Cablegate: Ad Hoc Facilitation Meeting with Cndp

VZCZCXRO0173
PP RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHGI RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHKI #0665 2270629
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 140629Z AUG 08
FM AMEMBASSY KINSHASA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8300
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 000665

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL MOPS KPKO CG
SUBJECT: AD HOC FACILITATION MEETING WITH CNDP

REF: KINSHASA 655

1. (SBU) Summary: The International Facilitation in Goma held an
informal meeting August 11 with two CNDP representatives, Rene
Abandi and Bertrand Bisimwa. The two representatives raised a new
CNDP concern: a recent statement by RCD ("Rassemblement congolais
pour la democratie" in French, a political party with historical
ties to Rwandan -- and Tutsi-- interests) president Azarias Ruberwa
concerning the need for change of the current government has,
according to CNDP, set off a barrage of anti-Tutsi propaganda. This
was followed by an inconclusive discussion of the planned plenary
meeting of the Joint Technical Commission on Peace and Security
(JTCPS). The Facilitation told Abandi and Bisimwa that they want to
hold a meeting at Kimoka between Nkunda, PARECO representatives
Mugabo and Lafontaine and FARDC General Mayala. Abandi and Bisimwa
asked if CNDP representatives could be allowed to sleep with armed
protection within the Kimoka exclusion zone. End summary.

2. (SBU) Members of the International Facilitation in Goma met by
chance two CNDP representatives, Rene Abandi and Bertrand Bisimwa,
on August 11 and invited them to an informal meeting. Abandi and
Bisimwa raised a new CNDP concern during this session: a recent
statement by RCD president Azarias Ruberwa (himself a Banyamulenge
Tutsi from South Kivu) concerning the need for change of the current
government has, according to CNDP, set off a barrage of anti-Tutsi
propaganda. The two CNDP representatives cited Defense Minister
Chikez, among others, as making public anti-Tutsi remarks.

3. (SBU) Abandi and Bisimwa relayed CNDP concerns that such remarks
are inciting the population against Tutsis and that they are similar
to the hostile propaganda that was common in the period leading up
to the December 2007 FARDC military campaign, thus perhaps
indicating that the GDRC is preparing for war. Facilitation members
agreed that, if true, this is not a helpful development.

4. (SBU) This was followed by an inconclusive discussion of the
planned plenary meeting of the Joint Technical Commission on Peace
and Security (JTCPS). No agreement was reached on a scenario for
negotiating, debating, and adopting a disengagement plan. (Note: As
the purpose of a JTCPS plenary would be to adopt such a plan, it is
unclear what point there would be in holding a plenary. End note.)

5. (SBU) The Facilitation told Abandi and Bisimwa that they want to
hold a meeting at Kimoka between Nkunda, PARECO representatives
Mugabo and Lafontaine and FARDC General Mayala. Abandi suggested
including the Governor or Vice Governor of North Kivu, to which the
Facilitation agreed. The Facilitation, however, resisted Abandi's
request that CNDP be represented at this meeting by area military
commanders rather than Nkunda. The Facilitation actively pressed
Abandi and Bisimwa regarding the need for Nkunda to agree to this
meeting. They agreed to raise this issue with Nkunda.

6. (SBU) Abandi and Bisimwa asked if CNDP representatives could be
allowed to keep armed close protection in the Kimoka exclusion zone.
CNDP is going to talk to MONUC about this (Note: CNDP is
transparently trying to renegotiate the deal regarding the
demilitarization of Kimoka. End note)

7. (SBU) Comment: The CNDP concern about fallout from Ruberwa's
recent, relatively anodyne, statement strikes us disingenuous. If
the CNDP is concerned about negative repercussions, its leadership
should be taking steps to help manage the issue, such as by issuing
a statement distancing itself from Ruberwa. The request to allow
armed CNDP soldiers into a neutral zone is a flagrant violation of
earlier agreements as well as conventional practice. The meeting
with Abandi and Bisimwa suggests that the CNDP is not yet serious
about peace. End comment.

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