Our country has been at war since 1996, a war in which more than 6 million Congolese have died; in which more than half a million women and girls have been brutally raped; and, which has seen many of our children, who represent the future of the country, orphaned and cast into the street to live as beggars or impressed into some militia as child soldiers.  The standard of living is the lowest of our history with per capita income at $89 per year or less than 25 cents per day.  Diseases again rage unchecked throughout the country and sow death in our villages.  The basic infrastructure such as the hospitals and the health centers, the schools and water and electric facilities have, in many cases, been destroyed.  The most fundamental human rights are trampled underfoot.  The current government is responsible for the killing of innocents every day; sells off the country’s wealth to all comers; and, abets the continued occupation of Kahemba in Bandundu, of Orientale Province and both Kivus by outside armies.  We continue to endure the foul taste of this forfeiture of our country.  Today, we are at the point where we can no longer afford to be silent while watching our country collapse.  It is now or never!  Now is the moment for us to affirm that we are all Congolese citizens and make sure our rights are respected.  To do this, the CIC believes that we must act and work together.  Necessarily, this means we must speak with one voice and adopt one well articulated message when we address questions of national interest.  We must forget tribal, political and personal conflicts.  We must agree on our strategies in order for us to cast out the false protectors of our country and those who act contrary to the national interest.  If we work together; if the Congolese in America, and throughout the world act in harmony with the Congolese that have remained at home; if we bury our disagreements to defend the future of our country, then, our triumph is certain.