{"id":6301,"date":"2015-02-12T18:40:51","date_gmt":"2015-02-13T00:40:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.wasobamaborninkenya.com\/blog\/?p=6301"},"modified":"2021-03-10T08:20:52","modified_gmt":"2021-03-10T14:20:52","slug":"virunga-documentary-on-netflix","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wasobamaborninkenya.com\/blog\/virunga-documentary-on-netflix\/","title":{"rendered":"Virunga (documentary on Netflix)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/wxXf2Vxj_EU?rel=0\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Director <a href=\"http:\/\/www.imdb.com\/name\/nm3915542\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Orlando von Einsiedel<\/span><\/a> has teamed up with Leonardo DiCaprio and Netflix to share <em><a href=\"http:\/\/www.netflix.com\/WiMovie\/80009431?trkid=200250783&amp;odpRedirect=true\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Virunga<\/span><\/a><\/em> with the entire world. The film was released November 7, 2014 on Netflix.<\/p>\n<p>Virunga was filmed at the\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/virunga.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Virunga National Park<\/span><\/a> in the Democratic Republic of the Congo which is home to more than half of the world&#8217;s remaining mountain gorillas. Mountain gorillas are listed as\u00a0<em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Critically_endangered\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">critically endangered<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/em>by<em>\u00a0<\/em>the<em>\u00a0<\/em><a href=\"http:\/\/www.iucn.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">International Union for Conservation of Nature<\/span><\/a> (IUCN) (founded in 1948 in France).<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.wasobamaborninkenya.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Virunga-National-Park.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft wp-image-6303\" src=\"http:\/\/www.wasobamaborninkenya.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Virunga-National-Park.jpg\" alt=\"Virunga National Park\" width=\"640\" height=\"574\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wasobamaborninkenya.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Virunga-National-Park.jpg 502w, https:\/\/www.wasobamaborninkenya.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Virunga-National-Park-300x269.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Mountain gorillas are found only in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda. In the Congo they live in the <a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Virunga_National_Park\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Virunga National Park<\/span><\/a> (8 volcanoes: 6 dormant and 2 active) which\u00a0borders the Uganda and Rwanda. \u00a0In Uganda they live in the\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Bwindi_Impenetrable_National_Park\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Bwindi Impenetrable National Park<\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>According to a survey\/census conducted by the\u00a0<a class=\" u-underline\" href=\"http:\/\/www.ugandawildlife.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-link-name=\"in body link\" data-component=\"in-body-link\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Ugandan Wildlife Authority<\/span><\/a>\u00a0the estimated population of the mountain gorillas is\u00a0880. The 2012 report indicates 400 in Uganda and incorporates a 2010 survey which counted 480 in the Congo.<\/p>\n<p>At the outset of the\u00a0<em>Virunga<\/em> documentary we are shown footage of a funeral service for Virunga National Park Ranger\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/virunga.org\/news\/ranger-killed-in-ambush-of-the-museya-patrol-post\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Kasereka Kipako<\/span><\/a> (age 34) who was ambushed and murdered at his patrol post in 2013.<\/p>\n<p>We are then presented with a brief summary of the history of colonial Congo (Congo Free State 1877\u20131908 and\u00a0Belgian Congo 1908\u20131960) which is shown in photographs and video footage. \u00a0These are accompanied by a song called <em>We Will Not Go<\/em> which was composed by J. Ralph and performed by Salif Keita, Fally Ipupa and Youssou Nddour.<\/p>\n<p>Include in the intro is the policy implemented by the white Europeans of cutting off the hands innocent children and wives as punishment for their Congolese fathers\/husbands not meeting the rubber collection quota:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.wasobamaborninkenya.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Congo-cutting-off-hands.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-6306\" src=\"http:\/\/www.wasobamaborninkenya.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Congo-cutting-off-hands.jpg\" alt=\"Congo cutting off hands\" width=\"886\" height=\"750\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wasobamaborninkenya.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Congo-cutting-off-hands.jpg 886w, https:\/\/www.wasobamaborninkenya.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Congo-cutting-off-hands-300x254.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 886px) 100vw, 886px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.wasobamaborninkenya.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Congo-cutting-off-hands1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-large wp-image-6307\" src=\"http:\/\/www.wasobamaborninkenya.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Congo-cutting-off-hands1-1024x556.jpg\" alt=\"Congo cutting off hands\" width=\"640\" height=\"348\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wasobamaborninkenya.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Congo-cutting-off-hands1-1024x556.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.wasobamaborninkenya.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Congo-cutting-off-hands1-300x163.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.wasobamaborninkenya.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Congo-cutting-off-hands1.jpg 1338w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>We are also introduced to early post-colonial Congo (1960) and\u00a0Patrice Lumumba &#8211; a\u00a0Congolese independence leader and the first democratically elected Prime Minister of the post-colonial Congo. \u00a0He was executed by firing squad on January 17, 1961 (at age 35) by United States &amp; Belgian backed forces.<\/p>\n<p>Some of the documentary takes place at a gorilla orphanage (the only one in the world) called Senkwekwe Center in Rumangabo which is located in the southern sector of Virunga National Park.<\/p>\n<p>At the gorilla orphanage we meet Andre Bauma who is a gorilla caretaker. \u00a0He appears to be a very likable guy and he has thoroughly dedicated his life to helping the mountain gorillas.<\/p>\n<p>There are four (4) young mountain gorillas at the orphanage and the film indicated that are the mountain gorillas in captivity in the world.<\/p>\n<p>Their names are:<\/p>\n<p><strong>Maisha<\/strong>: \u00a0She was rescued at age 3. \u00a0Poachers had killed her mother and father and were going to sell the baby (Maisha). \u00a0 Poachers typically kill the gorilla parents because they will fight to the death to protect their children.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Kaboko<\/strong>: \u00a0He lost one of his hands to poachers.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Ndeze<\/strong>:<strong>\u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong>One of the two survivor (young female) of a 2007 gorilla massacre.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Ndakasi<\/strong>: \u00a0\u00a0One of the two survivor (young female) of a 2007 gorilla massacre.<\/p>\n<p>Here is a picture of gorilla caretaker\u00a0Andre Bauma with the four young gorillas whom he considers to be part of his family:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.wasobamaborninkenya.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Mountain-Gorilla-Virunga-orphanage-Rumangabo.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-6320\" src=\"http:\/\/www.wasobamaborninkenya.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Mountain-Gorilla-Virunga-orphanage-Rumangabo.jpg\" alt=\"Mountain Gorilla Virunga orphanage Rumangabo\" width=\"930\" height=\"625\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wasobamaborninkenya.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Mountain-Gorilla-Virunga-orphanage-Rumangabo.jpg 930w, https:\/\/www.wasobamaborninkenya.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Mountain-Gorilla-Virunga-orphanage-Rumangabo-300x202.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 930px) 100vw, 930px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>In 2007 a family of mountain gorillas were killed by poachers in hopes of discouraging the rangers into\u00a0giving up efforts to protect Virunga National Park. \u00a0Some of the immense mountain gorillas were so large and that it took what appears, at some points, to be at least thirteen (13) men to carry\u00a0\u00a0just one of them on an improvised stretcher.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.wasobamaborninkenya.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/mountain-gorilla-virunga-congo-funeral.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-large wp-image-6315\" src=\"http:\/\/www.wasobamaborninkenya.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/mountain-gorilla-virunga-congo-funeral-1024x627.jpg\" alt=\"mountain gorilla virunga congo funeral\" width=\"640\" height=\"392\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wasobamaborninkenya.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/mountain-gorilla-virunga-congo-funeral-1024x627.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.wasobamaborninkenya.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/mountain-gorilla-virunga-congo-funeral-300x184.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.wasobamaborninkenya.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/mountain-gorilla-virunga-congo-funeral.jpg 1208w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The mountain gorillas were given funerals and they rest in a cemetery complete with gravestones which bare their names, ages and dates of death:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.wasobamaborninkenya.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/mountain-gorilla-graveyard-cemetery-virunga-congo.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-large wp-image-6316\" src=\"http:\/\/www.wasobamaborninkenya.