VZCZCXRO2098
PP RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHGI RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHKI #0804 2700724
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 260724Z SEP 08
FM AMEMBASSY KINSHASA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8494
INFO RUEHXR/RWANDA COLLECTIVE
RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AF DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY COLLECTIVE
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
RUZEJAA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK

UNCLAS KINSHASA 000804 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PREL MOPS KPKO CG
SUBJECT:    40TH MEETING OF THE JMG TASK FORCE 
¶1.  (SBU) Summary: The 4oth meeting of the Joint Monitoring Group 
Task Force in Goma was held GIVE DATE.  The weapons destruction 
ceremony planned for the meeting was canceled due to ongoing 
fighting near Sake.  A joint MDPR/DDRRR assessment mission to the 
 
RUD disarmament camp in Kasiki revealed that the ex-combatants and 
their dependents are unlikely to go home soon, as the RUD leadership 
maintains firm control over the members through threats and 
disinformation.  End Summary. 
¶2.  (SBU) The 40th JMG meeting was put together quickly following 
the last minute cancellation of the DDRRR weapons destruction 
ceremony near Sake.  The ceremony was canceled due to concerns about 
ongoing FARDC-CNDP fighting near Sake, as well as the potential 
panic effect on the population of setting off several large 
explosions in such close proximity.  Two items were put on the 
agenda for the impromptu meeting: a read-out of the joint MDRP/DDRRR 
mission to Kasiki and a "housekeeping" discussion in which the JMG 
members would review accomplishments to date and discuss how to 
better implement their monitoring mandate.  The latter item was then 
postponed to the 41st meeting since several key EU and AU 
representatives were absent. 
¶3.  (SBU) The objective of the MDRP/DDRRR trip to Kasiki was to 
present to the RUD leadership the recent Kasiki registration 
results, which indicated that 153 of 156 camp residents 
(ex-combatants and dependents) want to return to Rwanda.  Though 
jointly run and financed by the GDRC and the Eglise du Christ au 
Congo (ECC), the camp remains firmly under the control of the RUD 
political and military leadership.  The RUD leadership insisted on 
the usual list of preconditions for returns, such as an 
inter-Rwandan dialog, stating they wanted another Arusha-style 
negotiation.  They also demanded a high-level Rwandan delegation be 
sent to Kasiki to hear them out, first naming Great Lakes Special 
Envoy Richard Sezibera, but then insisting on President Kagame 
himself.  Before leaving, MDRP and DDRRR left civilian clothes as 
gifts for the camp residents. During their drive back to Goma they 
received a call from RUD leadership who claimed the clothes had been 
poisoned and should be retrieved the next time they returned to the 
camp. 
 
¶4.  (SBU) MDRP stressed to the JMG that the joint visit made it 
obvious that RUD has never been serious about its commitments made 
previously to the international community at Kisangani.  The GDRC, 
which had hoped Kasiki would be the beginning of a long-term 
process, had lost control of the camp and was relatively powerless 
to get the RUD leadership to cooperate.  The GOR delegation 
reiterated its disappointment with the Kasiki process and argued 
that through Kasiki, the RUD had been given a political platform to 
articulate its unrealistic and unjust demands.  The Rwandan 
delegation also complained that Kasiki does not comply with any 
DDRRR regulations outlined in Security Council Resolution 1355 since 
the disarmed elements are still in an area under RUD control.  The 
Rwandans demanded forceful measures be applied against the RUD.  The 
GDRC, as well as MDRP, argued that the process has to be given more 
time, even if only to allow for the repatriation of the 153 willing 
combatants.  The GDRC agreed to think about a new strategy on how to 
pursue the repatriation of RUD and on how to make sure that Kasiki 
will remain a transit camp and not become a semi-permanent solution 
for disarmed RUD combatants. 
 
¶5.  (SBU) Comment:  The JMG Task Force will need to maintain regular 
visibility on Kasiki to ensure stakeholders remain engaged and some 
success is gained from the whole process.  However, as evidenced by 
the comments of the Rwandan delegation, Kasiki has become a 
convenient fallback argument for the GOR.  JMG discussions must 
therefore be steered in a different direction for the sake of every 
other issue the JMG is monitoring.  The GDRC has suffered a small PR 
setback because of the problems at Kasiki, particularly after the 
event was heralded with much fanfare.  End Comment. 
 
BROCK