LETTER: We must help nation being oppressed

At the end of November 2011, the people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo went to the polls, hoping to make their voices heard. However, according to observers from the Carter Center, the European Union and the Congolese Catholic Bishops, the electoral processes were so profoundly flawed that the results eventually announced have little credibility. Worse still, Human Rights Watch (an international organization dedicated to defending and protecting human rights) tells us: "Congolese security forces have killed at least 24 people and arbitrarily detained dozens more" since the election.

Officially, U.S. policy supports democracy in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. We have an opportunity to give meaningful content to that policy by supporting Congolese calls for an independent review of the country's election procedures and results. We can also shine a spotlight on human rights violations and stop funding security forces that are killing and intimidating Congolese citizens. But, we must act quickly and vigorously.

If we think that we do not have a horse in this race, we should check our pockets, purses and briefcases. The Democratic Republic of the Congo remains one of the most important sources of tungsten, tin and tantalum ores - those obscure metals that make our cell phones, Blackberries and iPods tick.

Catherine Vandegrift

Aiken