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DE RUEHKI #0819/01 2751607
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O 011607Z OCT 08
FM AMEMBASSY KINSHASA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8515
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 SECTION 01 OF 04 KINSHASA 000819
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL MOPS KPKO PHUM PREF CG
SUBJECT: Text of September 23 CNDP
letter to SRSG Alan Doss
REF: Kinshasa 780
1. The National Congress for the Defense of the People (Congres
National pour la Defense du Peuple -- CNDP), the insurgent group in
North Kivu led by Tutsi General Laurent Nkunda, issued a letter
September 23 addressed to Alan Doss, head of the UN Mission in the
Congo (MONUC) and the UN Secretary General's Special Representative
to the Congo. An unofficial English translation of the letter is at
para. 2. The original text in French is at para. 3. (Note: This
letter, like the most recent CNDP missive - reftel - bears Nkunda'a
signature. All recent CNDP letters, however, bear an identical
signature and seal, suggesting that the Nkunda may not have signed
them. End note.)
2. Following is unofficial English translation of September 23 CNDP
letter.
Begin unofficial translation:
Bwiza, 18 September 2008
Information copies sent to:
The President of the Democratic Republic of Congo;
The Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of Congo;
The President of the United Nations Security Council, New
York;
The Secretary General of the United Nations, New York;
The President of the Commission of the African Union,
Addis Ababa;
The special envoy of the European Union to the Great Lakes,
Brussels;
Rev. Father Apollinaire Malumalu, AMANI National Program
Coordinator, Kinshasa;
Monuc Coordinator for the East of the DRC, Goma;
MONUC head of office, Goma.
To Ambassador Alan Doss,
Special Representative of the Secretary General of the
United Nations in the DRC, Kinshasa.
RE: V/ 21 September, 2008 letter
Mr. Ambassador,
(1) We would first like to thank you most sincerely for the
diligence with which, unlike in the past, you have responded to our
letter of 18 September. This tends to demonstrate, at least we
believe so, that the International Facilitator in general and MONUC
in particular are finally beginning to consider our observations
with less condescension. This is an excellent step forward; we hope
that this will continue.
(2) If, however, you have started to hear us, we do not yet feel
that you are prepared to understand us. We have no intention of
arguing about the responsibilities of one or another party for the
current deadlock in the peace process: we have sufficiently exposed
them in the past. But we will still note that if at some point the
CNDP was absent from the work of the Joint Technical Commission,
this was a form of protest against the Government's procrastination
in honoring its commitments. In addition, you cannot have forgotten
that the Government resumed hostilities on the very next day after
the return of CNDP to the Commission, because this return
jeopardized the government's plan to restore by force the authority
of the state in the territories under the control of our Movement.
(3) You seem to oppose to us the legitimacy of the government in
power in Kinshasa to justify maintaining the National Amani Program
as the only framework for continuing the peace process. You are free
to consider that our country has a legitimate Government that you
must respect. We understand this, considering that you have
contributed greatly to its emergence. We will not force you to
reverse yourself. But allow us the freedom to think you are wrong to
support a state power discredited by its collaboration with a proven
genocidal foreign militia that loots, rapes, displaces and kills
Congolese people en masse, while you have compelling evidence of
this collaboration. And give us the latitude to decry a Government
that oppresses us, because if we have decided to fight, it is
because it understands no arguments other than striking ones, both
literally and figuratively.
(4) We agree that legitimacy proceeds from democratic, free and
transparent elections. However, with regard to the election of the
current Head of State, having observed it closely on the ground, the
CNDP was never convinced that it fulfilled the conditions mentioned
above. Nevertheless, the CNDP had noted the endorsement of the
KINSHASA 00000819 002 OF 004
announced result and had agreed to give it the benefit of the doubt.
However, it is not enough to be elected. One also has to prove
oneself: by good governance and democratic practices. The elected
government must also fulfill its political and moral contract with
its citizens to improve their well-being and promote their
development. The current misery of the Congolese people shows that
the contract has entered a process of failure.
