VZCZCXRO2951
OO RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHGI RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHKI #0421 1341241
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 131241Z MAY 08
FM AMEMBASSY KINSHASA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7983
INFO RUEHXR/RWANDA COLLECTIVE
RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AF DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY COLLECTIVE
RUEHJB/AMEMBASSY BUJUMBURA 0043
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
RUZEJAA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK
UNCLAS KINSHASA 000421
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL MOPS KPKO CG
SUBJECT: FRF relays serious concerns over FARDC human rights abuses
1. (U) Summary: USAID Goma liaison officer along with the Belgian
Consul General and MONUC Head of Office in Bukavu traveled to
Kamombo, South Kivu along with three Forces Republicaines
Federalistes (FRF) members of the Mixed Technical Commission on
Peace and Security (MTCPS). The delegation met on May 2 with the
FRF military commander and his top commanders and advisors, who
established a linkage between their ability to complete the process
of disengagement through Amani and the FARDC's continuing abuses of
the Tutsi population of the area. The FRF relayed that their most
important concern is that the FARDC based in Minembwe and Moranvia
is pillaging and raping at will. The delegation prepared a report
on this visit and the FRF's concerns for Father (French "Abbe") Malu
Malu, as well as proposed remedial efforts, and will discuss this
with him soon. End summary.
2. (U) USAID Goma liaison officer, along with the Belgian Consul
General in Bukavu Hughes Chantry and MONUC Bukavu Head of Office
Zubaida Rasul, undertook a mission to Kamombo, South Kivu, in order
to return the FRF members of the MTCPS (Zebede Gassore, Fidel
Mukiza, and Jules Dyadu) to their headquarters. The three are to
begin "sensitization" (awareness raising) activities immediately
with FRF forces and their populations.
3. (U) After arriving in Kamombo May 2, the delegation met with
Venant Bisogo, FRF military commander and his top commanders and
advisors. At this meeting, the FRF took a relatively strong stand
on the issues affecting them, establishing a linkage between their
ability to complete the process of disengagement through Amani and
the FARDC's continuing abuses of the Tutsi population of the area.
4. (U) The FRF relayed that their most important concern is that the
FARDC based in Minembwe and Moranvia is pillaging and raping at
will. This is due partly to lack of logistical support (i.e.
salaries and food) to the FARDC. However, Bantu soldiers are also
targeting Tutsi civilians on the basis of their ethnicity. The FRF
wants the GDRC to bring the FARDC under control - they are not
demanding that the army leave, although they would see that as
desirable - and asked the Facilitation to transmit their concerns to
the army and the Amani leadership. They emphasized that
"sensitization" of FRF troops will not work if the FARDC is not
reined in.
5. (U) The FRF complained about a number of other issues as well, to
include those related to the FDLR, lack of state administration in
the area, refugee return, and Minembwe Territory. However, these
complaints were minor as compared to their problems with the FARDC.
6. (U) The delegation prepared a report on this visit and the FRF's
concerns for Abbe Malu Malu and will be discussing it with him soon.
They have relayed to him that continuing human rights violations
committed by the FARDC could result in a military response from the
FRF and/or FRF refusal, lack of support for, or disobedience with
respect to the process of disengagement and implementation of the
Acte d'Engagement process.
7. (U) The delegation emphasized to Malu Malu that this is a serious
impediment to the current process of "sensitization" involving the
FRF and has grave implications for the whole process related to the
Acte d'Engagement. As remedial measures, they recommended that Malu
Malu deploy his offices as Amani Coordinator to work with the 10 MR
to seek an immediate solution, and assure the FRF that the
Coordinator is seized with the matter.
8. (SBU) Comment: How much of what the FRF relayed was real and how
much was posturing, or inspired by the CNDP, are open questions. At
the same time, their concerns are of the immediate and pressing
variety, in contrast to those frequently put forward by the CNDP,
which are more often than not related to the public image of the
organization. Ultimately, the human rights abuses about which the
FRF is concerned are real issues for them and for the success of the
process. End comment.
BROCK