P 031509Z APR 02
FM AMEMBASSY KINSHASA
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2311
INFO RWANDA COLLECTIVE
SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 KINSHASA 000793 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/25/2007 
TAGS: PGOV PINR PHUM PREL
SUBJECT: LAURENT D. KABILA ASSASSINATION TRIAL SCENESETTER 
 
REF: A. KINSHASA 640 
     ¶B. 2001 KINSHASA 02939 
     ¶C. 2001 BRUSSELS 05930 
 
CLASSIFIED BY: CLASSIFIED BY POLOFF LAURA ENGELBRECHT, REASONS 1.5 B & D 
 
¶1.    (C) SUMMARY:  THE LONG-AWAITED TRIAL OF THE 116 
SUSPECTS IN THE ASSASSINATION OF THE LATE PRESIDENT LAURENT 
DESIRE KABILA BEGAN ON THE MORNING OF APRIL 3.  ON MARCH 20, 
THE GENERAL PROSECUTOR PUBLICLY READ THE CHARGES (IN THE 
PRESENCE OF THE DEFENDANTS, THEIR LAWYERS, AND THE PUBLIC) AT 
MAKALA PRISON.  SEVERAL HIGH PROFILE DEFENDANTS (EDDY KAPEND, 
GENERAL YAV, RASHIDI'S WIDOW, THE MASASU GROUP) GENERATED THE 
MOST INTEREST.  OF PARTICULAR INTEREST TO THE U.S., FORMER 
ANR CHIEF LETA MANGASA IS CHARGED WITH BEING IN SECRET 
CONTACT WITH THE CIA STATION CHIEF IN KINSHASA BETWEEN JULY 
2000 AND JANUARY 16, 2001, IN ORDER TO "FAVOR UNDERTAKINGS OF 
THE (U.S.), NOTABLY SUPPORT TO REBEL FORCES AGAINST THE DRC." 
 FROM A HUMAN RIGHTS AND DUE PROCESS PERSPECTIVE, THE LDK 
ASSASSINATION TRIAL IS DEEPLY FLAWED.  NEVERTHELESS, THAT THE 
TRIAL IS FINALLY BEGINNING, IS AN IMPROVEMENT ON INDEFINITE 
INCARCERATION.  SEPTEL WILL REPORT DEVELOPMENTS AS THE TRIAL 
PROGRESSES.  END SUMMARY. 
 
GENERAL INFO ABOUT THE CHARGES 
------------------------------ 
 
¶2.    (U)  ON MARCH 20, GENERAL PROSECUTOR COLONEL CHARLES 
ALAMBA MUNGAKO FORMALLY PRESENTED WRITTEN CHARGES AGAINST 116 
SUSPECTS WHO HAVE BEEN DETAINED FOR OVER A YEAR IN RELATION 
TO THE ASSASSINATION OF LAURENT DESIRE KABILA,(REPORTED REF 
A).  (NOTE:  THE COURT ANNOUNCED THERE WERE 135 DEFENDANTS, 
BUT HUMAN RIGHTS NGOS AND LAWYERS SAY THE LIST DUPLICATES 
SEVERAL PEOPLE, AND THEY BELIEVE THERE ARE ACTUALLY ONLY 116 
INDIVIDUALS.)  OF THE 116 DEFENDANTS, MOST ARE FROM THE 
MILITARY AND INTELLIGENCE SERVICES.  AN NGO CONTACT COUNTED 
16 CIVILIANS.  THE TRIAL BEGINS APRIL 3 UNDER THE 
JURISDICTION OF THE MILITARY COURT (COM), WITH GENERAL NAWEL 
MUKONGO AS THE PRESIDING JUDGE ("PRESIDENT OF THE COURT"). 
AFTER BEING DETAINED OVER A YEAR WITHOUT ACCESS TO LAWYERS 
(ALTHOUGH THE GOVERNMENT HAS ALLOWED REGULAR INTERNATIONAL 
COMMITTEE OF THE RED CROSS VISITS), LAWYERS HAD ONLY TWO 
WEEKS TO PREPARE THEIR CASES. 
 
