VZCZCXRO5236
PP RUEHGI RUEHMA RUEHROV
DE RUEHKH #1541 2761056
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 031056Z OCT 07
FM AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8690
INFO RUCNFUR/DARFUR COLLECTIVE
RHMFISS/CJTF HOA
UNCLAS KHARTOUM 001541
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE, SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/SPG, S/CRS
DEPT PLS PASS USAID FOR AFR/SUDAN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KPKO SOCI AU UN US SU
SUBJECT: CFC WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 24: NO MEETINGS BUT WORKING GROUP
FORMS
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WORKING GROUP TO BUILD CFC CAPACITY
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1. (SBU) Neither the First nor Second Chamber of the Cease-fire
Commission (CFC) met the week of September 24 because Force
Commander Agwai had left for Nigeria and Deputy Force Commander
Karake was traveling the area of operation. The working group,
however, addressed the two general topics of internal
procedures/incident tracking and actual investigations/training.
The Secretariat has a good form for logging and tracking cases, but
it has not been updated nor used since July. It also does not have
an entry for follow-up action nor are open cases from the log
automatically placed on the weekly agenda.
2. (SBU) The working group also discussed the Investigations SOP
draft prepared by the US Observer with input from CivPol
investigations and former US Observers. Most of the substantive
discussion (which at times became quite animated) revolved around
witness questioning and when to put opinions in the report. There
was considerable disagreement over the best way to get out all the
facts but avoid witness intimidation. There was also considerable
disagreement as to whether the investigators' opinions should be
limited to the final section of the report or be used throughout to
provide context. Once the Secretariat completes its draft version,
the CFC AMIS and CivPol representatives will be invited to join the
working group to develop the SOP further before it is presented to
each chamber of the CFC.
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A FRESH APPROACH?
-----------------
3. (SBU) The new head of the CFC Secretariat arrived just as Agwai
announced his desire to reform the CFC. In addition, under the
Light Support Package (LSP), a Dutch Army officer with a military
police background has been assigned to the CFC Secretariat, which
might bring fresh thinking to the operation. The UN and U.S.
observers are also trying to help the CFC Secretariat develop
capacity in doing basic staff work, such as coordination, follow up
and follow through, and taking the initiative.
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COMMENT
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4. (SBU) The creation of the working group, and its work so far, are
a good start, and the UN and U.S. observers will remain engaged.
However, the biggest challenge facing the CFC now is that it lacks
the ability to conduct independent investigations. End comment.
FERNANDEZ