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