Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04KINSHASA1545
2004-08-16 13:41:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kinshasa
Cable title:  

CIAT AND GDRC CONDEMN GATUMBA MASSACRE

Tags:  PHUM CG PGOV PREL MONUC 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
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

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