VZCZCXRO6401
PP RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHGI RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHKI #0194 0561359
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 251359Z FEB 08
FM AMEMBASSY KINSHASA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7586
INFO RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 2141
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 000194
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREF PREL PGOV PHUM CG
SUBJECT: UNSG Representative on IDP rights visits DRC
1. Walter Kalin, The UN Secretary General's Representative on the
human rights of internally displaced persons (IDPs), called for a
sustainable solution for displaced people during his February 12-22
visit to the DRC. At a briefing for the international diplomatic
corps in Kinshasa on February 22, Kalin targeted political
reconciliation between government and armed groups and effective
economic reintegration of IDPs as the key components of a permanent
solution. He will report his findings and recommendations to the UN
Human Rights Council in Geneva in March.
2. Kalin's visit included meetings with senior officials in
Kinshasa, including Justice and Human Rights Minister Mutombo
Bakafwa and Humanitarian Affairs Minister Jean-Claude Muyambo. He
emphasized that the government is the primary entity responsible for
the protection and assistance of displaced civilians. The
international community's role should be to assist its efforts. He
also recommended that the government dramatically increase its
efforts in fighting impunity in the armed forces.
3. Kalin also visited IDPs in North Kivu, South Kivu and Ituri
District. He underscored the need to avoid additional massive
displacements. He was particularly concerned with the forced
recruitment of children by armed groups, identifying this as a
primary cause of new displacements and prevents the sustainable
return of IDPs.
4. Press reports portrayed Kalin's visit as a call to action, and
viewed him as genuinely concerned about the situation of Congolese
IDPs. They highlighted his call to all parties to the Goma peace
and security conference to implement their commitments without
delay, and his urging of armed groups, the government and the
international community to work to bring about a permanent solution
to the crisis in the east.
GARVELINK