(5) In having consistently used the services of the genocidal
FDLR/ex-FAR/Interahamwe since becoming the designated or elected
Head of State, the President of the Republic, Joseph Kabila Kabange,
has deliberately failed in his duty to protect the Congolese people.
He has always known that this foreign militia mistreats his people
with impunity. He knows perfectly well that because of this foreign
militia hundreds of thousands of our compatriots are kept in forced
exile, and others in camps for internally displaced persons. He
knows, as you and we know, that its presence makes any inter-ethnic
reconciliation and peaceful coexistence between all Congolese
impossible, that it makes any integration of the army unthinkable,
including by brassage, as long as the FDLR are to be integrated into
FARDC, and that it is antithetic to any righteous, free, and
sovereign governance, because by this presence, our national
sovereignty is violated and the soil of our country defiled. It is
absolutely incredible that our compatriots have to such an extent
lost their capacity to feel outraged, to feel scandalized, and that
the International Community, via its Facilitation, finds it normal
to continue to encourage such an attitude.
(6) All this to say that as far as we are concerned, the Government
is free to continue without the CNDP the implementation of a
"National AMANI Program" which has completely failed and anyway was
designed and imposed unilaterally by the Government. The only text
which was negotiated by the CNDP, which bears its signature and was
therefore binding upon it, is the Goma Acte d'engagement. But having
violated it constantly, particularly by depriving it of its means of
action and by avoiding the major obligations it established, the
Government has rendered it obsolete. It is vital to conclude another
agreement in a framework of new dimensions, and in a location that
reassures both protagonists in the crisis, namely the Government and
the CNDP.
(7) Unlike in the Peace and Security Joint Technical Commission, the
CNDP will no longer accept that the Government preside over the new
framework proceedings. Negotiations must henceforth take place under
the leadership of the Facilitation or of a new Mediator chosen by
mutual consent. It is in this manner that the issue of disengagement
can be handled between the warring parties, since it concerns them
primarily, before being the concern of third parties. In this new
context, the proposal prepared by MONUC can be used as a working
document. For, indeed, it is with the FARDC and its allies that the
CNDP will disengage, not with MONUC. However, we remain open to any
constructive dialogue in the interest of peace for our people.
(8) Yours, etc.
For the Political Bureau, Chairman
Laurent Nkunda Mihigo
Brigadier General
End unofficial English translation
3. Begin text of CNDP statement in original French
BWIZA, LE 23 SEPTEMBRE 2008
TRANSMIS COPIE POUR INFORMATION A:
SON EXCELLENCE MONSIEUR LE PRESIDENT DE LA REPUBLIQUE A
KINSHASA/GOMBE;
SON EXCELLENCE MONSIEUR LE PREMIER MINISTRE A
KINSHASA/GOMBE;
