VZCZCXRO9164
PP RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHGI RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHKI #0593 1981421
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 161421Z JUL 08
FM AMEMBASSY KINSHASA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8204
INFO RUEHXR/RWANDA COLLECTIVE
RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AF DEVELOPMNT COMMUNITY COLLECTIVE
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
RUZEJAA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK
UNCLAS KINSHASA 000593
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL MOPS KPKO CG
SUBJECT: CNDP, AT JULY 14 MEETING WITH INTERNATIONAL FACILITATION,
MAINTAINS HARD-LINE POSITIONS
REF: KINSHASA 586
1. (SBU) Summary: The International Facilitation in Goma met with
CNDP representatives Rene Abandi and Bertrand Bisimwa July 14 to
discuss further the CNDP concerns outlined reftel. Abandi and
Bisimwa reported that the CNDP has not backed off from these
concerns, and also that the group may now have a problem with the
draft amnesty law. (Note: The Amnesty Law will not be adopted
during the current special session of Parliament - see para. 5. End
note) The International Facilitation responded that the CNDP's
positions on these issues were not helpful as they provided
Facilitation and Apollinaire Malu Malu with increasingly less
negotiating room. The Facilitation also stressed that the CNDP must
pull back four kilometers, as previously agreed, from Kimoka camp.
End summary.
2. (SBU) The International Facilitation in Goma met with CNDP
representatives Rene Abandi and Bertrand Bisimwa July 14 to discuss
further CNDP concerns raised July 11 (reftel). Abandi and Bisimwa
had presented the U.S. Facilitation's reactions to these points
(also outlined reftel) to their leadership the previous day. They
reported that the CNDP maintains the objections outlined
previously.
3. (SBU) In addition, Abandi and Bisimwa added yet another CNDP
concern related to the draft amnesty law. The law, they said, had
not been discussed with them beforehand and the CNDP could have a
problem with the wording, though no further clarification was
provided. The International Facilitation responded that the CNDP's
positions on these issues were not helpful and provided them and
Apollinaire Malu Malu increasingly less negotiating room.
4. (SBU) Additionally, with respect to Kimoka camp (a MONUC base
located near CNDP-held territory which the CNDP has agreed to as a
meeting site), the Facilitation noted that MONUC has reported that
the CNDP had pulled back only two kms. from the camp, rather than 4
kms. as previously agreed. The Facilitation stressed that the CNDP
must pull back the complete distance. Abandi and Bisimwa said that
they would look into the situation, but did not promise to take care
of it, and even said that they would in the future not promise any
particular result (Note: this was a clear reference to Nkunda's
displeasure with them as reported reftel. End note.).
5. (SBU) USAID Goma officer subsequently reported the substance of
the conversation by telephone to Malu Malu, who reported that he
will come to Goma again July 16 with the humanitarian commission
structures decree and with the amnesty law, which he believes will
pass the parliament in advance of the upcoming recess. (Note:
Although the National Assembly passed the amnesty law July 12, the
Senate deferred its consideration of the law on procedural grounds
until parliament's September 2008 session. End note.).
6. (SBU) Comment: Malu Malu's return to Goma this week is good
news and he will hopefully bring with him some substantial
concessions/offers which Facilitation can use to bring the CNDP back
into the full parameters of the Amani process. At the same time,
the CNDP's recent intransigence on a number of issues continues to
be a major problem. The delay in the final examination and
promulgation of the amnesty law, irrespective of the assessment of
individual armed groups of the law, represents a missed opportunity
to inject momentum into this sluggish phase of the Amani process.
End comment.
GARVELINK