ITURI UPDATE

UNCLAS KINSHASA 000370

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KPKO PHUM PREL MARR CG
SUBJECT: ITURI UPDATE

REF: A. KINSHASA 355


B. KINSHASA 337

C. KINSHASA 336


1. (SBU) According to MONUC sources, the military operation
conducted by Pakistani special peacekeeping forces March 1
against the Front for National Integration (FNI) in Loga,
Djugu territory, Ituri, has so far resulted in over 50
militia casualties. These sources said two peacekeepers were
injured during the confrontation, but from burns caused by a
weapons misfire, rather than from hostile fire. Both
peacekeepers have been evacuated to South Africa and are
expected to recover.


2. (SBU) The acting MONUC force commander told members of the
Committee to Accompany the Transition (CIAT) March 2 that the
operation in Loga was meant to disarm a group of several
hundred FNI militias involved in attacks against civilians in
the area of Tche; it was not in any way a reprisal raid for
the earlier killing of peacekeepers (reftels) The briefers
said peacekeepers assembled at Tche and then moved by land to
Loga, coming under militia fire prior to reaching the central
market. Peacekeepers then responded to the attack according
to the terms of their Chapter VII mandate. Following the
engagement, peacekeepers seized substantial quantities of
weapons and destroyed buildings used by the militias. MONUC
is currently investigating reports that civilians may have
been used as human shields by the militia. Briefers also
noted the high level of sexual crimes associated with current
militia activities in the area.


3. (SBU) MONUC also said that FNI military leader Etienne
Lona turned himself in voluntarily at MONUC's Bunia
headquarters and is now being held while authorities
investigate his links to the brutal killing of 9 Bangladeshi
peacekeepers on February 25 in the outskirts of Kafe, Ituri.
Lona turned himself in on March 1 after learning of the MONUC
operation that day in Loga.


4. (SBU) MONUC sources told Polcouns and DCM March 2 that as
a result of MONUC's robust military response, 2100 militia
members voluntarily disarmed, turning over 700 weapons to
peacekeepers.


5. (U) Bujumbura minimized considered.
MEECE