VZCZCXRO6724
PP RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHGI RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHKI #1392/01 3541320
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 201320Z DEC 07
FM AMEMBASSY KINSHASA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7275
INFO RUEHXR/RWANDA COLLECTIVE
RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AF DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KINSHASA 001392 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
AF/RSA FOR LANIER 
DEFENSE FOR OSD/MELLINGTON 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PHUM MASS KPKO CG
SUBJECT: MILITARY JUSTICE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM: DIILS 
SEMINARS TO BEGIN IN JANUARY 2008 
 
REF: A. A. KINSHASA 1248 
 
     ¶B. B. KINSHASA 1232 
 
Third in a series. 
 
¶1.  Summary:  Following up on its assessment of the Congolese 
military justice sector (reftels), the Defense Institute of 
International Legal Studies (DIILS) has completed 
preparations for a DRC-wide training program focusing on 
military magistrates and judicial police.  In what 
hopefully evolves into a long-term program, DIILS trainers 
will initially present training seminars on "Investigation 
and Prosecution of Sex Crimes."  The level of involvement 
in assisting the DRC's military justice sector is a first 
for DIILS, both in the depth of its pre-training assessment 
(ref A) and in its cooperative interaction with UN Mission 
in the Congo (MONUC) counterparts.  The final program for 
this first topic includes ten one-week seminars designed to 
reach over 500 participants throughout all regions of the 
DRC.  End summary. 
 
¶2.  A DIILS advance was in Kinshasa from November 30 - 
December 13 preparing for the first round of training 
proposed 
in its August military justice assessment (ref B).  The 
full team will return in January 2008 to implement the 
first four of ten seminars addressing "Investigation and 
Prosecution of Sex Crimes."  The first set of seminars will 
train over 500 magistrates and judicial police currently 
responsible for investigating and prosecuting sexual and 
gender-based assaults committed by soldiers, police and 
militia members. 
 
¶3.  Based on its August 2007 assessment visit and proposals 
(reftels), and recognizing the need to follow a more 
interactive model, DIILS designed a unique cooperative 
approach for the DRC program.  The training team is closely 
integrated with the MONUC Rule of Law Unit (ROLU), has 
incorporated the assistance of Canadian Judge Advocate- 
General, Colonel Dominic McAlea, and is drawing upon 
active-duty Congolese magistrates to serve as adjunct 
faculty.  MONUC's ROLU has provided indispensible 
logistical support, ranging from office space for DIILS 
experts and air travel/ground transportation for military 
justice personnel in the interior, to local expertise and 
technical assistance in nine of the DRC's provincial 
capitals.  Col. McAlea, currently detailed to MONUC's ROLU, 
has contributed his own experience in international 
military law and his unique contacts and perspective gained 
in previous DRC training.  The participation of Congolese 
military magistrates as trainers ensures that the seminars 
will be about actual practice and legal procedure in the 
DRC as well as the presentation of international ideals. 
 
¶4.  Although DIILS originally proposed a series of 12 
seminars, the current plan is for the training teams to set 
up a total of ten identical seminars in nine cities. 
Drawing upon MONUC's practical experience, the training 
seminars will combine several of the smaller regions.  The 
DIILS program will offer two separate sessions in Kinshasa, 
one in Kisangani, and one in Matadi in January/February 
¶2008.  The program will then offer six additional sessions 
in May/June 2008, in Mbuji-Mayi, Kananga, Bandundu, 
Mbandaka, Lubumbashi, and Goma/Bukavu.  DIILS also plans to 
provide basic investigation forensic "kits" to all judicial 
police investigators, and other material support to 
military magistrates. 
 
¶5.  Response from all levels of the GDRC has been extremely 
positive.  Defense Minister Chikez Diemu has been 
enthusiastic in his support of the training, and the 
leadership at both the High Military Court and Military 
Prosecutor's Office have responded positively.  MONUC 
contacts at all levels -- from SRSG William Swing through 
the Director and subject matter professionals of the ROLU 
-- have spared no effort to contribute to the success of 
the training program. 
 
¶6.  Comment:  Embassy heartily endorses this program.  Long 
anticipated by our Congolese interlocutors, it is tailored 
specifically to the DRC's needs and to providing judicial 
practitioners the tools they need -- literally -- to 
 
KINSHASA 00001392  002 OF 002 
 
 
address impunity.  Ideally, it will represent just the tip 
of the iceberg, and should be merely the first step in 
continuing USG involvement in the reform of the DRC's 
military justice sector.  It not only offers an opportunity 
for the USG to participate an area where the DRC clearly 
needs help (ending military impunity for crimes of sexual 
violence), but also opens the door for future cooperation 
in a sector critical to successful security sector reform. 
Embassy strongly recommends follow-up with additional 
interactive training programs and other efforts detailed in 
septel.  End comment. 
 
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