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/mountain-gorilla-graveyard-cemetery-virunga-congo-1024x325.jpg\" alt=\"mountain gorilla graveyard cemetery virunga congo\" width=\"640\" height=\"203\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wasobamaborninkenya.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/mountain-gorilla-graveyard-cemetery-virunga-congo-1024x325.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.wasobamaborninkenya.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/mountain-gorilla-graveyard-cemetery-virunga-congo-300x95.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.wasobamaborninkenya.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/mountain-gorilla-graveyard-cemetery-virunga-congo.jpg 1325w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.wasobamaborninkenya.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/mountain-gorilla-graveyard-cemetery-virunga-congo-senkwekwe.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-6317\" src=\"http:\/\/www.wasobamaborninkenya.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/mountain-gorilla-graveyard-cemetery-virunga-congo-senkwekwe.jpg\" alt=\"mountain gorilla graveyard cemetery virunga congo senkwekwe\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Fast forward to 2010:<\/strong> \u00a0Poachers are still problem but they are no longer the most substantial\u00a0obstacle\u00a0for the park rangers and nor the largest threat to the mountain gorillas. \u00a0A British company called\u00a0<em><a href=\"http:\/\/www.socointernational.com\/home\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">SOCO International plc<\/span><\/a><\/em>\u00a0began exploring for oil in the in\u00a0Virunga National Park. \u00a0Oil might be found within the park and a large percentage of it under Lake Edward.<\/p>\n<p>The film indicates that 130 (or 140?) park rangers have died protecting Virunga National Park. However, I&#8217;ve read other <a href=\"http:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/lifeandstyle\/africa-wild\/2014\/oct\/04\/emmanuel-de-merode-this-much-i-know\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">interviews<\/span><\/a> with\u00a0Emmanuel de Merode in which he has explained that up until some point 1996 (or 1994?) the killing of park rangers was not documented. Many rangers\u00a0were killed before 1996 (or 1994?) during the long history of Africa&#8217;s oldest national park.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.wasobamaborninkenya.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Emmanuel-de-Merode-Virunga.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft wp-image-6321\" src=\"http:\/\/www.wasobamaborninkenya.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Emmanuel-de-Merode-Virunga-286x300.jpg\" alt=\"Emmanuel de Merode Virunga\" width=\"250\" height=\"262\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wasobamaborninkenya.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Emmanuel-de-Merode-Virunga-286x300.jpg 286w, https:\/\/www.wasobamaborninkenya.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Emmanuel-de-Merode-Virunga.jpg 705w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 250px) 100vw, 250px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The Provincial Director of\u00a0Virunga National Park is <a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Prince_Emmanuel_de_Merode\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Emmanuel de Merode<\/span><\/a> (adjacent picture).<\/p>\n<p>He was born in north Africa (Carthage, Tunisia) and spent his childhood in Kenya.<\/p>\n<p>He is legally a Belgian prince although he prefers to not use his\u00a0hereditary title.<\/p>\n<p>Apparently\u00a0<em>Princely House of Merode<\/em> is one of the most important families of the Belgian nobility.<\/p>\n<p>From what I can gather from the film, and other sources, Emmanuel de Merode and all of the other park rangers work for ICCN &#8211;\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Institut_Congolais_pour_la_Conservation_de_la_Nature\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Congolese Institute for Nature Conservation<\/span><\/a> (<em><i>Institut Congolais pour la Conservation de la Nature<\/i> <\/em>in French)<\/p>\n<p>Their uniforms bare the acronym ICCN (<em>Congolese Institute for Nature Conservation<\/em>\u00a0in English or\u00a0). \u00a0They are law enforcement officers and work for the Congo government (this includes\u00a0Andre Bauma the\u00a0gorilla caretaker).<\/p>\n<p>It appears that government management of ICCN is located in\u00a0<em>Kinsasha <\/em>(the capitol of the Democratic Republic of the Congo) which is located approximately 1000 miles (by flight) away from Virunga Nation Park. \u00a0If you were moving across land the distance would be far greater than 1000 miles.<\/p>\n<p>Even though oil exploration is illegal in the park, and the fact that the park is listed as a\u00a0World Heritage Site, it appears that SOCO International plc<em>\u00a0<\/em>managed to pay off the government management of ICCN in Kinsasha.<\/p>\n<p>Virunga National Park is listed as a UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) World Heritage Site. \u00a0Under Congolese law and international law oil related activities are illegal.<\/p>\n<p>When SOCO International announced their intentions to explore for oil the Provincial Director of\u00a0Virunga National Park (Emmanuel de Merode) informed them that oil related activities are illegal at the park.