Tshiaberimu

 His this is Vhosi

Kakule Safari was murdered on January 8th, 2009 at Mulango wa Nyama Patrol Post(Mount Tshiabirimu) when his group was attacked by rebel militia. He was then buried on January 10^th,2009 at their family graveyard in Musienene village. He left three orphaned children and a widow.

Safari had worked on the Gorilla Organization programme at Mount T for more than three years. 

Recently at Mount Tshiabirimu people commemorated the one year anniversary of Safari’s murder.

A team of Mount T workers organised a meditative visit to Safari’s grave. Then a mass was said at Burusi by a priest from Kyondo Parish, and scores of people from villages surrounding Mount T attended. The mass was sung by a choir (called ‘Sacre Coeur de Jesus’) from Kyondo parish too.

The local Community Based Organisations and the MtT workers collected some money to pay for a party where all the park workers and local villagers could come together. 

We also thought of Nicolas Vighanzire and prayed for his ghost’s rest. Nicolas was a WWF volunteer and was assassinated on May 20^th, 2007 at Burusi Ptrol Post( MtT) from an assault by unknown armed people. I was there in that attack myself, and survived it although I was shot in the leg. But I saw Nicolas giving up the ghost. He left behind his pregnant wife who gave birth to a lonely boy six months later. They are both healthy.

Thus, we prayed both for the ghosts’ rest of Safari and Nicolas, and for the peace at MtT. We hope the best both for people and the gorillas as every cloud has a silver lining.

Emirembe oko Bandu n’oko Ngayi e’ Kyabirimu, n’oko bosi abakawatikaya e’Gorilla Organization 

( Peace to MtT people and gorillas, and to all those who have been funding the GO field projects and to the HQ GO Team).

Vhosi

Hello, this is Jean Claude again. Thank you all so much for your messages of support.

We are following the situation carefully. This morning MONUC helicopters (UN peacekeepers) flew over Kyondo twice as they patrolled the area. But Kyondo and the area around Mount Tshiaberimu are safe at the moment. We have a problem with communication however, as both the Vodacom and Celtel networks have not been available since yesterday at Kyondo and Butembo. I’m using CCT network keep in touch with my colleagues in Goma.

At Mount Tshiaberimu everything carries on as normal for now, but I had a meeting with Katu, the local chief to establish an emergency plan if we need it.

My colleagues in Goma continue to sit tight. Yesterday there was fighting at Goma airport but MONUC have secured this area now. Things felt slightly calmer this morning but most people remain locked in their homes. We had some good news as the Gorilla Organization’s project partners based near Rutshuru, who we had lost touch with yesterday, are all safe and have been back in touch this morning.

I will keep you updated if I hear any more news.