VZCZCXRO2098
PP RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHGI RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHKI #0804 2700724
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 260724Z SEP 08
FM AMEMBASSY KINSHASA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8494
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 000804
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL MOPS KPKO CG
SUBJECT: 40TH MEETING OF THE JMG TASK FORCE
1. (SBU) Summary: The 4oth meeting of the Joint Monitoring Group
Task Force in Goma was held GIVE DATE. The weapons destruction
ceremony planned for the meeting was canceled due to ongoing
fighting near Sake. A joint MDPR/DDRRR assessment mission to the
RUD disarmament camp in Kasiki revealed that the ex-combatants and
their dependents are unlikely to go home soon, as the RUD leadership
maintains firm control over the members through threats and
disinformation. End Summary.
2. (SBU) The 40th JMG meeting was put together quickly following
the last minute cancellation of the DDRRR weapons destruction
ceremony near Sake. The ceremony was canceled due to concerns about
ongoing FARDC-CNDP fighting near Sake, as well as the potential
panic effect on the population of setting off several large
explosions in such close proximity. Two items were put on the
agenda for the impromptu meeting: a read-out of the joint MDRP/DDRRR
mission to Kasiki and a "housekeeping" discussion in which the JMG
members would review accomplishments to date and discuss how to
better implement their monitoring mandate. The latter item was then
postponed to the 41st meeting since several key EU and AU
representatives were absent.
3. (SBU) The objective of the MDRP/DDRRR trip to Kasiki was to
present to the RUD leadership the recent Kasiki registration
results, which indicated that 153 of 156 camp residents
(ex-combatants and dependents) want to return to Rwanda. Though
jointly run and financed by the GDRC and the Eglise du Christ au
Congo (ECC), the camp remains firmly under the control of the RUD
political and military leadership. The RUD leadership insisted on
the usual list of preconditions for returns, such as an
inter-Rwandan dialog, stating they wanted another Arusha-style
negotiation. They also demanded a high-level Rwandan delegation be
sent to Kasiki to hear them out, first naming Great Lakes Special
Envoy Richard Sezibera, but then insisting on President Kagame
himself. Before leaving, MDRP and DDRRR left civilian clothes as
gifts for the camp residents. During their drive back to Goma they
received a call from RUD leadership who claimed the clothes had been
poisoned and should be retrieved the next time they returned to the
camp.
4. (SBU) MDRP stressed to the JMG that the joint visit made it
obvious that RUD has never been serious about its commitments made
previously to the international community at Kisangani. The GDRC,
which had hoped Kasiki would be the beginning of a long-term
process, had lost control of the camp and was relatively powerless
to get the RUD leadership to cooperate. The GOR delegation
reiterated its disappointment with the Kasiki process and argued
that through Kasiki, the RUD had been given a political platform to
articulate its unrealistic and unjust demands. The Rwandan
delegation also complained that Kasiki does not comply with any
DDRRR regulations outlined in Security Council Resolution 1355 since
the disarmed elements are still in an area under RUD control. The
Rwandans demanded forceful measures be applied against the RUD. The
GDRC, as well as MDRP, argued that the process has to be given more
time, even if only to allow for the repatriation of the 153 willing
combatants. The GDRC agreed to think about a new strategy on how to
pursue the repatriation of RUD and on how to make sure that Kasiki
will remain a transit camp and not become a semi-permanent solution
for disarmed RUD combatants.
5. (SBU) Comment: The JMG Task Force will need to maintain regular
visibility on Kasiki to ensure stakeholders remain engaged and some
success is gained from the whole process. However, as evidenced by
the comments of the Rwandan delegation, Kasiki has become a
convenient fallback argument for the GOR. JMG discussions must
therefore be steered in a different direction for the sake of every
other issue the JMG is monitoring. The GDRC has suffered a small PR
setback because of the problems at Kasiki, particularly after the
event was heralded with much fanfare. End Comment.
BROCK