<\/p>\n<p>Soon thereafter SOCO International plc arrived in a convey of armed vehicles and forced their way into the park.<\/p>\n<p>Keep in mind that all park rangers, including the\u00a0Provincial Director, are armed with pistols, rifles, machine guns and shoulder-fired surface-to-air missiles.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.wasobamaborninkenya.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Rodrigue-Katembo.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-6328\" src=\"http:\/\/www.wasobamaborninkenya.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Rodrigue-Katembo-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"Rodrigue Katembo\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wasobamaborninkenya.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Rodrigue-Katembo-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.wasobamaborninkenya.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Rodrigue-Katembo-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.wasobamaborninkenya.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Rodrigue-Katembo.jpg 751w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a>Provincial Director of\u00a0Virunga National Park (Emmanuel de Merode) formed a plan with the Warden of the Central Sector of Virunga National Park, Rodrigue Katembo (adjacent picture), to gather objective and tangible evidence and documentation of SOCO International&#8217;s plans to exploit oil from the Congo.<\/p>\n<p>Rodrigue Katembo (Waden of the Central Sector of Virunga National Park) began an undercover investigation. He used small concealed video cameras (including a <a href=\"http:\/\/www.wasobamaborninkenya.com\/InspectorSmith\/showthread.php\/3947-GoPro-Hero-3-Black-Edition-received-on-Valentine-s-Day-2013!?highlight=gopro\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">GoPro camera<\/span><\/a>) to record face to face conversations with members of the Congolese Army,\u00a0SOCO International plc employees,\u00a0SOCO International plc subcontractors, SOCO International plc security and SOCO International plc supporters.<\/p>\n<p>In the film you can see and hear\u00a0SOCO International plc local supporters negotiating with Ranger Rodrigue Katembo and explaining that they are inline with\u00a0SOCO International plc and that\u00a0Emmanuel de Merode is the only person in the chain of authority of the park who is standing in way of SOCO International&#8217;s plan for big oil.<\/p>\n<p>The local SOCO supporters explain that oil is worth billions and that Ranger Rodrigue Katembo will have some of that money too if he can help SOCO. \u00a0The supporters state that everyone in the government (including the Minister of the Environment) in the capital (Kinsasha) have authorized SOCO and their oil plans. \u00a0They state that they will arrange a meeting for Ranger Rodrigue Katembo with the Minister (Bavon N\u2019sa Mputu Elima? Or\u00a0C\u00e9lestin Vunabandi Kanyamihigo?)<\/p>\n<p>Ranger Rodrigue Katembo also captured video and audio of\u00a0a captain in the Congolese Army (Captain Feruzi) stating that SOCO International needs him (Ranger Rodrigue Katembo) and that they will pay him $3000 dollars and also later when the oil is flowing that they will provide him with anything that he wants. \u00a0Captain Feruzi states\u00a0SOCO International wants\u00a0Ranger Rodrigue Katembo to secretly feed them information on a regular schedule regarding the actions and plans of\u00a0Emmanuel de Merode.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.wasobamaborninkenya.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Pieter-Wright-SOCO-oil.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-6329\" src=\"http:\/\/www.wasobamaborninkenya.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Pieter-Wright-SOCO-oil-290x300.jpg\" alt=\"Pieter Wright SOCO oil\" width=\"290\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wasobamaborninkenya.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Pieter-Wright-SOCO-oil-290x300.jpg 290w, https:\/\/www.wasobamaborninkenya.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Pieter-Wright-SOCO-oil.jpg 596w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 290px) 100vw, 290px\" \/><\/a>Ranger Rodrigue Katembo also captures video and audio footage of Pieter Wright (a white South African) &#8211; a SOCO security contractor (adjacent picture).<\/p>\n<p>Pieter Wright explains to\u00a0Ranger Rodrigue Katembo that SOCO will soon begin working in his area of the park and that they will be in contact with him (Ranger\u00a0Rodrigue) soon.<\/p>\n<p>Wright then passes Ranger Rodrigue a small amount of money. \u00a0I&#8217;ve read elsewhere that it amounted to $50 dollars. \u00a0 This might not sound like much to an American but believe me it is a significant amount to an average working class Congolese citizen such as a park ranger. \u00a0 I&#8217;m not exactly sure how much money a park ranger earns in the Congo for his job but I know other people in the Congo who work as employees and earn about $10 dollars a month.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.wasobamaborninkenya.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Melanie-Gouby.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-6323\" src=\"http:\/\/www.wasobamaborninkenya.