VZCZCXRO6152
PP RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHGI RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHKI #0191 0560909
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 250909Z FEB 08
FM AMEMBASSY KINSHASA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7583
INFO RUEHXR/RWANDA COLLECTIVE
RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AF DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY COLLECTIVE
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
RUZEJAA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK
UNCLAS KINSHASA 000191
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PGOV PINS KDEM KJUS CG
SUBJECT: UNHRO December 2007 Human Rights Assessment
1. (SBU) Summary: The UN's December 2007 Human Rights Assessment
describes a number of human rights violations by FARDC soldiers.
This message highlights three arbitrary killings of civilian by
soldiers. In two of the three cases, military authorities took no
action against the alleged perpetrators. End Summary
2. (U) The United Nations Human Rights Office's (UNHRO) December
2007 Human Rights Assessment for the DRC, released February 12,
2008, includes several examples of a human rights violation long
common in Congo: attempted extortion by government soldiers leading
to murder. In one case, a soldier of the 3rd Company of the FARDC
7th Integrated Brigade shot dead a civilian at an illegal roadblock
December 16 in Bolobo, Bandundu. Witnesses reported the soldier
shot the civilian when he did not pay 200 FC (40 cents) demanded by
the soldier. The soldier was later arrested and transferred to the
military prosecutor in Bandundu town.
3. (U) In another case, soldiers of the FARDC 6th Integrated Brigade
shot dead a civilian in Kalengera, North Kivu during the night of
December 24, allegedly because he refused their attempt to extort
his radio. There are no reports of military authorities taking
action against the perpetrators.
4. (U) A third example occurred December 1 in Nzibira, South Kivu
when, according to local sources, a soldier of the FARDC 11th
Integrated Brigade shot dead a vendor who requested that the soldier
pay for a bottle of beer he had ordered. There are no reports of
military authorities taking action against the soldier.
5. (SBU) Comment: Lack of action by military authorities to
consistently address daily human rights abuses by soldiers
contributes to the prevailing climate of impunity and further
undermines the legitimacy of Congolese justice. The demonstrated
lack of discipline among members of the integrated brigades also
damages the credibility of the military integration process. End
Comment.
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