Cablegate: Democratic Republic of Congo: 1999 Annual

R 300333Z NOV 99
FM AMEMBASSY KINSHASA
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 4404

UNCLAS KINSHASA 007954

S/CT FOR REAP

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PTER CG
SUBJECT: DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO: 1999 ANNUAL
TERRORISM REPORT

REF: STATE 204472

THE FOLLOWING RESPONSES ARE KEYED TO QUESTIONS IN PARAGRAPH 3
OF REFTEL (NOTE: OUR RECORDS ARE LIMITED AFTER THE EVACUATION
IN 1998. END NOTE):

A. THE ONLY TERRORIST EVENT IN 1999 WITH A CONGO CONNECTION
WAS UGANDA'S BWINDI NATIONAL PARK HOSTAGE-TAKING AND MURDERS
IN FEBRUARY/MARCH (ALLEGED GUERRILLAS KIDNAPPED US AND OTHER
WESTERN TOURISTS IN UGANDA AND REPORTEDLY BROUGHT THEM TO
CONGOLESE TERRITORY). THE GDRC IMMEDIATELY PLEDGED ITS FULL
SUPPORT IN THE INVESTIGATION AND CONDEMNED THE ATTACK. IN
THE END, LITTLE REAL ACTION WAS TAKEN SINCE THE ATTACKERS
ESCAPED INTO REBEL-OCCUPIED TERRITORIES.

B. THE GDRC DID NOT EXTRADITE SUSPECTED TERRORISTS IN 1999.

C. IN GENERAL, THE DRC'S JUDICIAL SYSTEM IS NON-FUNCTIONING.
THE COURT SYSTEM LACKS EVERYTHING FROM TRAINED JUDGES, TO
LEGAL TEXTS, TO CHAIRS. A MILITARY TRIBUNAL HAS DISPENSED
SWIFT AND ARBITRARY "JUSTICE" IN CIVILIAN CASES SINCE THE WAR
BEGAN IN AUGUST, 1998.

D. IN THE IMMEDIATE AFTERMATH OF THE BWINDI PARK INCIDENT,
THE GDRC OFFERED THEIR SUPPORT FOR THE INVESTIGATION AND MADE
PUBLIC STATEMENTS CONDEMNING THE ATTACK.

E. THERE WERE NO MAJOR PUBLIC COUNTERTERRORISM EFFORTS TAKEN
BY THE GDRC IN 1999.

F. THE GDRC DOES NOT SUPPORT INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM.

G. THE GDRC MAINTAINS RELATIONS WITH SEVERAL NATIONS
DESIGNATED AS SPONSORS OF TERRORISM, INCLUDING CUBA, IRAN,
LIBYA, NORTH KOREA, AND SUDAN. DURING 1999, PRESIDENT KABILA
MADE SEVERAL TRIPS TO LIBYA. LIBYANS, IRANIANS, NORTH
KOREANS AND SUDANESE ARE PRESENT IN THE DRC. IT IS UNCLEAR
HOW MUCH "SUPPORT" THE GDRC GIVES THESE COUNTRIES, BUT THEY
HAVE ALL OFFERED ASSISTANCE TO THE GDRC.

H. THERE WERE NO CHANGES IN THE GDRC'S ATTITUDE TOWARD
INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM IN 1999.

I. GDRC FAILED TO PROVIDE PROMISED INCREASED EMBASSY
SECURITY DURING THE PERIOD OF HEIGHTENED PRECAUTIONS
SURROUNDING THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE EMBASSY BOMBINGS AUGUST 7,
1999.

J. NONE THAT WE KNOW OF.

1. N/A.

2. NONE THAT WE KNOW OF.

K. NONE THAT WE KNOW OF.

SWING

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