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Melanie-Gouby-231x300.jpg\" alt=\"Melanie Gouby\" width=\"231\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wasobamaborninkenya.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Melanie-Gouby-231x300.jpg 231w, https:\/\/www.wasobamaborninkenya.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Melanie-Gouby.jpg 580w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 231px) 100vw, 231px\" \/><\/a>At almost thirty (30) minutes into the film we meet a young French freelance journalist (or war correspondent) who indicates that she has been living in Goma (a city adjacent to Virunga Nation Park), Congo for approximately one and a half years (I&#8217;m not sure at what point in time that she said that so I&#8217;m not sure exactly how long she&#8217;s now been in the Congo.)<\/p>\n<p>Her name is <a href=\"http:\/\/www.melanie-gouby.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Melanie Gouby<\/span><\/a> (adjacent picture).<\/p>\n<p>There were twelve (12) armed\u00a0rebel groups who operated (and most still do) in and around Virunga National Park (they all\u00a0opposed the the Congolese Army). \u00a0Melanie Gouby indicates that one rebel group, who call themselves M23 (<a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/March_23_Movement\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">March 23 Movement<\/span><\/a>), started\u00a0their conflict with Congolese Army at about the same time that SOCO International began exploring for oil in Virunga.<\/p>\n<p>Melanie Gouby began to secretly video and audio record during her private meetings with SOCO International employees and members of the M23 rebel group.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.wasobamaborninkenya.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Julien-Lechenault-SOCO.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-6331\" src=\"http:\/\/www.wasobamaborninkenya.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Julien-Lechenault-SOCO-286x300.jpg\" alt=\"Julien Lechenault SOCO\" width=\"286\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wasobamaborninkenya.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Julien-Lechenault-SOCO-286x300.jpg 286w, https:\/\/www.wasobamaborninkenya.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Julien-Lechenault-SOCO.jpg 510w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 286px) 100vw, 286px\" \/><\/a>She met with Julien Lechenault &#8211; SOCO Internationl Fields Operation\u00a0Supervisor in Goma (adjacent picture), on several\u00a0occasions and secretly recorded video footage of the interviews.<\/p>\n<p>At one of the meetings\u00a0Julien Lechenault states that best solution for counties such as the Congo\u00a0is to be recolonized by Europe. \u00a0He states that their is no other solution and that Europe must manage countries such as the Congo. \u00a0He states that the Congolese are like children and cannot manage themselves.<\/p>\n<p>Julien Lechenault \u00a0also states that the only person standing in SOCO International&#8217;s way of oil exploration is\u00a0Emmanuel de Merode. \u00a0He states that\u00a0Emmanuel\u00a0has all of the power in the park even though\u00a0ICCN (Congolese Institute for Nature Conservation) management (in Kinsasha) has already given SOCO permission to explore for oil in\u00a0the park.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.wasobamaborninkenya.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/SOCO-security-contractor-John-mercenary.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-6333\" src=\"http:\/\/www.wasobamaborninkenya.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/SOCO-security-contractor-John-mercenary-300x237.jpg\" alt=\"SOCO security contractor John mercenary\" width=\"300\" height=\"237\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wasobamaborninkenya.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/SOCO-security-contractor-John-mercenary-300x237.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.wasobamaborninkenya.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/SOCO-security-contractor-John-mercenary.jpg 811w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a>At one of the recorded meetings Julien Lechenault arrived with two other individuals.<\/p>\n<p>One was a SOCO Security Contractor named &#8216;John&#8217; (British)\u00a0who stated that he was a\u00a0mercenary and apparently bragged about killing people and his life as a mercenary.<\/p>\n<p>John admitted that SOCO paid the security contractors (he is one of them) to pay the rebels for protection.<\/p>\n<p>Julien Lechenault indicated that SOCO doesn&#8217;t deal with the rebels but that SOCO&#8217;s security contractors are in daily communication with rebel groups. \u00a0He indicates that SOCO does not pay rebels.<\/p>\n<p>John (the self-styled mercenary) cut in asked Julien what did he think that he (John, a security contractor) was doing then [paying the rebels].<\/p>\n<p>Julien Lechenault then told John to shut up reminded him that\u00a0Melanie Gouby is a journalist.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.wasobamaborninkenya.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Colonel-Kazarama-SOCO.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-6334\" src=\"http:\/\/www.wasobamaborninkenya.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Colonel-Kazarama-SOCO-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"Colonel Kazarama SOCO\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wasobamaborninkenya.