APPREHENDING GENOCIDAIRES IN THE REPUBLIC OF THE

C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 003119

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/25/2012
TAGS: PREL PHUM KJUS KAWC CG CF RW IT ICTR
SUBJECT: APPREHENDING GENOCIDAIRES IN THE REPUBLIC OF THE
CONGO

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PAGE 02 ROME 03119 261427Z
REF: A. ROME 2990

B. ROME 2982

CLASSIFIED BY: AMBASSADOR-AT-LARGE PIERRE-RICHARD PROSPER
FOR REASONS 1.5 (B) AND (D)


1. (U) AMBASSADOR-AT-LARGE FOR WAR CRIMES ISSUES
PIERRE-RICHARD PROSPER AND SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT
AND NSC SR. DIRECTOR FOR AFRICAN AFFAIRS DR. JENDAYI FRAZER
MET WITH THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO (ROC),
DENIS SASSOU-NGUESSO, ON JUNE 13 IN ROME, WHERE HE WAS
ATTENDING A WORLD FOOD SUMMIT. POLOFF RAFIK MANSOUR AND
S/WCI JONATHAN CROCK WERE ALSO PRESENT. AMB. PROSPER
EXPLAINED THE LAUNCHING OF THE REWARDS FOR JUSTICE CAMPAIGN
IN NAIROBI, KENYA TO APPREHEND PERSONS INDICTED FOR GENOCIDE
BY THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL TRIBUNAL FOR RWANDA (ICTR)
THROUGH A REWARD OF UP TO $5 MILLION, AND THE PLANNED
EXPANSION OF THE CAMPAIGN TO THE CONGO REGION IN JULY (SEE
REFTELS).


2. (C) AMB. PROSPER REQUESTED SASSOU-NGUESSO,S SUPPORT FOR
APPREHENDING PERSONS INDICTED FOR GENOCIDE BY ICTR,
SUGGESTING A CAMPAIGN TO ADVERTISE THE REWARDS FOR JUSTICE
PROGRAM AND A VISIT TO THE ROC. AMB. PROSPER GAVE
SASSOU-NGUESSO THE NAMES OF THREE FUGITIVES WHO ARE REPORTED
TO BE IN THE ROC: AUGUSTIN BIZIMANA, JEAN-BAPTISTE GATETE,
AND IDELPHONSE HATEGEKIMANA. PRES. SASSOU-NGUESSO STATED
THAT &AS WITH ANY OTHER GENOCIDE,8 HE IS TOTALLY IN SUPPORT
OF APPREHENDING THE PERPETRATORS AND WOULD COOPERATE VERY
OPENLY. HE WELCOMED A VISIT BY AMB. PROSPER TO BRAZZAVILLE
AND COMMENTED THAT WITH THE PHOTOGRAPHS OF THESE FUGITIVES
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THEY CAN BE FOUND IN HIS SMALL COUNTRY. HE REQUESTED THAT
THE NAMES OF THESE FUGITIVES ALONG WITH ANY FURTHER
INFORMATION THE USG HAS BE PRESENTED BY THE U.S. AMBASSADOR
TO THE ROC (S/WCI WILL PROVIDE TO AMBASSADOR SEPTEL).


3. (C) PRES. SASSOU-NGUESSO EMPHASIZED THE NEED TO SOLVE THE
REFUGEE PROBLEM TO SECURE STABILITY IN THE REGION AND PREVENT
A CIRCLE OF VIOLENCE. HE STATED THAT 12,000 HUTU REFUGEES
FROM RWANDA HAVE DOUBLED THE POPULATION OF THE NORTHERN
REGION. THEY ARE LIVING IN VERY DIFFICULT CONDITIONS AND ARE
BEING IGNORED BY THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY, HE SAID.


4. (C) AMB. PROSPER SAID THE KEY TO THE PROBLEM IS SOLVING
THE ISSUE OF THE GENOCIDAIRES. DR. FRAZER STRESSED THE
IMPORTANCE OF APPREHENDING ICTR INDICTEES WHO ARE FUELING THE
ONGOING CONFLICT. THESE FUGITIVES FORM THE LEADERSHIP OF THE
ARMY FOR THE LIBERATION OF RWANDA (ALIR) AND ARE EFFECTIVELY
HOLDING LOWER-LEVEL COMBATANTS HOSTAGE. DR. FRAZER STATED
THAT RWANDAN PRESIDENT PAUL KAGAME HAS GIVEN ASSURANCES THAT
THE RANK AND FILE CAN BE REPATRIATED IN RWANDA, BUT WE MUST
FIRST DEAL WITH THE LEADERS.
SEMBLER

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2002ROME03119 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL