VZCZCXRO6224
PP RUEHBZ RUEHGI
DE RUEHGI #0087 1121546
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P R 221546Z APR 09
FM AMEMBASSY BANGUI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0893
INFO RHMFISS/AFRICOM
RUEHBZ/AMEMBASSY BRAZZAVILLE 0159
RUEHKH/AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM 0261
RUEHKI/AMEMBASSY KINSHASA 0272
RUEHLC/AMEMBASSY LIBREVILLE 0173
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 0120
RUEHNJ/AMEMBASSY NDJAMENA 0448
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 0432
RUEHYD/AMEMBASSY YAOUNDE 0428
RUEHGI/AMEMBASSY BANGUI 1116

UNCLAS BANGUI 000087 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR AF/C  AND G/DRL 
PARIS FOR RKANEDA 
LONDON FOR PLORD 
AFRICOM FOR CKOCH 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM PINR CT
SUBJECT: MILITARY TRIBUNAL ACCUSES NOTORIOUS HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSER IN 
KILLING OF POLICE OFFICER 
 
REF: 09 BANGUI 60 
 
¶1. (SBU)SUMMARY: On April 22, 2009 Lieutenant Olivier Koudoumon, 
aka Lt. Gbangouma, a member of President Bozize's Garde 
Presidentielle (GP), was officially accused of causing the death 
of a Commissar of Police on March 5, 2009. The killing sparked a 
day of riots in Bangui that left 10 wounded and at least thirty 
people jailed (09 BANGUI 60). Having cleared the military 
tribunal, the case will now go before a civilian court to decide 
if Gbangouma and his two enlisted accomplices are guilty of 
voluntary or involuntary murder. Following the adjournment of 
the proceedings, Gbangouma and the two other GP members remained 
at liberty. This case is being closely followed by the country 
as a whole as Gbangouma has long been a symbol of the impunity 
of those close to President Bozize. The outcome of the civilian 
trial may have a profound effect on the popular credibility of 
the Bozize regime. END SUMMARY 
¶2. (SBU) The military trial of Gbangouma and the two soldiers 
who allegedly assaulted and killed a well respected police 
commissioner has been closely monitored by the press and the 
country as a whole. Gbangouma, an ex-``liberator'' (the name 
given to those who fought with then-General Bozize during this 
seizure of power in 2003) has been cited in both the HHR of 2007 
and 2008 for multiple violations of human rights. He is 
considered a prime example of how those with ties to Bozize are 
free to kill, rape, or steal without fear of punishment. 
¶3. (SBU) The public hearing was held at Camp Beal, the 
administrative center of the Central African Army (FACA). During 
the hearing, only one witness came before the tribunal. The 
slain policeman's bother explained to POLOFF that this was so 
because every other witness was too frightened to testify. The 
witness claimed that Gbangouma in fact did not strike the 
Commissioner and only picked up the policeman's pistol as the 
two enlisted men pummeled the victim to death. When questioned 
by POLOFF if the testimony sounded credible, the policeman's 
bother, who was visibly scared, stated he had not been present, 
so he did not know. It is likely the brother knows many more 
details, and certainly that he has strong opinions, but his 
noticeable agitation at seeing Gbangouma only twenty feet away 
may explain his reticence to answer the question directly. 
¶4. (SBU) When the finding of the tribunal was read, the court 
adjourned and the three men were allowed to leave. They will 
remain free until a civilian judge has treated the case. A well 
known human rights lawyer confirmed to POLOFF that this was 
common, but admitted the practice is flawed: There is nothing 
that stops Gbangouma, his associates, or the GP from intimating 
witnesses in the meantime. The lawyer, who is following the case 
closely, said much will depend on the judge who is selected to 
hear the trial. Two outcomes are possible: Gbangouma is 
determined to be guilty of accidental or premeditated homicide. 
The later calls for a prison sentence of three to twenty years 
and the former would likely mean the three would walk free. Only 
if an honest and well known judge is selected will the trial of 
Gbangouma be credible. The lawyer promised to remain in contact 
with Post about further developments. 
¶5. (SBU) COMMENT: While it is possible that Gbangouma and his 
henchmen will be sacrificed by Bozize to placate a clearly 
frustrated public, Post does not believe this outcome likely. 
Bozize counts upon on the loyalty of GP officers like Gbangouma 
to assure his power and therefore allows them almost total 
impunity. It is probably within Bozize's power to assure that a 
malleable judge is assigned to the proceedings, thereby assuring 
a favorable outcome for his man. 
¶6. (SBU) Yet with elections approaching, and Bozize's popularity 
seemingly at a low, it is not impossible to think he may throw 
Gbangouma to the wolves. This would be a very welcome sign as 
the human rights violations by people like Gbangouma are a 
serious detriment to the Central African Government's ability to 
rule. While Post hopes there will be a fair trial, Bozize's 
track record portends otherwise and a new spat of violence is a 
very real possibility if Gbangouma is found to be guilty of 
anything less than premeditated murder. END COMMENT 
 
COOK