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Colonel-Kazarama-SOCO-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.wasobamaborninkenya.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Colonel-Kazarama-SOCO.jpg 855w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a>Melanie Gouby also met with M23 rebel spokesperson, Colonel Kazarama (adjacent picture).<\/p>\n<p>He states that some local Congolese in eastern Congo don&#8217;t like SOCO International and that <a href=\"http:\/\/fr.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/C%C3%A9lestin_Vunabandi\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Minister Vunabandi<\/span><\/a>\u00a0(Congo government official) asked him to calm these people and to let these people know that it is better to work\u00a0with SOCO International than to work with Virguna National Park.<\/p>\n<p>Colonel Kazarama states that he did his job.<\/p>\n<p>Keep in mind that\u00a0Colonel Kazarama and his men are rebels.<\/p>\n<p>Colonel Kazarama also states that SOCO International will not be able to exploit oil from the Congo without paying them (M23 rebel group) a percentage.<\/p>\n<p>At some point(s) in 2012 the M23 rebel group took over large areas of eastern Congo (including Goma, Rutshuru, Virunga National Park and other areas) and fighting between them and the Congolese Army spilled into and through the Virunga National Park. \u00a0One of the young mountain gorillas named <strong>Kaboko <\/strong>(mentioned above in this report)<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>at the gorilla orphanage died (DOB: July 25, 2012) during the attack due to what appears to a stress induced illness.<\/p>\n<p>In September, 2012 Ranger\u00a0Rodrigue Katembo attempted to prevent SOCO International employees from building an illegal structure in Virunga National Park. \u00a0The next day he was arrested, tortured and and held without charges for seventeen (17) days.<\/p>\n<p>In April, 2014\u00a0Emmanuel de Merode filed a report of SOCO International&#8217;s activities to the Congolese authorities. As he was driving to return to the park he was ambushed by unknown gunmen and shot several times (included being shot in the chest and stomach). He survived by exiting his vehicle with his rifle in hand and exchanging fire with the gunmen.<\/p>\n<p>In June, 2014 SOCO International claimed that they would halt operations in Virunga National Park. \u00a0However, they refuse to withdraw unconditionally and they continue to undermine the park. \u00a0A review of SOCO website&#8217;s\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.socointernational.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">http:\/\/www.socointernational.com\/<\/span><\/a> indicates that they are still operating (oil exploration and scientific studies involving a seismic survey) in Virunga National Park.<\/p>\n<p>SOCO International has posted PDFs of permits, approvals and authorizations for oil exploration that they bought from corrupt and money hungry officials in the Democratic Republic of the Congo:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.socointernational.com\/index.php?cID=html_134\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">http:\/\/www.socointernational.com\/index.php?cID=html_134<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p>In response to the <em>Virunga<\/em> documentary SOCO International plc issued the following statements:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.wasobamaborninkenya.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/SOCO-Internation-virunga-nation-park-a.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft wp-image-6335 size-large\" src=\"http:\/\/www.wasobamaborninkenya.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/SOCO-Internation-virunga-nation-park-a-1024x384.jpg\" alt=\"SOCO Internation virunga nation park a\" width=\"640\" height=\"240\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wasobamaborninkenya.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/SOCO-Internation-virunga-nation-park-a-1024x384.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.wasobamaborninkenya.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/SOCO-Internation-virunga-nation-park-a-300x113.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.wasobamaborninkenya.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/SOCO-Internation-virunga-nation-park-a.jpg 1076w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.wasobamaborninkenya.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/SOCO-Internation-virunga-nation-park-b.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-large wp-image-6336\" src=\"http:\/\/www.wasobamaborninkenya.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/SOCO-Internation-virunga-nation-park-b-1024x398.jpg\" alt=\"SOCO Internation virunga nation park b\" width=\"640\" height=\"249\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wasobamaborninkenya.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/SOCO-Internation-virunga-nation-park-b-1024x398.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.wasobamaborninkenya.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/SOCO-Internation-virunga-nation-park-b-300x117.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.wasobamaborninkenya.