ITURI UPDATE: GDRC HAS FIRST MEETING WITH FRPI

C O N F I D E N T I A L KINSHASA 001769 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/20/2016 TAGS: PGOV PREL CG UG SUBJECT: ITURI UPDATE: GDRC HAS FIRST MEETING WITH FRPI MILITIA REPRESENTATIVES REF: A. KINSHASA 1767 ¶B. KINSHASA 1768 Classified By: PolOff CBrown, reasons 1.4 b/d. ¶1. (C) A GDRC delegation charged with negotiations with Ituri District militia groups and led by Vice Minister of Defense Yves Mena held its first official meeting with the Front for Patriotic Resistance in Ituri (FRPI) November 18. FRPI leader Cobra Matata was not present, but was represented by the militia's president Emile Mohito and adviser "Pascal." The delegations met in Aveba, approximately 30 miles south of Bunia, following a series of meetings with other Ituri militias November 16 and 17 (refs A and B). ¶2. (C) The two sides agreed upon a set of principles for further contact, with the ultimate goal of disarming the FRPI: -- Integration into the Congolese Armed Forces (FARDC),with the possibility of demobilization for those who are not eligible for integration. The process is to be completed by December 31; -- All arms will be surrendered and controlled by the FARDC; -- All children in the FRPI must be released and allowed to be registered and supervised by child protection organizations which will have access to the assembly sites; -- All organizations of the GDRC, MONUC and all humanitarian groups are granted free movement in territory under the influence of the FRPI and Cobra Matata's forces; -- All FRPI harassment of the local population, police officers and members of the local administration will cease immediately. -- Two liaison officers from the FRPI will be assigned immediately to ensure further contact between the group and the FARDC Ituri Operations Commander, who will facilitate everything necessary for the free movement of these officers. ¶3. (C) MONUC military chief of staff General Christian Houdet, who observed the November 18 meeting, said the GDRC delegation gave Mohito and Pascal until November 24 to secure Matata's acceptance of the agreement. ¶4. (C) Comment: This first meeting with the FRPI is a positive step, but no formal surrender can be achieved without the personal consent and participation of Matata. There was no mention in this initial statement regarding amnesty, but it will likely become a sticking point for the FRPI much as it continues to be for other Ituri militias. End comment. MEECE