DRC ARRESTS SUSPECT FOR MURDER OF BANGLADESHI

C O N F I D E N T I A L KINSHASA 001995 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/10/2015 TAGS: PGOV PREL KPKO CG SUBJECT: DRC ARRESTS SUSPECT FOR MURDER OF BANGLADESHI SOLDIERS REF: KINSHASA 337 Classified By: PolOff CBrown, reasons 1.4 b/d. ¶1. (C) MONUC officials confirmed December 7 that soldiers of the Armed Forces for the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) arrested December 5 Justin Ngole Dalo, also known as Koliba, for the murder of nine MONUC Bangladeshi soldiers during an ambush in DRC's Ituri District in February 2005. Koliba was also sought on charges for his suspected involvement in the murder of civilians in the town of Gobu in January 2005. An Ituri prosecutor in May 2005 issued a warrant for Koliba's arrest on charges of murder, kidnapping and extortion. ¶2. (C) Koliba was detained by FARDC troops in Bunia approximately three weeks ago and then transferred to Kinshasa. The intention behind transferring Koliba was apparently an attempt to work out a plea deal with the government. MONUC officials said Koliba's surrender and transfer were allegedly arranged by Armed Forces Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Kisempia Sungilanga. Talks reportedly failed, however, and Koliba was arrested the afternoon of December 5 in Kinshasa along with his chief escort, Niore. ¶3. (C) Koliba is currently being held at the Makala prison in Kinshasa. MONUC officials said during questioning Koliba has admitted his involvement in some of the charges against him. He has also reportedly been giving government officials the names of others involved in those crimes. ¶4. (C) Koliba has been the main suspect in the killing of nine MONUC Bangladeshi soldiers in February (reftel). During a routine patrol, a detachment of Bangladeshi troops was ambushed by militia from the Front for National Integration (FNI) in retaliation for the detention of 30 FNI cadres the day before. In addition, Koliba is suspected of planning the killing of a hundred civilians in the town of Gobu in January. That massacre triggered a larger wave of militia violence and killings in Ituri District and displaced thousands of people. ¶5. (C) Comment: Koliba's arrest, though long overdue, is a welcome sign the GDRC and FARDC are bringing criminals to justice, underscoring the FARDC's efforts to curb the problem of militia violence in the eastern part of the country. End Comment. MEECE