RWANDAN GOVERNMENT CONDEMNS ATTACK ON BURUNDI

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KIGALI 001175

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR AF/C

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/16/2014
TAGS: PREL PREF MOPS RW BY CG
SUBJECT: RWANDAN GOVERNMENT CONDEMNS ATTACK ON BURUNDI
REFUGEE CAMP

Classified By: ERIC WONG, POLITICAL OFFICER. REASON 1.4 (D)


1. (U) SUMMARY. The Rwandan foreign ministry issued a
communique dated August 14 condemning the recent attack on
Burundi's Gatumba refugee camp that killed up to 170
Banyamulenge refugees from the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The GOR communique attributes the attack to "a combined
force" of ex-FAR/Interahamwe, Mai-Mai and FNL. The GOR calls
for the forcible disarmament of ex-FAR/Interahamwe, noting
that failure to do this "... may force Rwanda to take
measures which may not necessarily be in the line of the
thinking of (the) International Community. Rwanda is not
prepared to tolerate the status quo."


2. (U) BEGIN TEXT.

Republic of Rwanda
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation

Communique

The Government of Rwanda is shocked and horrified to learn of
a massacre of more than 150 Banyamulenge in the refugee camp
of Katumba, in Burundi, which occurred on the night of the
13th to 14th August 2004. Information available to
Government indicates that this despicable act was perpetrated
by a combined force of Ex-FAR Interahamwe (calling themselves
FDLR/FOCA) and Mayi Mayi from the Democratic Republic of
Congo, in cooperation with elements of the FNL/PALIPEHUTU.

Government wishes to remind the International Community that
during, and following the May/June 2004 events in Bukavu,
Banyamulenge refugees in Rwanda and Burundi have consistently
affirmed that they fled targeted and systematic massacres
against them by Armed Forces of the DRC under the command of
Mbuza MABE acting in concert with the Ex-FAR/INTERAHAMWE.
Surprisingly, MONUC, which is the voice of the International
Community in the region claims they have seen no evidence of
targeted massacres of this community. The latest massacre
lays this lie to rest.

Government strongly condemns this recent targeted massacre of
Banyamulenge which is a result of the genocidal ideology that
currently holds sway in our region, nurtured and propagated
by the Ex-FAR/INTERAHAMWE forces and those in the region and
the wider International Community who give them assistance
and succour.

Government is gravely disturbed that for the last ten years
the International community has consistently refused to
disarm the Ex-FAR/Interahamwe, a force that committed
genocide in Rwanda. Despite numerous UNSC resolutions
calling on all UN Member States to refrain from giving
military, political and diplomatic support to these genocidal
forces, some members of the international community have
consistently continued to extend support to them.

Although MONUC regularly meets the leadership of the
Ex-FAR/Interahamwe and is fully aware of the location,
strength and movements of the EX-FAR/Interahamwe towards and
across the border between the DRC and Rwanda and Burundi, it
has never intervened to foil attacks on Rwanda or Burundi or
even warned these two countries of impending attacks, with
devastating consequences for innocent civilians in these two
countries. MONUC and the DRC 10th Military Region have
recently watched and/or facilitated the return into their
mother units, of genocidal troops fleeing military operations
carried out by Burundi Armed Forces.

We call upon the International Community to stop watching
unmoved, this incipient ethnic cleansing now taking root in
the region and especially in the Eastern DRC. We also
reiterate our demand for the forcible disarmament,
demobilization and repatriation of the Ex-FAR/INTERAHAMWE now
deployed along Rwanda's border and in many cases co-located
with DRC armed forces, failure of which may force Rwanda to
take measures which may not necessarily be in the line of the
thinking of International Community. Rwanda is not prepared
to tolerate the status quo.

Done in Kigali, 14th of August 2004.

END TEXT.


3. (C) COMMENT: The attack on Banyamulenge refugees in
Burundi comes days after DRC Vice President Ruberwa's visit
to Banyamulenge refugees in Rwanda, and highlights the GOR's
concerns that Banyamulenge have been the target of
politically motivated ethnic killings. Rwanda's Presidential
Special Envoy for the Great Lakes, Amb. Richard Sezibera,
accompanied by Rwanda's Minister of Interior, were en route
to Burundi to attend funeral ceremonies for those killed at
Gatumba. Rwandan Defense Forces deployed to Darfur, Sudan,
on August 14-15. Senior GOR officials have stated that if
the RDF can intervene in Darfur to prevent ethnic killings,
then perhaps they should do so in DRC as well. The GOR's
communique suggests military intervention in DRC is a
possibility Kigali has not ruled out. END COMMENT.


4. (U) Bujumbura: minimize considered.
PATRICK