OPPOSITION SAYS IT WON'T GO TO LIBREVILLE

C O N F I D E N T I A L KINSHASA 008382

SIPDIS


E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/11/2010
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL CG
SUBJECT: OPPOSITION SAYS IT WON'T GO TO LIBREVILLE


CLASSIFIED BY POLOFF JONATHAN PRATT FOR REASONS 1.5 (B/D).



1. (C) MOST MAJOR OPPOSITION LEADERS HAVE SAID THAT THEY
WON'T GO TO LIBREVILLE TO MEET WITH PRESIDENT KABILA ON
DECEMBER 21, AND CONTINUE TO INSIST THAT ALL INITIATIVES FOR
THE INTER-CONGOLESE DIALOGUE SHOULD BE PURSUED WITHIN THE
FRAMEWORK OF THE LUSAKA ACCORDS.



2. (C) DURING A MEETING WITH POLOFF DECEMBER 18, THOMAS
OTSHUDI, LEGAL ADVISOR TO FONUS (NEW FORCES FOR UNION AND
SOLIDARITY) PRESIDENT JOSEPH OLENGHANKOY, REPORTED THAT NO
ONE FROM FONUS WOULD ATTEND THE PROPOSED SUMMIT. HE CLAIMED
THAT THE KABILA GOVERNMENT HADN'T EVEN CALLED WITH AN
INVITATION, DESPITE THE FACT THAT THE MEETING WAS ONLY THREE
DAYS AWAY, AND ACCUSED KABILA OF ATTEMPTING TO CREATE THE
ILLUSION THAT HE IS REACHING OUT TO THE OPPOSITION. (NOTE:
OLENGHANKOY IS ONE OF THE FEW OPPOSITION LEADERS WHO REMAIN
IN KINSHASA, SINCE MOST OF THE OTHER MAJOR FIGURES HAVE FLED.
END NOTE.) OTSHUDI REPORTED THAT OLENGHANKOY WAS ADAMANT
THAT ONLY DIALOGUE FACILITATOR MASIRE COULD CALL SUCH A
MEETING, NOT PRESIDENT KABILA. OLENGHANKOY'S LEGAL ADVISOR
ALSO OFFERED HIS VIEW THAT KABILA'S PARLIAMENTARY COMMISSION
ON THE INTER-CONGOLESE DIALOGUE HAD NO AUTHORITY UNDER THE
LUSAKA ACCORDS TO BRING PARTIES TOGETHER OR EVEN PARTICIPATE
IN THE DIALOGUE, SINCE THE CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY HAD BEEN
NAMED BY KABILA HIMSELF.



3. (U) OTHER OPPOSITION LEADERS HAVE MADE THEIR POSITIONS
PLAIN IN THE PRESS. CHRISTOPHE LUTUNDULA OF MSDD (SOLIDARITY
MOVEMENT FOR DEMOCRACY AND DEVELOPMENT) IS QUOTED IN "LE
POTENTIEL" AS STATING THAT ALL INITIATIVES FOR A NATIONAL
DIALOGUE MUST COME FROM WITHIN THE LUSAKA ACCORDS. THE
DEMOCRATIC AND SOCIAL CHRISTIAN PARTY (PDSC) ECHOED THIS
BELIEF IN A PRESS RELEASE. ARMED OPPOSITION LEADER
JEAN-PIERRE BEMBA HAS STATED PUBLICLY FOR SOME TIME THAT HE
WON'T PARTICIPATE IN ANY DIALOGUE WITHOUT THE PARTICIPATION
OF FACILITATOR KETUMILE MASIRE.
SWING