SON EXCELLENCE MONSIEUR LE PRESIDENT DU CONSEIL DE SECURITE
DES NATIONS UNIES A NEW-YORK/MANHATTAN/USA;
SON EXCELLENCE MONSIEUR LE SECRETAIRE GENERAL DES NATIONS
UNIES A NEW-YORK/MANHATTAN/USA;
SON EXCELLENCE MONSIEUR LE PRESIDENT DE LA COMMISSION DE
L'UNION AFRICAINE A ADDIS-ABEBA/ETHIOPIE;
SON EXCELLENCE MONSIEUR L'ENVOYE SPECIAL DE L'UNION
EUROPEENNE DANS LES GRANDS-LACS A BRUXELLES/BELGIQUE;
MONSIEUR L'ABBE APOLLINAIRE MALU MALU, COORDONNATEUR DU
PROGRAMME NATIONAL AMANI A KINSHASA/GOMBE;
MONSIEUR LE COORDONNATEUR DES ACTIVITES DE LA MONUC A L'EST
DE LA RDC A GOMA;
MADAME LA CHEF DE BUREAU DE LA MONUC A GOMA;
A SON EXCELLENCE MONSIEUR L'AMBASSADEUR ALAN DOSS
REPRESENTANT SPECIAL DU SECRETAIRE GENERAL DES NATIONS
UNIES EN RDC A KINSHASA/GOMBE
OBJET: V/LETTRE DU 21 SEPTEMBRE 2008
KINSHASA 00000819 003 OF 004
EXCELLENCE MONSIEUR L'AMBASSADEUR
(1) NOUS VOUDRIONS COMMENCER PAR VOUS REMERCIER TRES SINCEREMENT DE
LA DILIGENCE AVEC LAQUELLE, CONTRAIREMENT AU PASSE, VOUS AVEZ TENU A
FAIRE SUITE A NOTRE LETTRE DU 18 SEPTEMBRE DERNIER. CECI TEND A
DEMONTRER, NOUS LE CROYONS DU MOINS, QU'ENFIN LA FACILITATION
INTERNATIONALE EN GENERAL ET LA MONUC EN PARTICULIER COMMENCENT A
CONSIDERER NOS OBSERVATIONS AVEC MOINS DE CONDESCENDANCE. C'EST UNE
EXCELLENTE AVANCEE, NOUS OSONS ESPERER QUE CELA VA CONTINUER.
(2) CEPENDANT, SI VOUS AVEZ COMMENCE A NOUS ENTENDRE, NOUS N'AVONS
PAS L'IMPRESSION QUE VOUS SOYEZ DEJA DISPOSES A NOUS COMPRENDRE.
NOUS N'AVONS PAS L'INTENTION DE POLEMIQUER SUR LES RESPONSABILITES
DES UNS ET DES AUTRES DANS LE BLOCAGE ACTUEL DU PROCESSUS DE PAIX,
NOUS LES AVONS SUFFISAMMENT ETALEES DANS LE PASSE. MAIS NOUS FERONS
TOUT DE MEME REMARQUER QUE SI, A UN MOMENT DONNE LE CNDP A ETE
ABSENT DES TRAVAUX DE LA COMMISSION TECHNIQUE MIXTE, C'ETAIT UNE
FORME DE PROTESTATION CONTRE LES ATERMOIEMENTS DU GOUVERNEMENT A
HONORER LES ENGAGEMENTS PRIS. PAR AILLEURS, VOUS N'AVEZ TOUT DE MEME
PAS OUBLIE QUE LE GOUVERNEMENT A REPRIS LES HOSTILITES LE LENDEMAIN
MEME DU RETOUR DU CNDP A LA COMMISSION. PARCE QUE CE RETOUR
COMPROMETTAIT SON PLAN DE RETABLIR PAR LA FORCE L'AUTORITE DE L'ETAT
DANS LES TERRITOIRES SOUS CONTROLE DE NOTRE MOUVEMENT.
(3) VOUS SEMBLEZ NOUS OPPOSER LA LEGITIMITE DU POUVOIR EN PLACE A
KINSHASA POUR JUSTIFIER LE MAINTIEN DU PROGRAMME NATIONAL AMANI
COMME SEUL CADRE DE POURSUITE DU PROCESSUS DE PAIX. LIBRE A VOUS DE
CONSIDERER QUE NOTRE PAYS A UN GOUVERNEMENT LEGITIME QUE VOUS VOUS
DEVEZ DE RESPECTER. NOUS LE COMPRENONS DANS LA MESURE OU VOUS AVEZ
CONTRIBUE FORTEMENT A LE FAIRE EMERGER. NOUS NE VOUS FORCERONS PAS A
VOUS DEDIRE. MAIS, LAISSEZ-NOUS LA LIBERTE DE PENSER QUE VOUS AVEZ
TORT DE SOUTENIR UN POUVOIR D'ETAT DECONSIDERE PAR SA COLLABORATION
AVEREE AVEC UNE MILICE GENOCIDAIRE ETRANGERE QUI PILLE, VIOLE,
DEPLACE ET TUE EN MASSE DES CONGOLAIS, ALORS QUE VOUS AVEZ DES
PREUVES IRREFUTABLES DE CETTE COLLABORATION. MAIS, LAISSEZ-NOUS LA
LATITUDE DE DECRIER UN GOUVERNEMENT QUI NOUS OPPRIME, PARCE QUE SI
NOUS AVONS ENTREPRIS DE LE COMBATTRE, C'EST QU'IL N'ENTEND PAS
D'AUTRES ARGUMENTS QUE LES ARGUMENTS FRAPPANTS, AU PROPRE COMME AU
FIGURE.
