Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06KINSHASA1280
2006-08-14 17:07:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Kinshasa
Cable title:  

DRC ELECTIONS: RELIGIOUS GROUPS CALL FOR PEACE AND

Tags:  PGOV KDEM KPKO CG ELECTIONS 
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DE RUEHKI #1280/01 2261707
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 141707Z AUG 06
FM AMEMBASSY KINSHASA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4599
INFO RUEHXR/RWANDA COLLECTIVE
RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 KINSHASA 001280 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KDEM KPKO CG ELECTIONS
SUBJECT: DRC ELECTIONS: RELIGIOUS GROUPS CALL FOR PEACE AND
PATIENCE

REF: A. KINSHASA 1250


B. KINSHASA 1197

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 KINSHASA 001280

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KDEM KPKO CG ELECTIONS
SUBJECT: DRC ELECTIONS: RELIGIOUS GROUPS CALL FOR PEACE AND
PATIENCE

REF: A. KINSHASA 1250


B. KINSHASA 1197


1. (U) The National Episcopal Conference of Congo (CENCO) and
the leaders of the five largest religious communities
released August 12 separate statements congratulating the
Congolese people for their maturity and calm during the July
30 election, and appealing to all Congolese to remain
tolerant and patient while awaiting election results. Both
statements call on the population to submit to the greater
good of the nation, citing the need for national unity and
peace. The declaration from the leaders of the five religious
communities follows a similar appeal August 5 lauding the
success of the presidential and legislative elections (ref
A). The CENCO statement is the first public announcement on
the elections made by its president, Archbishop Laurent
Monsengwo, since his July 27 press conference urging all
Catholics to vote (ref B) despite his earlier misgivings
about "irregularities" in the electoral process.


2. (U) The CENCO declaration makes note of reports of alleged
manipulation and fraud during the election, and states that
the organization will be assessing the credibility of the
elections after receiving the reports from various elections
observer missions. The statement urged that the vote counting
process be done with all transparency so that the "truth" of
the ballot boxes can be known. CENCO, however, appealed as
well to candidates and the Congolese people ultimately to
respect the verdict of the ballot boxes. In conclusion, CENCO
denounced any potential acts of violence after results are
known, and recommended that those who may find themselves in
the political minority take advantage of the rights
guaranteed them by the DRC's constitution and play a
constructive role in the future government.


3. (U) The declaration from the heads of the five religious
communities struck a similar note, urging the Congolese
people to respect the law and legal procedures after the
publication of election results. The religious leaders
further urged the Congolese to demonstrate their "maturity"
while waiting for the vote counting process to conclude. In
addition, the statement condemned any attempts to incite the
population to violence that could result in death or the

destruction of property.


4. (SBU) Comment: CENCO's statement is a welcome addition to
the post-election environment, particularly as speculation
mounts during the wait for official election results. It is
worth noting that CENCO -- particularly Monsengwo -- only
made passing mention of potential electoral "irregularities,"
and did not outright condemn the July 30 vote. Such a
declaration, in addition to the appeal from the five other
major religious communities, should help calm underlying
tensions in the run-up to the announcement of provisional
presidential results, which are expected by August 20. End
comment.


5. (U) Post's unofficial translation of the CENCO declaration
from the original French follows:

PEACE IN THE TRUTH OF THE BALLOT BOXES

Declaration of the National Episcopal Conference of Congo
(CENCO) on the issue of national elections

-- Conforming to its earlier positions, the National
Episcopal Conference of Congo (CENCO) strongly reaffirms that
free, transparent and democratic elections constitute the
legal and necessary way for winning political power.

In addition, CENCO is pleased to see that the Congolese
people went to the polls in large numbers, in an orderly and
disciplined manner, with patience and tolerance, in calm and
peace. CENCO congratulates the Congolese people for the
maturity and democratic spirit which they demonstrated during
the vote. For the work accomplished, CENCO thanks the
Independent Electoral Commission (CEI),all the national and
international observers, as well as the organizations they
represent.

-- The people have spoken; their voice must be heard! No
person or institution, national or international, can ignore
the will of the people. Only those freely elected by popular
sovereignty are authorized to govern the state with
legitimacy during the next term.

