VZCZCXYZ0010
PP RUEHWEB
DE RUEHKI #0062 0230638
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 230638Z JAN 08
FM AMEMBASSY KINSHASA
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7401
UNCLAS KINSHASA 000062
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SMIG PHUM PGOV PREL KCRM KWMN CG
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE DELIVERED: TIP TIER 2 ACTION PLAN
REF: 07 STATE 149434
1. PolOff delivered reftel demarche January 9 to Chikez Diemu,
Minister of Defense; Philomene Omatuku, Minister of Women's Issues
and Children; and Boniface Bola, Secretary General of the Ministry
of Labor.
2. All three Congolese officials cited child labor as the biggest
trafficking problem facing the DRC. They asserted, however, that
trafficking is a consequence of poor economic conditions. They also
said that sex trafficking is the least prevalent trafficking problem
in the DRC.
3. All three officials appeared to accept the recommendations in a
positive manner and gave assurances they wanted to work closely with
the U.S. in combating trafficking. The ministries of Women's Issues
and Children and Labor specifically requested U.S. funds to help in
their efforts. The Defense Minister expressed surprise when hearing
about the case of Jean-Pierre Biyoyo, assuring Poloff he would do
everything in his power to facilitate Biyoyo's capture.
Brock