Fredericton man starts hunger strike

A Fredericton man has started a hunger strike in the hopes of raising awareness abouthuman rights issues in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Frederick Mwenengabo has advocated for human rights in his home country of the Democratic Republic of Congo. In the course of that work, he has buried neighbours who were killed in the country's atrocities.

The Fredericton manbegan his hunger strike on Monday as he fights for three issues.

Mwenengabo is asking that Prime Minister Stephen Harper boycott a Francophonie Summit in Kinshasa in October and for Canada to ask the United Nation's International Criminal Court to prosecute war lords.

As well, he is asking that Canada make an official request to the United Nations to proclaim an international day of remembrance for the millions slaughtered in the Congolese war.

Mwenegabo said he starts every day with a prayer and he hopes the Canadian government will hear it and act on it.

"The cause is bigger than I. The cause is bigger than my hunger strike. But if my hunger strike can create awareness, I'm ready to do it. And if I can't get positive responses, I'm ready to carry on," he said.

The abuses were front and centreat a peace conference in 2008.

Thecountry, which has been marred by violent conflict in recent years, also had to deal with disputed election results last year.

Elections in November have been called "flawed, irregular and concerning" by Western countries, including Canada.

President Joseph Kabila was declared the winner of the disputed election. He defeated long-time opposition leader Etienne Tshisekedi.

Kabila was first thrust into the position of president a decade ago, after the assassination of his father, Laurent Kabila. The elder Kabila was the rebel leader who toppled the country's dictator of 32 years, Mobutu Sese Seko.

Complete support ofhunger strike

Although the reason for Mwenegabo's hunger strike originates in a foreign country, he is being supported by somelocal friends.

Anthony Njoku said he'swatchedhis friend agonize over howtoconvince the federal government to recognize the problems in Congo.

"It's a very serious response to a very grim situation. And that situation does demand some change," Njoku said.

"So without a doubt, I'm in complete support of his hunger strike. I appreciate the degree of frustration and sense of being overwhelmed that must have led him to that point. I've actually seen him agonize over what options there were, if any, until eventually he arrived at this solution, as it were."