(4) NOUS SOMMES D'ACCORD QUE LA LEGITIMITE PROCEDE DE L'ELECTION
DEMOCRATIQUE, LIBRE ET TRANSPARENTE. POURTANT, EN CE QUI CONCERNE
CELLE DE L'ACTUEL CHEF DE L'ETAT ET POUR L'AVOIR OBSERVEE DE TRES
PRES SUR TERRAIN, LE CNDP N'A JAMAIS ETE CONVAINCU QU'ELLE AIT
REMPLI LES CONDITIONS PRECITEES. MAIS, IL AVAIT PRIS ACTE DE CE QUE
LE RESULTAT PROCLAME A ETE ENTERINE ET IL AVAIT ACCEPTE DE LUI
ACCORDER LE BENEFICE DU DOUTE. POUR AUTANT, IL NE SUFFIT PAS D'ETRE
ELU. ENCORE FAUT-IL FAIRE SES PREUVES : CELLES DE LA BONNE
GOUVERNANCE ET DE LA PRATIQUE DEMOCRATIQUE. ENCORE FAUT-IL QUE L'ELU
REMPLISSE LE CONTRAT MORAL ET POLITIQUE PASSE AVEC SES CONCITOYENS
POUR AMELIORER LEUR BIEN-ETRE ET PROMOUVOIR LEUR DEVELOPPEMENT. LA
MISERE ACTUELLE DU PEUPLE CONGOLAIS PROUVE QUE CE CONTRAT EST ENTRE
DANS UN PROCESSUS DE RUPTURE.
(5) POUR AVOIR CONSTAMMENT EU RECOURS AUX SERVICES DES GENOCIDAIRES
FDLR/EX-FAR/INTERAHAMWE DEPUIS QU'IL EST CHEF DE L'ETAT DESIGNE OU
ELU, LE PRESIDENT DE LA REPUBLIQUE, JOSEPH KABILA KABANGE A
DELIBEREMENT MANQUE A SON DEVOIR SACRE DE PROTEGER LE PEUPLE
CONGOLAIS. IL SAIT DEPUIS TOUJOURS QUE CETTE MILICE ETRANGERE
MALTRAITE IMPUNEMENT SON PEUPLE. IL SAIT PARFAITEMENT BIEN QU'A
CAUSE D'ELLE, DES CENTAINES DE MILLIERS DE NOS COMPATRIOTES SONT
MAINTENUS EN EXIL FORCE ET D'AUTRES DANS DES CAMPS DES DEPLACES
INTERNES. IL SAIT, COMME VOUS ET NOUS, QUE SA PRESENCE REND
IMPOSSIBLE TOUTE RECONCILIATION INTERETHNIQUE ET TOUTE COHABITATION
PACIFIQUE ENTRE CONGOLAIS, QU'ELLE REND IMPENSABLE TOUTE INTEGRATION
DE L'ARMEE, NOTAMMENT PAR LE BIAIS DU BRASSAGE, TANT QUE LES FDLR
SERONT INTEGREES AU SEIN DES FARDC, ET QU'ELLE EST ANTINOMIQUE DE
TOUTE GOUVERNANCE DIGNE, LIBRE, SOUVERAINE, PARCE QUE PAR ELLE, LA
SOUVERAINETE NATIONALE EST BAFOUEE ET LE SOL DE NOTRE PAYS SOUILLE.
