CNPAV Requests Meeting with Dan Gertler on DRC-Ventora Agreement
The Congolese anti-corruption platform Congo N’est Pas à Vendre (CNPAV) is seeking a one-on-one meeting with Israeli businessman Dan Gertler during the week of May 29, 2023, to address the unanswered questions about its transactions that have had a significant impact on the Democratic Republic of Congo.
This public announcement was made on Tuesday, May 9, 2023, following a note on April 13, 2023, which suspended legal actions initiated by Dan Gertler against NGOs, media, and individuals in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
“We have consistently expressed our opposition to the use of SLAPPs (Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation) and would like an update from you on the concrete steps you have taken since your announcement to suspend your defamation cases in various jurisdictions.
We also seek clarification as to whether these proceedings will be suspended or withdrawn. Regarding your legal action in the DRC, we understand that no official confirmation has been received from the CNPAV spokesperson, Jean Claude Mputu, or his employer, Resource Matters, regarding the status of your legal actions,” the statement explained.
Additionally, the statement added:
“Nevertheless, we appreciate your offer to meet with us. It is the policy of our organizations to provide business and government officials with the opportunity to share their comments, corrections, and ideas before publication. On several occasions, our organizations have raised numerous unanswered questions about your business dealings in Congo. Therefore, we welcome the possibility of a substantive discussion with you.”
Furthermore, the Congo is Not for Sale platform proposes some modalities for the meeting, including:
The CNPAV suggests a mixed format for the meeting, with Dan Gertler and others present in person in Kinshasa, and a virtual connection for civil society representatives located across Congo and abroad who are unable to attend in person.
A neutral and secure environment should be created for the meeting, with an agreed-upon facilitator to ensure efficiency and proper management. The CNPAV has approached the UN to seek their assistance in organizing such a meeting.
Both parties should share the list of participants one week prior to the meeting.
Complete copies of the key documents listed in the appendix should be made accessible.
Before the meeting, the CNPAV commits to sharing a list of the most urgent questions for which it requests answers.
Among the organizations signing the statement, we note the CNPAV, Human Rights Watch, Resource Matters, Rights and Accountability in Development (RAID), and The Sentry.
As a reminder, Dan Gertler is an Israeli businessman who has been sanctioned by the US Treasury for corruption and fraud in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
