakuru, and Ndianabo Ido will all recover soon.
I wish President Kabila had an e-mail address. We could start an e-mail writing campaign and draw his attention to the behavior of his army. They should be aiding the rangers, not attacking them! This is madness.
s.
We are all praying for you guys. This blatant corruption in the military must go high up in command, for this to be happening. Cowards, masquerading as soldiers! I’ve said it before, but it bears repeating, to be a ranger anywhere in Africa, is truly the most dangerous job on earth. You have our support!
Thanks for the update, Diddy.
I hope the hurt rangers are getting well.
This corruption is maddening! I’m glad you guys are as successful as you are.
Looking forward to your report about the Uganda meeting.
Good luck!
Oh this is so wrong…I hope the rangers are faring well. Will these people ever learn they will get more from thier environment by keeping it pristine and not destroying it??? Sad situation once again…Hope all the Gorillys are doing well…scary we havent been able to hear much about them..
Big Gorilly Hugs…
When will the state of the country be sound?… When its people believe that the end result of cowardice is more disastrous than that of behaving with integrity.
-Naguib Mahfouz
That is what you are doing and hopefully, so will everyone else and not a second too soon. You guys are amazing, please hang in there…
On the subject of charcoal, I see that Kenya (I think) have started making their own biomass briquettes as a substitute for charcoal. They use dried leaves gathered from the forest floor, compressed and dried in order to make slow burning fuel for cooking. It seems to work extremely well, and saves on chopping down trees. While not perfect, as decaying plant biomass is important in the long term for the forest nutrient cycle to be maintained and preserve biodiversity, it is better than cutting down trees, which has an immediate, dramatic and irreversible effect of causing habitat loss for many species.
Very upsetting to hear that there have been Rangers beaten up trying to do their jobs. My best wishes for a quick and good recovery go out to them. Keep up the great work you are all doing. Its very important work you are all doing. Thank you. Lisa
Be careful guys…and thanks for all you do…good to hear from you!
Dear Emmanuel,
If possible, give us an update about sad news that South Africa ended ban on killing elephants. According media, the ban of 13 years was lifted Tuesday. There is some way to stop this incredible cruelty? How can we help? Thank you very much.
it’s so good to get an update from you, diddy. please be safe. and when you can, please give us an update on the attacked rangers…our thoughts are with them, as well as with you and innocent. thanks for this important work you’re doing. you all are making a real difference, for the better.
Thank you for the update and what else can one say that you must keep safe and not take unnecessary risks. This is, of course, easier said than done..
Your work is so appreciated by all of us so please inform us if there is any way to put pressure on the Congolese government by sending them e-mails etc.