¶3.    (U) IN ROUGHLY HALF OF THE CASES, CHARGES WERE MADE ON 
AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS; THE REST OF THE DEFENDANTS WERE CHARGED 
IN A GROUP OF 40 AND A GROUP OF 19.  IN GENERAL, THE CHARGES 
WERE QUITE REPETITIVE.  SOME OF THE MOST COMMON WERE: 1) 
ABANDONMENT OF POST (FOR THE BODYGUARDS AND SOLDIERS), 2) 
PRIOR KNOWLEDGE OR FAILURE TO INFORM THE PRESIDENT OF A PLOT 
(ANR/NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY FIGURES), 3) FACILITATION 
OF THE ESCAPE OF KEY DEFENDANTS, 4) KILLING OF ASSASSINATION 
SUSPECTS, AND 5) MEMBERSHIP IN THE MASASU GROUP (SEE PARA 5). 
 
SOME OF THE KEY PLAYERS 
----------------------- 
 
¶4.  (C) AS REPORTED IN REFTELS B AND C, THERE ARE SEVERAL 
THEORIES AS TO THE IDENTITY AND MOTIVATION OF LDK'S 
ASSASSINATION PLOTTERS.  WITHOUT DELVING INTO THE VERACITY OF 
THESE THEORIES, THERE ARE SEVERAL KEY PLAYERS WHO WILL 
DOMINATE THE FOCUS OF THE TRIALS: 
 
-- RASHIDI'S FAMILY:  RASHIDI MIZELE ALLEGEDLY KILLED 
PRESIDENT KABILA, AND WAS ALLEGEDLY KILLED BY COLONEL EDDY 
KAPEND.  RASHIDI'S WIFE, LADY NABINTU, WAS ARRESTED AND HAS 
BEEN IN JAIL WITH HER CHILD (NOW 2 YEARS OLD, SHE HAD A 
SECOND CHILD WHILE IN JAIL) DURING THE PAST YEAR.  SHE IS 
CHARGED AS A MEMBER OF THE MASASU GROUP.  HER LAWYER TOLD 
POLOFF THAT THE 2-YEAR-OLD, AIME, WAS CLUBBED BY GLM SOLDIERS 
AND SUFFERS FROM MENTAL PROBLEMS (HE IS REPORTEDLY 
TRAUMATIZED WHENEVER HE SEES A SOLDIER IN UNIFORM). 
 
-- COLONEL EDDY KAPEND:  KAPEND WAS PRESIDENT KABILA'S 
PERSONAL BODYGUARD AND AIDE-DE-CAMP.  AFTER ALLEGEDLY KILLING 
RASHIDI, KAPEND WENT ON NATIONAL TV TO URGE THE POPULATION TO 
STAY CALM AND TO GIVE INSTRUCTIONS TO THE ARMY'S SENIOR 
LEADERSHIP TO MOVE TROOPS TO SECURE THE AIRPORT, ETC... 
KAPEND'S ALLEGED KILLING OF RASHIDI RATHER THAN TAKING HIM 
PRISONER, AND HIS "TAKE-OVER" BEHAVIOR AFTER LDK'S DEATH, HAS 
FED THE SPECULATION THAT KAPEND WAS IN COLLUSION WITH 
RASHIDI.  KAPEND IS REPRESENTED BY SEVERAL LAWYERS.  HE IS 
FACES MANY CHARGES, INCLUDING KILLING RASHIDI AND GIVING 
ORDERS TO HIS MILITARY SUPERIORS (REFERENCE TO HIS TV 
APPEARANCES AND OTHER INSTRUCTIONS).  (NOTE: IT IS NOT CLEAR 
IF KAPEND IS CHARGED WITH TREASON BY REASON OF ATTEMPTING A 
COUP.  GIVING ORDERS TO S SUPERIOR IS HARDLY A SERIOUS 
CRIMINAL ACT.) 
 
