Border Congolese in Canberra raise awareness of 'silent genocide'

Mr Runezerwa was one of 36 Congolese refugees from the Border who got up in the cold of 3am to drive to Canberra and draw attention to the "silent genocide" happening in their home country.

Mr Runezerwa said that his tribe, the Banyamulenge people, have been under attack for years, as neighbouring tribes, supported by the Democratic Republic of the Congo's government, waged war on the minority group.

"They're killing our people every single day," he said.

"The kids, the mums, they're being raped, the women and older generation.

"I have brothers and sisters who are there, even now they're being killed.

"Even now, I got a message, just right now, one of my uncles has been killed yesterday."

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Mr Runezerwa, a Wodonga resident of nearly 10 years, said the Border's Congolese community gathered at Parliament House on Tuesday with about 100 other Banyamulenge people from towns across NSW and Victoria to create awareness around the issue.

"We're not harming anyone, we're just here to peacefully raise our voice," he said.

"As you can hear it, everyone of them are crying.

"The women, the kids, every type of person who is here, they mourn because they lost their loved ones with no reason."

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He said people and the media didn't talk enough about the attacks.

"We have never seen any reaction," he said.

"People have been reported to the United Nations, but the thing is, nothing has happened.

"We're still waiting, that's why we came."

He said he hoped the gathering would make people interested in what was happening in the DRC.

"People might see us on the road, how we cry, how we're mourning," he said.

"We just want to raise our voice.

"Maybe someone can hear our mourning or our broken hearts."

Mr Runezerwa said he was planning on meeting with Indi MP Helen Haines to see if she would advocate for the group.

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