VZCZCXRO2951
OO RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHGI RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHKI #0421 1341241
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 131241Z MAY 08
FM AMEMBASSY KINSHASA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7983
INFO RUEHXR/RWANDA COLLECTIVE
RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AF DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY COLLECTIVE
RUEHJB/AMEMBASSY BUJUMBURA 0043
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
RUZEJAA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK

UNCLAS KINSHASA 000421 
 
SIPDIS 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PREL MOPS KPKO CG
SUBJECT: FRF relays serious concerns over FARDC human rights abuses 
 
¶1. (U) Summary: USAID Goma liaison officer along with the Belgian 
Consul General and MONUC Head of Office in Bukavu traveled to 
Kamombo, South Kivu along with three Forces Republicaines 
Federalistes (FRF) members of the Mixed Technical Commission on 
Peace and Security (MTCPS).  The delegation met on May 2 with the 
FRF military commander and his top commanders and advisors, who 
established a linkage between their ability to complete the process 
of disengagement through Amani and the FARDC's continuing abuses of 
the Tutsi population of the area.  The FRF relayed that their most 
important concern is that the FARDC based in Minembwe and Moranvia 
is pillaging and raping at will.  The delegation prepared a report 
on this visit and the FRF's concerns for Father (French "Abbe") Malu 
Malu, as well as proposed remedial efforts, and will discuss this 
with him soon. End summary. 
 
¶2. (U) USAID Goma liaison officer, along with the Belgian Consul 
General in Bukavu Hughes Chantry and MONUC Bukavu Head of Office 
Zubaida Rasul, undertook a mission to Kamombo, South Kivu, in order 
to return the FRF members of the MTCPS (Zebede Gassore, Fidel 
Mukiza, and Jules Dyadu) to their headquarters.  The three are to 
begin "sensitization" (awareness raising) activities immediately 
with FRF forces and their populations. 
 
¶3. (U) After arriving in Kamombo May 2, the delegation met with 
Venant Bisogo, FRF military commander and his top commanders and 
advisors.  At this meeting, the FRF took a relatively strong stand 
on the issues affecting them, establishing a linkage between their 
ability to complete the process of disengagement through Amani and 
the FARDC's continuing abuses of the Tutsi population of the area. 
 
¶4. (U) The FRF relayed that their most important concern is that the 
FARDC based in Minembwe and Moranvia is pillaging and raping at 
will. This is due partly to lack of logistical support (i.e. 
salaries and food) to the FARDC.  However, Bantu soldiers are also 
targeting Tutsi civilians on the basis of their ethnicity. The FRF 
wants the GDRC to bring the FARDC under control - they are not 
demanding that the army leave, although they would see that as 
desirable - and asked the Facilitation to transmit their concerns to 
the army and the Amani leadership.  They emphasized that 
"sensitization" of FRF troops will not work if the FARDC is not 
reined in. 
 
¶5. (U) The FRF complained about a number of other issues as well, to 
include those related to the FDLR, lack of state administration in 
the area, refugee return, and Minembwe Territory.  However, these 
complaints were minor as compared to their problems with the FARDC. 
 
¶6. (U) The delegation prepared a report on this visit and the FRF's 
concerns for Abbe Malu Malu and will be discussing it with him soon. 
 They have relayed to him that continuing human rights violations 
committed by the FARDC could result in a military response from the 
FRF and/or FRF refusal, lack of support for, or disobedience with 
respect to the process of disengagement and implementation of the 
Acte d'Engagement process. 
 
¶7. (U) The delegation emphasized to Malu Malu that this is a serious 
impediment to the current process of "sensitization" involving the 
FRF and has grave implications for the whole process related to the 
Acte d'Engagement.  As remedial measures, they recommended that Malu 
Malu deploy his offices as Amani Coordinator to work with the 10 MR 
to seek an immediate solution, and assure the FRF that the 
Coordinator is seized with the matter. 
 
¶8. (SBU) Comment: How much of what the FRF relayed was real and how 
much was posturing, or inspired by the CNDP, are open questions.  At 
the same time, their concerns are of the immediate and pressing 
variety, in contrast to those frequently put forward by the CNDP, 
which are more often than not related to the public image of the 
organization. Ultimately, the human rights abuses about which the 
FRF is concerned are real issues for them and for the success of the 
process. End comment. 
 
BROCK