KABILA ADDRESSES NATION, ANNOUNCES REFORMS

C O N F I D E N T I A L KINSHASA 002795

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/17/2010
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM CG
SUBJECT: KABILA ADDRESSES NATION, ANNOUNCES REFORMS

CLASSIFIED BY AMBASSADOR WILLIAM LACY SWING FOR REASONS
1.5(B)(D)



1. (C) PRESIDENT JOSEPH KABILA ADDRESSED THE NATION AT THE
KIMBANGUIST CENTER MAY 17 ON THE FOURTH ANNIVERSARY OF
MOBUTU'S OVERTHROW. IN THIS, HIS FIRST PUBLIC ADDRESS HERE
SINCE HIS INAUGURATION ON JANUARY 26, KABILA ANNOUNCED THE
FOLLOWING MEASURES IN A BRIEF, LOW-KEY ADDRESS WHICH OFFERED
FEW DETAILS.

-- REPLACEMENT OF CONTROVERSIAL DECREE 194 WITH OTHER
GUIDELINES FOR POLITICAL PARTY ACTIVITY;

-- AMNESTY FOR ALL THOSE PRISONERS WHO HAVE NOT COMMITTED
SERIOUS CRIMES SUCH AS MURDER (WE UNDERSTAND THAT ABOUT 340
DETAINEES IN ALL WILL BE FREED); AND,

-- SOCIO-ECONOMIC MEASURES TO PROVIDE IMMEDIATE RELIEF TO THE
POPULATION.


2. (C) ALTHOUGH NOT IN HIS REMARKS, SEVERAL MINISTERS
CONFIRMED TO THE AMBASSADOR ON MAY 17 THE FOLLOWING
ADDITIONAL POSITIVE DEVELOPMENTS:

-- THE FOUR CHILD-SOLDIERS WHICH HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS
FEARED HAD BEEN EXECUTED HAVE, IN FACT, BEEN RELEASED THIS
WEEK (AND HAD NOT BEEN TORTURED); AND,

-- THE NINETEEN "KADOGO" SOLDIERS FROM THE LATE PRESIDENT
LAURENT KABILA'S PROTECTION UNIT HAVE NOT BEEN EXECUTED (AS
HAD BEEN RUMORED) AND HUMAN RIGHTS MINISTER NTUMBA, WITH WHOM
THE AMBASSADOR SPOKE ON MAY 17, HAS BEEN TO MAKALA PRISON
THIS WEEK TO VISIT THEM.


3. (C) COMMENT: ALTHOUGH OPINION SEEMS SOMEWHAT DIVIDED ON
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF PRESIDENT KABILA'S REMARKS, GIVEN THE
ABSENCE OF DETAIL, THE MORE GENERAL VIEW IS POSITIVE. BASED
ON THE AMBASSADOR'S MEETING WITH KABILA ON MAY 14, IT IS
CLEAR THAT HE IS KEENLY AWARE OF THE URGENT NEED FOR
POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC REFORMS, AND THIS WOULD APPEAR TO BE A
PROMISING BEGINNING.


SWING