ITURI UPDATE: MILITIAS SIGN COMMON PEACE ACCORD,

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KINSHASA 001826 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/04/2016 TAGS: PGOV KPKO CG SUBJECT: ITURI UPDATE: MILITIAS SIGN COMMON PEACE ACCORD, BUT KARIM STILL NOT SURRENDERING REF: A. KINSHASA 1769 ¶B. KINSHASA 1768 ¶C. KINSHASA 1767 Classified By: PolOff CBrown, reasons 1.4 b/d. ¶1. (C) Summary: Representatives of Ituri District's main militias agreed to a common peace accord with the GDRC November 29 in Bunia. The common accord details obligations and establishes a timeline for demobilization. Karim insists on amnesty before surrendering. End summary. ¶2. (U) The GDRC and three Ituri District militias signed a common accord November 29 that consolidates and ratifies the separate cease-fires and disarmament accords signed by Peter Karim's Front for National Integration (FNI),Mathieu Ngudjolo's Congolese Revolutionary Movement (MRC),and Cobra Matata's Front for Patriotic Resistance in Ituri (FRPI) (reftels). ¶3. (U) In the agreement, the GDRC pledged to propose an amnesty law for all members of the signatory groups extending the DRC's 2005 amnesty law. The GDRC promised to recognize the military ranks of militia members and the composition and organization of their military hierarchies. -------------- MILITIA RESPONSIBILITIES -------------- ¶4. (U) The three militias agreed to accept the principles of the DRC's national disarmament and demobilization program, giving each militia member the choice of military integration or civilian reinsertion. Each group pledged to hand over its weapons for stockpiling by Congolese military (FARDC) and MONUC forces and allow child protection organizations immediate access to possible child soldiers. The FNI, MRC and FRPI agreed to permit free movement of GDRC, FARDC and MONUC officials in areas they control and have pledged to keep the Ituri cities of Bunia, Aveba and Kwandroma "weapons-free." They agreed to end all forms of exactions, extortion or other mistreatment of civilian population. ¶5. (U) The combined accord also established a disarmament timetable for militia disarmament from November 27 through December 17. All militia disarmament is scheduled to conclude by December 31, when the national demobilization program will come to an end. -------------- KARIM STILL WANTS AMNESTY BEFORE DISARMING -------------- ¶6. (C) Neither Karim nor his representatives signed this new agreement. MONUC officials in Bunia said no FNI liaison officers were present at the November 29 signing due to "logistical difficulties." No FNI members have reported to demobilization sites as of December 4. Karim reportedly told MONUC officials in Bunia that he will not disarm his troops and adhere to the demobilization program before he has been granted amnesty. -------------- GDRC FAILS TO PROVIDE PROMISED FUNDS -------------- ¶7. (C) The GDRC has yet to fulfill its commitment to provide the MRC 5,000 USD for civic education efforts (ref B). These funds were earmarked for MRC leaders to conduct "sensitization" programs aimed at convincing militia members to come out of the bush and surrender. Defense Ministry officials said the money as of December 1 had not been released because Defense Minister Tharcisse Habarugira has been on mission in North Kivu province. -------------- COMMENT: LOOMING CONFRONTATION -------------- ¶8. (C) Karim and his fellow militia leaders all insist on amnesty before disarming. The GDRC now says amnesty can only be granted by parliament, which will not be able to address the issue until 2007. The DRC's demobilization deadline is December 31, after which no further negotiations or disarmament is to take place. Unless the deadline is extended or the leaders drop their amnesty demands, renewed KINSHASA 00001826 002 OF 002 confrontation between the GDRC and Ituri's militia may result. End summary. MEECE