C'EST QUAND MEME INCROYABLE QUE NOS COMPATRIOTES AIENT PERDU A CE
POINT LA CAPACITE DE S'INDIGNER, DE SE SCANDALISER ET QUE LA
COMMUNAUTE INTERNATIONALE, PAR LE BIAIS DE SA FACILITATION, TROUVE
NORMAL DE CONTINUER A LES ENCOURAGER DANS UNE TELLE ATTITUDE.
(6) TOUT CECI POUR VOUS DIRE QU'EN CE QUI NOUS CONCERNE, LE
GOUVERNEMENT EST LIBRE DE POURSUIVRE, SANS LE CNDP, LA MISE EN QUVRE
D'UN "PROGRAMME NATIONAL AMANI" QUI A TOTALEMENT ECHOUE ET QUI, DE
TOUTE MANIERE, A ETE CONGU ET IMPOSE PAR LUI, UNILATERALEMENT. LE
SEUL TEXTE QUI A ETE NEGOCIE PAR LE CNDP, QUI PORTE SA SIGNATURE ET
QUI, PAR CONSEQUENT, LE LIAIT EST L'ACTE D'ENGAGEMENT DE GOMA. MAIS,
POUR L'AVOIR VIOLE DE FAGON CONSTANTE, NOTAMMENT EN LE PRIVANT DE
SES MOYENS D'ACTION ET EN S'EXONERANT DES OBLIGATIONS MAJEURES QU'IL
COMPORTAIT, LE GOUVERNEMENT L'A RENDU CADUC. IL EST INDISPENSABLE
D'EN CONCLURE UN AUTRE DANS UN CADRE REDIMENSIONNE ET DANS UN LIEU
QUI RASSURENT LES DEUX PROTAGONISTES DE LA CRISE, A SAVOIR LE
KINSHASA 00000819 004 OF 004
GOUVERNEMENT ET LE CNDP.
(7) CONTRAIREMENT A LA COMMISSION TECHNIQUE MIXTE PAIX ET SECURITE,
LE CNDP N'ACCEPTERA PLUS QUE LE GOUVERNEMENT PRESIDE LES TRAVAUX DU
NOUVEAU CADRE. LA NEGOCIATION DEVRA DESORMAIS SE DEROULER SOUS LA
HOULETTE DE LA FACILITATION OU ALORS D'UN NOUVEAU MEDIATEUR CONVENU
DE COMMUN ACCORD. C'EST A CETTE OCCASION QUE LA QUESTION DU
DESENGAGEMENT POURRA ETRE TRAITEE ENTRE LES PARTIES BELLIGERANTES,
PUISQU'ELLE LES CONCERNE AU PREMIER CHEF, AVANT DE CONCERNER DES
TIERS. DANS CE NOUVEAU CADRE, LA PROPOSITION PREPAREE PAR LA MONUC
POURRA ETRE EXPLOITEE COMME DOCUMENT DE TRAVAIL. CAR, EN EFFET,
C'EST AVEC LES FARDC ET ALLIEES QUE LE CNDP VA SE DESENGAGER ET NON
PAS AVEC LA MONUC. NOUS RESTONS CEPENDANT OUVERTS A TOUTE
CONCERTATION CONSTRUCTIVE DANS L'INTERET DE LA PAIX POUR NOTRE
PEUPLE.
(8) VEUILLEZ AGREER, EXCELLENCE MONSIEUR L'AMBASSADEUR, L'EXPRESSION
DE MA PARFAITE CONSIDERATION.
POUR LA DIRECTION POLITIQUE, LE CHAIRMAN
LAURENT NKUNDA MIHIGO
GEN. DE BRIGADE
End original French text of CNDP statement
BROCK