-- GENERAL YAV NAWEJ:  IN THE CONFUSION IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE 
ASSASSINATION, NAWEJ ALLEGEDLY ROUNDED UP AND EXECUTED 11 
LEBANESE SUSPECTED OF INVOLVEMENT IN THE PLOT (THE CHARGES 
ALLEGE THAT HE DID THIS ON ORDERS FROM KAPEND).  HE IS 
CHARGED WITH MURDERING THE LEBANESE AND WITH OBEYING ORDERS 
FROM KAPEND, A MORE JUNIOR OFFICER, PERHAPS AS A 
CO-CONSPIRATOR IN KAPEND'S ATTEMPTED COUP D'ETAT. 
 
-- MAJOR KAMWANYA BORA, GEORGES MIRINDI, AND JOHN BAHATI: 
MIRINDI AND BAHATI WERE CLOSE ASSOCIATES AND ALLEGED 
CO-CONSPIRATORS OF RASHIDI (SEE REF B).  MAJOR BORA WAS A 
CLOSE ASSOCIATE OF COMMANDANT MASASU.  ALL THREE ESCAPED 
PRISON SOON AFTER THE ASSASSINATION AND ARE SAID TO BE IN 
BELGIUM.  THE TWO WIVES OF MAJOR BORA, MASUMBUKO MWALI ANNE 
MARIE AND KAMUANYA BEYA ROSETTE, HAVE BEEN IN PRISON THIS 
LAST YEAR AND WERE CHARGED WITH FACILITATING THE ESCAPE OF 
BORA BY BRIBING GUARDS.  (NOTE: POLOFF HAS HEARD REPORTS THAT 
MIRINDI'S AND/OR BAHATI'S WIVES MAY ALSO IN PRISON, BUT THEY 
ARE NOT DEFENDANTS IN THIS TRIAL.) 
 
-- NELLY TWITE: TWITE WAS PRESIDENT KABILA'S PRIVATE 
SECRETARY, AND ALLEGEDLY LETA'S GIRLFRIEND.  SHE IS CHARGED 
WITH FAILING TO INFORM THE PRESIDENT ABOUT THE SUBSTANCE OF 
AN ANR REPORT ON THREATS TO HIS SAFETY. 
 
THE MASASU GROUP 
---------------- 
 
¶5. (C) COMMANDANT ANSELME MASASU WAS CONVICTED OF 
COUP-PLOTTING AGAINST LAURENT KABILA AND EXECUTED ON NOVEMBER 
24, 2000.  BEFORE THEIR FALLING OUT, MASASU WAS A FOUNDER OF 
THE AFDL.  MASASU WAS A MUSHI (SINGULAR - PLURAL FOR THE 
ETHNIC GROUP IS BASHI) FROM SOUTH KIVU.  HE HAD A FOLLOWING 
IN THE ARMY AMONG THE BASHI AND THE "KADOGOS" (CHILD 
SOLDIERS) HE RECRUITED FROM SOUTH KIVU.  AFTER HIS DEATH, 
HUNDREDS OF KADOGOS WERE EXECUTED OR ARRESTED, AND IT IS 
COMMONLY THOUGHT THAT LDK'S ASSASSINATION WAS REVENGE OR 
SIMPLY TO "FINISH THE JOB" MASASU ATTEMPTED UNSUCCESSFULLY 
(REF B).  ON THE OTHER HAND, IT IS QUITE POSSIBLE THAT LDK'S 
ASSASSINS HAD DIFFERENT MOTIVES (REF C) AND LITTLE OR NO 
CONNECTION TO THE MASASU GROUP. 
 
¶6.  (C) THE DEFENDENTS INCLUDE TWO GROUPS THAT ARE CHARGED 
GENERALLY WITH BEING PART OF THE MASASU GROUP: 1) A "GROUP OF 
19" WHO ARE BASHI AND WERE AGENTS OF ANR IN SOUTH KIVU, AND 
2) 39 PERSONS (MOSTLY BASHI OR FROM OTHER SOUTH KIVU ETHNIC 
GROUPS) CHARGED VAGUELY WITH "CONNECTIONS TO GENERAL MASASU." 
 RASHIDI'S WIDOW, LADY NABINTU, IS CHARGED WITH BEING IN 
GENERAL MASASU'S GROUP.  (NOTE: SINCE SHE IS MUSHI, THIS IS A 
CONVENIENT CHARGE; THE COURT CANNOT LEGALLY HOLD HER SIMPLY 
BECAUSE SHE WAS MARRIED TO LDK'S ASSASSIN.) 
 