KINSHASA 00001280 002 OF 003



This is why CENCO is concerned that all subsequent electoral
operations take place in full transparency and without flaws,
so that the truth of the ballot boxes can be known. Since
elections on Sunday, July 30, 2006, in several places
throughout the country, attempts at manipulation, deception,
and fraudulent acts have indeed been noted. It is therefore
important to ensure the credibility of the two (presidential
and legislative) elections. The reports of national and
international observers on this subject will be instructive.
CENCO is examining them in order to assess the situation.

-- CENCO, for its part, condemns all attempts to obtain power
contrary to the truth of the ballot boxes. It is with this
truth that peace will be safeguarded for the Democratic
Republic of Congo (DRC): it is why we invite all the
Congolese people and candidates who took part in the
elections to submit themselves to the verdict of the ballot
boxes.

-- For those who will be declared legally elected, we
recommend that they demonstrate a high sense of national
spirit in the service of the state which transcends party
ideologies, regional and provincial tendencies, and
attachments. That should show themselves to be true unifiers
having in their hearts the governing of the new Congolese
state with one sole goal: the greater interest of the nation
and the consolidation of national unity which concerns all
daughters and sons, citizens of the DRC.

As for those who will be part of the constitutional minority,
we call upon them to show a democratic spirit and to
contribute to the government of the country by taking
advantage of all the legal mechanisms granted to the
political opposition by the constitution of our country (DRC
constitution, Article 8). In so doing, they will prepare
political alternatives for the future and will consolidate
the democratic culture of our country.

-- CENCO congratulates again the Congolese people for their
profound desire for peace and national harmony. It calls on
them again to avoid, under all circumstances, violent actions
and reactions, and asks everyone to respect the law and legal
procedures in claiming their rights.

God bless the DRC and its people.

Signed in Kinshasa, August 12, 2006

Frederic Cardinal Etsou, Archbishop of Kinshasa

L. Monsengwo Pasinya, Archbishop of Kisangani and President
of CENCO
Th. Tshibangu Tshishiku, Bishop of Mbuji-Mayi and Vice
President of CENCO

End text.


6. (U) Post's unofficial translation of the declaration from
the heads of religions denominations from the original French
follows:

DECLARATION FROM THE HEADS OF RELIGIOUS DENOMINATIONS NOT TO
COMPROMISE NATIONAL UNITY

The heads of religious denominations, in light of speculation
surrounding the presidential and legislative elections of
July 30, 2006, awaiting the provisional results of the
aforementioned vote, and in their historic role of placing
themselves in the middle of the "village" with the view to
safeguard unity and national harmony, make the following
declaration:

-- God gave the Democratic Republic of Congo a large country,
and its people constitute a large nation. As such, the
religious denominations consider our geographic, social,
economic, cultural, political, and religious diversity as a
strength and treasure that must first be integrated in order
to consolidate our national unity;

-- From the moment the posting of election results began at
local compilation centers, religious leaders seized this
opportunity to launch a vibrant appeal to all Congolese for
calm and to demand of them again to show their maturity until
the publication of final results;


KINSHASA 00001280 003 OF 003


-- The heads of religious denominations vehemently condemn
calls to violence and political manipulation which could
undermine the unity of our country at the risk of needlessly
compromising the electoral process already underway;

-- The sons and daughters of the Democratic Republic of Congo
must consider themselves as one sole body. When one part of
the body suffers, it is all of the body which suffers;

-- The blood of our compatriots who died to defend our
homeland and national unity obliges us to work for nothing
less than the greater interest of the nation;

-- The heads of religious denominations firmly condemn the
bloody conflicts of Saturday, August 6, 2006 in Sake in North
Kivu and call upon the government to take all necessary
measures to reestablish lasting peace in that corner of the
Republic;

-- The heads of religious denominations disapprove of any
plans that would attempt to stir up the population, to take
human lives, and to destroy public and private property;

-- Let us bring ourselves together in love, justice,
humility, courage, and responsibility to restore peace in the
Democratic Republic of Congo and to reconstruct our dear and
beautiful country so that the marvels God has given us can
benefit each and all of us;

-- We again call upon all believers to pray for the
consolidation of peace and national unity.

May all-powerful God bless and protect the Democratic
Republic of Congo and its people.

Signed in Kinshasa, August 12, 2006

For the Church of Christ in Congo, Monsignor Pierre Marini
Bodho
For the Islamic Community, Cheik Abdallah Mangala Luaba
For the Independent Churches, Monsignor Simon Nzinga Maluka
For the Kimbanguist Church, Reverend Mangala Mandubu
For the Evangelical Churches, Bishop Albert Kankienza

End text.
MEECE