CIAT AND GDRC CONDEMN GATUMBA MASSACRE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KINSHASA 001545 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/31/2014 TAGS: PHUM CG PGOV PREL MONUC SUBJECT: CIAT AND GDRC CONDEMN GATUMBA MASSACRE REF: A. BUJUMBURA 821 B. MEECE/SANDERSON EMAILS TO OPERATIONS CENTER 8/14 AND 8/15 Classified By: Poloff Meghan Moore for Reasons 1.5 B and D ¶1. (C) Summary: The International Committee Accompanying the Transition (CIAT) and the GDRC strongly condemn the August 13 attack on the Gatumba refugee camp and call for an independent international commission to investigate the massacre and bring those responsible to justice. Post believes such an investigation is necessary to punish the perpetrators and prevent this horrible act from derailing the fragile peace process. End summary. Conflicting Reports -------------- ¶2. (SBU) On August 14, UNHCR reported that at least 156 Congolese refugees, the vast majority of whom were Banyamulenge, including large numbers of women and children, were killed the night of August 13. The fatalities are expected to increase as there are a number of burn victims in local hospitals who are not expected to survive. At the August 15 special CIAT meeting, SRSG Swing provided a read-out of the initial MONUC report. He said that based on preliminary evidence, it appears the attack started at about 2200 local time, was well-organized and planned and strictly targeted at the Banyamulenge section of the camp. (Note: The Banyamulenge refugees were separated from Burundian IDPs and non-Banyamulenge Congolese refugees at the camp. End note.) The method of killing the victims, who were hacked, shot, burned, and in some cases had their heads bashed in, was consistent with the FNL, who claimed responsibility. ¶3. (SBU) MONUC Bukavu (which conducted the initial investigation) reported conflicting stories from survivors, including one Banyamulenge man who said he was visiting Burundian IDPs in another section of the camp the night of August 13 who warned him not to return to his tent because something was about to happen. Another survivor said that there were 2 bands of attackers who were speaking a medley of languages, including Swahili, Kinyarwanda and Lingala. ¶4. (C) On August 14, MONUC Bukavu Officer told polcouns that contrary to some RCD/G statements, MONUC had not received any reports that troops crossed from the DRC into Burundi the night of August 13. Likewise, the GDRC did not close the DRC/Burundi border on August 13 or 14. He said that there were rumors that the attack may have been targeted at men loyal to Mutebusi and their families, and that UNHCR staff in Bukavu has told him that UNHCR was investigating reports that there were arms caches at the camp. -------------- Initial Responses -------------- (Note: Full texts to follow septel. End note.) CIAT -------------- ¶5. (U) On August 15, the CIAT met and issued a statement condemning this 'abominable act,' which was designed to deliberately sabotage the peace process in the DRC and provoke regional instability. It offers condolences to families of the victims, to the transition government and the Congolese people, and calls on members of the transitional government and countries in the region to conduct themselves in a responsible manner consistent with existing accords. The CIAT hopes that an independent international commission will be established to investigate the massacre and bring those responsible to justice. President Kabila and the GDRC -------------- ¶6. (C) On August 14, President Kabila's spokesman issued a statement offering condolences to families of the victims, strongly condemning the attack, and calling for an international commission to investigate the massacre and punish those responsible. On August 15, a presidential advisor told Ambassador that moderate members of the presidency had worked very hard to ensure that this statement was issued despite resistance by hardliners. On August 16, the MFA will brief Security Council ambassadors (septel). On August 14, Pastor Ngoy was arrested in Kinshasa for his extreme view on nationality. (Comment: Ngoy, a notorious tele-evangelist has incited hatred against Banyamulenge in the past. His arrest may have been ordered to send a signal that hate speech in the DRC will not be tolerated. End comment.) ¶7. (C) A number of international and national delegations to Burundi appear to be in the planning stages. On August 16, SRSG reported that MONUC had sent a 3-person delegation to Burundi earlier that morning and that he is working with the UN High Commission for Human Rights in Geneva who plans to send a mission as well. Unfortunately, internal GDRC responses thus far have been poorly coordinated. On August 16, Ministry of Human Rights dircab told poloff that he had heard there would be an official delegation sent to Burundi, but he did not know if his Ministry would be represented. He suggested poloff speak to the Ministry of Interior who he thought was leading the delegation. Ministry of Interior dircab told poloff that he thought the GDRC might send a delegation tomorrow, but had no details about its composition or mission. On August 16, MONUC poloff told poloff that MONUC was aware that the GDRC wished to send delegations to Burundi, but MONUC was very concerned about poor coordination between different elements of the GDRC. VP Ruberwa and the RCD/G -------------- ¶8. (U) On August 14, VP Ruberwa, who is responsible for security issues, made a statement on Radio Okapi condemning the massacre, which he qualified as genocide, and claimed that the Mai Mai were involved. In an interview recorded on August 14 that was broadcast on August 15, Ruberwa called for an international investigation and said that the attackers were Congolese, Interahamwe and FNL. On August 15, he returned to Gatumba with a number of hard-line Banyamulenge leaders, including Benoit Kadage (Note: Ruberwa had also visited the camp the day before the attack. End note.). ¶9. (U) On August 14, RCD/G Secretary General Francis Bedi issued a statement accusing two companies of the FARDC from Uvira commanded by a Major Ekofo, allegedly Col. Nakabaka's deputy, of participating in the massacre with the FNL. They allege the massacre was planned in Walungu during the course of a secret meeting with General Mabe. In addition to calling on the national government to condemn this act of genocide targeting a well-defined ethnic group, they called for investigations of the massacre, the immediate unconditional disarming of all genocidal negative forces allied with certain Congolese groups, notably the Mai Mai, and accelerating the integration of the FARDC. S. Kivu Banyamulenge Vice-Governer, Thomas Nzaratimana, spent the nights of August 14 and 15 at Gatumba. Mai Mai -------------- ¶10. (U) On August 14, a Mai Mai political leader in Kinshasa issued a statement saying that the Mai Mai were not responsible for the Gatumba massacre, because since July 23 various S. Kivu Banyamulenge and Mai Mai have been involved in a truth and reconciliation mission. On August 14 or 15, a spokesman for Col. Nakabaka, a Mai Mai commander based in Uvira, condemned the attack on Radio Okapi, said that allegations against the Mai Mai were not founded, and regretted that Ruberwa and the President of Burundi both blamed the Mai Mai. He said that the Mai Mai have never been involved in missions outside the DRC, did not cross the border into Burundi, and live in peace with the Banyamulenge. He opined that if politicians are trying to encourage hate in the region to provoke another war, they will be responsible for the consequences. Comment -------------- ¶11. (C) The confusion regarding an official GDRC delegation to Gatumba may stem in part from the absence of President Kabila, who has gone to Mauritius for the SADC meetings. An international investigation to bring the responsible to justice is necessary to both punish the perpetrators and prevent this horrible act from derailing the fragile peace process. MEECE