East Congo militiamen go on trial for raping childrenGOMA, Democratic Republic of Congo (Reuters) - Eighteen people, including a provincial lawmaker, went on trial in eastern Congo on Thursday for the rapes of dozens of children, victims  rights activists said. At least 46 children, some as young as 18 months, were raped near the village of Kavumu between 2013 and 2016, sparking an international outcry and criticism of Democratic Republic of Congo s government for its slow response. In June last year, authorities arrested Frederic Batumike, a deputy from South Kivu province, and members of a militia he is alleged to have led. Rights groups hope the trial, which is expected to last several weeks, will strike a blow against impunity in Congo, where they say government forces and militia groups in the lawless eastern borderland have long used rape as a weapon of war. The trial opened in a military court in Kavumu on Thursday with the defendants facing charges of rape, murder and organization of an armed group, Jean Chrysostome Kijana, an activist representing the victims, told Reuters.  Proceedings began 10 hours late and lasted just 20 minutes, during which the defendants  names were read aloud.   The start of the trial is a strong signal in the fight against impunity,  said Kijana. However, he added that the delay to proceedings did raise fears that the trial could end up just being  yet another in a long list of botched trials . Millions died in eastern Congo in regional wars between 1996 and 2003, most from hunger and disease. Dozens of armed groups continue to prey on local populations and exploit the area s rich natural resources. Experts say Congo has made some progress in combating sexual violence and several high-level militia and army commanders have been successfully prosecuted in recent years, but the problem remains pervasive. According to the government, Batumike s militia employed a spiritual adviser who told its fighters that raping very young children would confer supernatural protection. Advocacy groups involved in the case say it has been particularly difficult to investigate because the victims are so young and their families were often asleep when the alleged rapes occurred. worldnews
east congo militiamen go trial raping childrengoma democratic republic congo reuters eighteen people including provincial lawmaker went trial eastern congo thursday rapes dozens children victims rights activists said at least children young months raped near village kavumu sparking international outcry criticism democratic republic congo government slow response in june last year authorities arrested frederick batumike deputy south div province members militia alleged led rights groups hope trial expected last several weeks strike blow impunity congo say government forces militia groups lawless eastern borderline long used rape weapon war the trial opened military court kavumu thursday defendants facing charges rape murder organization armed group jean chrysostome diana activist representing victims told reuters proceedings began hours late lasted minutes defendants names read aloud the start trial strong signal fight impunity said diana however added delay proceedings raise fears trial could end yet another long list botched trials millions died eastern congo regional wars hunger disease dozens armed groups continue prey local populations exploit area rich natural resources experts say congo made progress combating sexual violence several militia army commanders successfully prosecuted recent years problem remains pervasive according government batumike militia employed spiritual adviser told fighters raping young children would confer supernatural protection advocacy groups involved case say particularly difficult investigate victims young families often asleep alleged rapes occurred worldnews
Your task is to classify the provided input as real or fake news. Label 0 is meant for fake news, Label 1 is for real news. TEXT: East Congo militiamen go on trial for raping childrenGOMA, Democratic Republic of Congo (Reuters) - Eighteen people, including a provincial lawmaker, went on trial in eastern Congo on Thursday for the rapes of dozens of children, victims  rights activists said. At least 46 children, some as young as 18 months, were raped near the village of Kavumu between 2013 and 2016, sparking an international outcry and criticism of Democratic Republic of Congo s government for its slow response. In June last year, authorities arrested Frederic Batumike, a deputy from South Kivu province, and members of a militia he is alleged to have led. Rights groups hope the trial, which is expected to last several weeks, will strike a blow against impunity in Congo, where they say government forces and militia groups in the lawless eastern borderland have long used rape as a weapon of war. The trial opened in a military court in Kavumu on Thursday with the defendants facing charges of rape, murder and organization of an armed group, Jean Chrysostome Kijana, an activist representing the victims, told Reuters.  Proceedings began 10 hours late and lasted just 20 minutes, during which the defendants  names were read aloud.   The start of the trial is a strong signal in the fight against impunity,  said Kijana. However, he added that the delay to proceedings did raise fears that the trial could end up just being  yet another in a long list of botched trials . Millions died in eastern Congo in regional wars between 1996 and 2003, most from hunger and disease. Dozens of armed groups continue to prey on local populations and exploit the area s rich natural resources. Experts say Congo has made some progress in combating sexual violence and several high-level militia and army commanders have been successfully prosecuted in recent years, but the problem remains pervasive. According to the government, Batumike s militia employed a spiritual adviser who told its fighters that raping very young children would confer supernatural protection. Advocacy groups involved in the case say it has been particularly difficult to investigate because the victims are so young and their families were often asleep when the alleged rapes occurred. worldnews
Your task is to classify the provided input as real or fake news. Label 0 is meant for fake news, Label 1 is for real news. TEXT: east congo militiamen go trial raping childrengoma democratic republic congo reuters eighteen people including provincial lawmaker went trial eastern congo thursday rapes dozens children victims rights activists said at least children young months raped near village kavumu sparking international outcry criticism democratic republic congo government slow response in june last year authorities arrested frederick batumike deputy south div province members militia alleged led rights groups hope trial expected last several weeks strike blow impunity congo say government forces militia groups lawless eastern borderline long used rape weapon war the trial opened military court kavumu thursday defendants facing charges rape murder organization armed group jean chrysostome diana activist representing victims told reuters proceedings began hours late lasted minutes defendants names read aloud the start trial strong signal fight impunity said diana however added delay proceedings raise fears trial could end yet another long list botched trials millions died eastern congo regional wars hunger disease dozens armed groups continue prey local populations exploit area rich natural resources experts say congo made progress combating sexual violence several militia army commanders successfully prosecuted recent years problem remains pervasive according government batumike militia employed spiritual adviser told fighters raping young children would confer supernatural protection advocacy groups involved case say particularly difficult investigate victims young families often asleep alleged rapes occurred worldnews