CATHOLIC BISHOPS SEND MIXED MESSAGE ON TRANSITION

C O N F I D E N T I A L KINSHASA 001043 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/24/2015 TAGS: PGOV PREL KPKO KDEM CG SUBJECT: CATHOLIC BISHOPS SEND MIXED MESSAGE ON TRANSITION EXTENSION Classified By: Poloff Gons Nachman for Reasons 1.4 B and D ¶1. (U) The Catholic Bishops' Conference (CENCO) issued a statement June 22 in which it criticized "the automatic extension" of the transition, as well as calls to bring the transition down June 30th by "violence and chaos." The Bishops want the government to explain why elections were not organized by June 30th, and criticized the "lack of political will" by transition actors. They warned, however, that stopping the transition will only delay the organization of elections. ¶2. (U) The bishops' statement refers to the "psychosis of June 30th" and affirms makes note of social malaise, corruption, insecurity, and lack of trust in the government. It recommends a dialogue between "significant socio-political forces," army and police integration, national reconciliation, and continued support by the international community. ¶3. (SBU) The bishops indicated that the Church will intensify its campaign of civic and electoral education and launch a national program of non-violence and reconciliation, calling for calm, dialogue, and peace. ¶4. (C) Comment: There is something in the long statement for everyone to like and to hate. There is a great deal of criticism of the government and the transition, and the criticism is generally fully justified. The timing, however, is problematic. At the same time the bishops are calling for peace, they are also sending out a condemnatory message that opposition spoilers have already begun to exploit. End comment. MEECE