VZCZCXRO8813
OO RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHGI RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHKI #0319/01 0931215
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 031215Z APR 09
FM AMEMBASSY KINSHASA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9419
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 SECTION 01 OF 02 KINSHASA 000319 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PREL MOPS PHUM PREF KPKO CG
SUBJECT:  EASTERN DRC NOTES - APRIL 3: AMNESTY LAW STALLED IN 
SENATE 
 
¶1. (U) The items contained in this report consist principally of 
spot information from various sources.  This report is not 
exhaustive, nor can all the information contained therein be 
confirmed at this time. 
 
Amnesty Law Still Pending 
------------------------- 
 
¶2.  (U) On April 2, the DRC Senate unexpectedly did not take a vote 
on the draft Amnesty Law, as expected.  Some senators reportedly 
were concerned that the amnesty could be extended to acts that 
occurred in Bas Congo, Katanga, and even Kinshasa.  Senator Henri 
Thomas Lokondo reportedly argued that the law cannot be general; 
rather it should be applied within the framework of the Goma 
Conference.  The next step is for a Senate-National Assembly 
commission to review the draft law, which the National Assembly had 
already passed.  If a consensus is not possible, the National 
Assembly will decide on the final wording. 
 
Security Situation 
------------------ 
 
¶3.  (SBU) The LRA has attacked the towns of Aba, Durba and Watsa, 
not far from the border with Uganda.  MONUC has not received reports 
of casualties.  Guatemalan Special Forces have deployed to Niangara, 
just west of Dungu (Note: to our knowledge, this is the first actual 
MONUC deployment outside of Dungu since Operation Lightning Thunder 
began.  End Note). 
 
¶4.  (U) Local press has reported that the FDLR has reestablished a 
base of operations near Nyamilima, north of Rutshuru, and is abusing 
the local population, who can no longer work their fields.  The 
population has asked for the assistance of the FARDC 18th brigade, 
recently deployed to the area. 
 
¶5.  (SBU) Further south in Ituri, MONUC is providing logistical 
assistance to the FARDC to recapture Tchey, which was recently taken 
by the FRPI.  Additionally, media reports that 87 prisoners escaped 
from prison in Bunia.  MONUC sources comment that this could have 
been expected, given the dilapidated state of the prison. 
 
Integration 
----------- 
 
¶6.  (SBU) Father Apollinaire Malu Malu, who heads the GDRC's peace 
efforts, hopes to begin the process of integration in South Kivu as 
quickly as possible.  He would like to open the camp at Luberizi 
next Monday, but needs funding from the GDRC. 
 
Coordinating Kimia II 
--------------------- 
 
¶7.  (SBU) MONUC and FARDC commanders held meetings in Bukavu on 
March 31 and in Goma on April 1 to coordinate Operation Kimia II 
against the FDLR.  MONUC Force Commander Gaye attended both 
meetings.  Unfortunately, General Amuli, who is reportedly scheduled 
to take over command of FARDC forces from General Amisi, did not. 
The two forces reached a number of agreements: 
 
-- MONUC will deploy liaison officers to lower levels in the FARDC, 
perhaps even to the company level.  In previous operations, MONUC 
has depended on coordination at the brigade headquarters level, 
which proved less than effective for supporting FARDC operations in 
the field. 
 
-- MONUC and the FARDC will decide on "zones of neutralization" 
where they will concentrate their efforts against the FDLR. 
 
-- MONUC will provide rations to FARDC troops participating in 
Operation Kimia II, but requested a written plan for deliveries. 
 
-- MONUC will establish a joint coordination center with the FARDC. 
 
-- Force Commander Gaye insisted on weekly updates to maps detailing 
FDLR positions. 
 
-- The FARDC agreed to provide MONUC with a list of priority areas 
for operations. 
 
-- MONUC and the FARDC will coordinate planning for protection of 
civilians in areas where the FDLR may retaliate against the local 
population. 
 
¶8.  (SBU) The FARDC plans to deploy 3,500 soldiers to South Kivu, 
initially positioning them at Miti (near Lake Kivu), then moving 
 
KINSHASA 00000319  002 OF 002 
 
 
them south along the Bunyakiri - Hombo axis (Note: This is an area 
with a heavy FDLR presence, perhaps three brigades.  End Note).  The 
FARDC will also send 2,500 troops to Kindu, in Maniema province. 
MONUC sources were puzzled by this deployment, which is far to the 
west of FDLR concentrations that start around Shabunda in South 
Kivu. 
 
¶9.  (SBU) Gaye reportedly lectured commanders from both militaries 
on the need to change their mindset and work together.  He hectored 
the FARDC to put its orders and requests in writing, adding that, 
"you can't command an 8,000 member army with a cell phone."  MONUC 
sources said the turnout was impressive, with most FARDC commanders 
(including many former CNDP) in attendance. 
 
¶10.  (SBU) Comment: In recent months, FARDC and GDRC decision-makers 
have been less receptive to outside intervention.  MONUC seeks to 
reverse this trend before any new major operation is launched. 
MONUC attendees at the meeting report that the FARDC does not appear 
to have done any logistical planning, and does not have a strategic 
concept for defeating the FDLR.  MONUC and the FARDC need each other 
for Operation Kimia II to succeed.  The recent meetings may help 
build a basis for cooperation, but the two militaries are literally 
and figuratively speaking different languages.  End Comment. 
 
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