¶7.  (C) CURIOUSLY, JOSEPH KABILA ALLEGEDLY MAINTAINS CONTACT 
WITH THE MASASU FAMILY.  POLOFF MET WITH PERE ITOLO, AN 
ITALIAN PRIEST AND LONG-TIME CONTACT OF THE ICRC.  APPARENTLY 
THE MASASU FAMILY HAS BEEN PART OF PERE ITOLO'S PARISH FOR 
YEARS, AND HE HAS BEEN CARING FOR THEM SINCE COMMANDANT 
MASASU'S EXECUTION.  ITOLO TOLD POLOFF THAT JOSEPH KABILA AND 
CMDT MASASU FOUGHT IN THE AFDL SIDE-BY-SIDE AND BEEN CLOSE 
COMRADES; JOSEPH KABILA ALSO ALLEGEDLY HAD AN AFFAIR WITH 
MASASU'S SISTER.   PERE ITOLO GAVE POLOFF A DOCUMENT DATED 
SEPTEMBER 17, 1998, SIGNED BY MAJOR GENERAL JOSEPH KABILA, 
GIVING THE MASASU FAMILY THE RIGHT TO OCCUPY A HOUSE IN 
KINSHASA THAT HAD BEEN SEIZED AS "BIENS MAL ACQUIS." 
ACCORDING TO ITOLO, RELATIONS BETWEEN JOSEPH KABILA AND THE 
MASASU FAMILY CONTINUED EVEN AFTER COMMANDANT MASASU'S 
EXECUTION.  ON JANUARY 8, 2002, THE MASASU FAMILY RECEIVED A 
LETTER FROM THE MINISTER OF INTERIOR GIVING THEM PERMISSION 
TO LEAVE KINSHASA AND RETURN TO BUKAVU (BY MONUC TRANSPORT). 
ODDLY, THIS LETTER (WHICH WAS DATED OCTOBER 2, 2001) ARRIVED 
TWO DAYS AFTER THE ARREST OF JUSTIN NINDAGA (THE BROTHER OF 
MASASU), WHO IS STILL BEING HELD.  PERE ITOLO SAID THE FAMILY 
WILL NOT LEAVE KINSHASA WITHOUT NINDAGA.  PERE ITOLO SAID 
MASASU'S MOTHER (CONSOLATE MUKUZO, AGED 51) DIED RECENTLY "OF 
A BROKEN HEART" AND THAT JOSEPH KABILA PRIVATELY SENT $300 IN 
CASH TO HELP PAY FOR HER FUNERAL. 
 
LETA - CHARGED WITH CONNECTION TO THE CIA 
----------------------------------------- 
 
¶8.  (C) IN ANOTHER ODD TWIST, FORMER CHIEF OF THE NATIONAL 
INTELLIGENCE AGENCY (ANR) LETA MANGASA WAS CHARGED WITH 
VARIOUS CRIMES INVOLVING THE CIA.  THESE CHARGES HAVE SO FAR 
RECEIVED LITTLE ATTENTION IN THE CONGOLESE PRESS.  THE 
SECTIONS OF THE CHARGES RELATING TO THE U.S. ARE QUOTED AS 
FOLLOWS: 
 
LETA MANGASA IS CHARGED WITH ... 
 
-- "HAVING DIRECTLY CAUSED THE ATTACK COMMITTED AGAINST THE 
LIFE OF THE HEAD OF STATE... NOTABLY BY REFRAINING FROM 
COMMUNICATING TO THE HEAD OF STATE AS PART OF HIS DUTIES... 
THE SYNTHESIS OF THE SECURITY SERVICE MEMOS RELATING TO 
THREATS OF ATTACKS AGAINST HIS LIFE, RECEIVED FROM THE CIA 
CHIEF OF STATION IN CENTRAL AFRICA RESIDING IN THE DRC." 
 