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/SOCO-Internation-virunga-nation-park-b.jpg 1108w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>I wish that I could immediately do more to help Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. \u00a0I&#8217;m in the process of donating a small amount of money to the park but since I don&#8217;t use Paypal anymore it can&#8217;t be done immediately.<\/p>\n<p>For now I&#8217;ve done my best (I hope) to present an objective review of the documentary and spread word of the film.<\/p>\n<p>If anyone reading would like to make a donation directly to the Virunga National Park you may do so at the following link:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/virunga.org\/donate\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">https:\/\/virunga.org\/donate\/<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Please exercise your free speech in the comments section below. There are no stipulations of political correctness on this blog. Speak your mind, give us your thoughts, both objective and subjective. Share your ideas, hunches, inklings or your expertise. Please provide recommendation and corrections if you spot errors in fact within the blog report. Lastly, remember that posting a comment is much like casting a vote, so please do so.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Director Orlando von Einsiedel has teamed up with Leonardo DiCaprio and Netflix to share Virunga with the entire world. The film was released November 7, 2014 on Netflix. Virunga was filmed at the\u00a0Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wasobamaborninkenya.com\/blog\/virunga-documentary-on-netflix\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[37,5,988,35],"tags":[3752,3753,3757,3758,3754,3755,3756,3746,3776,3777,3778,3749,3762,3763,3747,3748,3745,3739,5048,3769,3770,3773,3774,3771,3741,3743,3742,1669,4337,3782,3783,2489,3784,3785,3765,3766,3767,3768,3750,3751,3764,3779,3781,3780,3775,3740,3744,3791,3792,3793,3795,3760,3761,3759,3786,3789,3787,3790],"class_list":["post-6301","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-obama-birth-certificate","category-obama-news","category-obama-social-security-number-ssn","category-the-government-vs-lucas-daniel-smith","tag-andre-bauma","tag-andre-bauma-gorilla-caretaker","tag-andre-bauma-gorilla-orphanage","tag-andre-bauma-gorilla-orphanage-congo","tag-andre-bauma-mountain-gorilla","tag-andre-bauma-rumangabo","tag-andre-bauma-virunga-national-park","tag-congolese-institute-for-nature-conservation","tag-emmanuel-de-merode","tag-emmanuel-de-merode-congo","tag-emmanuel-de-merode-soco-oil","tag-gorilla-cemetery-congo","tag-gorilla-kaboko-july-25-2012-died","tag-httpsvirunga-orgdonate","tag-iccn-congo","tag-iccn-virunga","tag-institut-congolais-pour-la-conservation-de-la-nature","tag-irunga-national-park-ranger-kasereka-funeral","tag-julien-lechenault","tag-julien-lechenault-soco-internationl-fields-operation-supervisor","tag-julien-lechenault-soco-internationl-fields-operation-supervisor-congo","tag-julien-lechenault-congo-murder","tag-julien-lechenault-oil-murder-lies","tag-julien-lechenault-soco","tag-kasereka-kipako","tag-kasereka-kipako-congo","tag-kasereka-kipako-murder","tag-lucas-d-smith-congo","tag-lucas-daniel-smith","tag-lucas-daniel-smith-cedar-rapids","tag-lucas-daniel-smith-congo","tag-lucas-daniel-smith-iowa","tag-lucas-smith-congo","tag-lucas-smith-virunga-national-park","tag-melanie-gouby","tag-melanie-gouby-congo","tag-melanie-gouby-m23","tag-melanie-gouby-virunga-national-park","tag-mountain-gorilla-cemetery-congo","tag-mountain-gorilla-funeral-congo","tag-pieter-wright-south-african","tag-prince-emmanuel-de-merode","tag-prince-emmanuel-de-merode-assassination-attempt","tag-prince-emmanuel-de-merode-soco","tag-provincial-director-of-virunga-national-park-is-emmanuel-de-merode","tag-ranger-kasereka-funeral-congo","tag-ranger-kasereka-kipako-congo","tag-rui-desousa","tag-rui-desousa-congo","tag-rui-desousa-soco-oil","tag-rui-desousa-virunga-national-park","tag-senkwekwe-center-andre-bauma","tag-senkwekwe-center-gorilla-orphanage","tag-senkwekwe-center-mountain-gorillas","tag-serge-lescaut","tag-serge-lescaut-congo","tag-serge-lescaut-soco-oil","tag-serge-lescaut-viruna-national-park"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wasobamaborninkenya.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6301","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wasobamaborninkenya.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wasobamaborninkenya.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wasobamaborninkenya.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wasobamaborninkenya.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6301"}],"version-history":[{"count":32,"href":"https:\/\/www.wasobamaborninkenya.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6301\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":16268,"href":"https:\/\/www.wasobamaborninkenya.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6301\/revisions\/16268"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wasobamaborninkenya.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6301"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wasobamaborninkenya.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6301"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wasobamaborninkenya.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6301"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}