-- "HAVING MAINTAINED INTELLIGENCE WITH A FOREIGN POWER OR 
WITH ITS AGENTS TO FAVOR DEEDS OF THE POWER AGAINST THE DRC. 
IN THIS CASE, IN KINSHASA, ...IN THE PERIOD BETWEEN JULY 2000 
AND JANUARY 16, 2001, WHILE KNOWING THE ROLE PLAYED BY THE 
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA IN THE AGGRESSION BEFALLING THE DRC, 
MAINTAINED SECRET CONTACTS WITH THE CIA CHIEF OF STATION IN 
CENTRAL AFRICA RESIDING IN KINSHASA TO FAVOR UNDERTAKINGS OF 
THE POWER, NOTABLY SUPPORT TO REBEL FORCES AGAINST THE DRC." 
 
HUMAN RIGHTS ASPECTS 
-------------------- 
 
¶9.  (C) ON THE POSITIVE SIDE, THE TRIAL IS FINALLY GETTING 
UNDER WAY.  IT IS OPEN TO THE PRESS AND OTHER OBSERVERS 
(LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL).  THE DEFENDANTS HAVE ACCESS TO 
LAWYERS AND THE CHARGES HAVE BEEN READ PUBLICLY. 
 
¶10.  (C) HOWEVER, THE TRIAL IS FRAUGHT WITH DUE PROCESS 
PROBLEMS.  SEVERAL CIVILIANS ARE BEING TRIED IN THE MILITARY 
COURT SYSTEM (COM).  MOST PRISONERS WERE HELD WITHOUT CHARGES 
IN HORRIBLE CONDITIONS AND WITHOUT ACCESS TO LAWYERS FOR OVER 
A YEAR.  THE LAWYERS HAD ONLY TWO WEEKS TO PREPARE THEIR 
CASES.  ONE OF EDDY KAPEND'S LAWYERS REPORTED THAT 
CONSULTATION OF HER CLIENT'S FILES MUST TAKE PLACE IN 
MILITARY PRESENCE AND UNDER THEIR CLOSE SCRUTINY.  THE "GROUP 
CHARGES" AGAINST THOSE IN THE MASASU GROUP DO NOT AFFORD 
INDIVIDUALS THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROVE THEMSELVES INNOCENT. 
FINALLY, THERE IS A STRONG BELIEF IN KINSHASA THAT THESE 
DEFENDANTS WILL BE JUDGED BASED ON THEIR ETHNICITY. 
 
¶11.  (C) POLOFF RECENTLY SPOKE TO MINISTER OF HUMAN RIGHTS 
NTUMBA LUABA, URGING HIM TO SUPPORT A FAIR TRIAL AND LIVABLE 
CONDITIONS FOR THE PRISONERS, ESPECIALLY FOR THE WOMEN AND 
CHILDREN.  NTUMBA TOLD POLOFF THAT THE WIVES OF KEY FIGURES 
FACE FORMAL CHARGES, SO HE WAS UNABLE TO ADVOCATE RELEASE. 
HE ADMITTED THAT MOST PEOPLE THINK THAT THEY ARE ONLY BEING 
HELD BECAUSE OF THEIR HUSBANDS' ACTIONS.  HE SAID HE HAD 
PERSONALLY VISITED EACH OF THE FOUR WOMEN AND THAT THEY WERE 
IN LIVABLE CONDITIONS (TWO ARE IN PAVILION 1 AND TWO ARE IN 
THE WOMEN'S SECTION OF MAKALA PRISON). 
 
COMMENT 
------- 
 
¶13.  (C) POST WILL CONTINUE TO FOLLOW THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE 
LDK ASSASSINATION TRIAL, ESPECIALLY FROM A HUMAN RIGHTS ANGLE 
AND CONCERNING ANY ALLEGATIONS AGAINST THE U.S.  POLOF IS 
ATTENDING THE APRIL 3 TRAIL OPENING AND WILL REPORT ON 
DEVELOPMENTS AS THE TRIAL PROGRESSES. 
 
 
HOOKS