CONGOLESE BISHOPS WEIGH IN ON ELECTORAL PROCESS

UNCLAS KINSHASA 000379

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KDEM CG
SUBJECT: CONGOLESE BISHOPS WEIGH IN ON ELECTORAL PROCESS

REF: KINSHASA 356


1. (U) Following a week-long conference from February
27-March 4, the Congolese National Episcopal Conference
(CENCO) -- an influential political actor in the DRC --
issued a statement from the country's Catholic bishops on the
state of political events in the DRC. In its message, CENCO
deplored the mismanagement of the country's economy and
resources, exhorted political parties to abstain from
violence during the elections process, and urged the
Congolese people to elect new leaders of high moral character
committed to good governance.


2. (U) The first half of CENCO's declaration focused on
security, political and social issues in the DRC. CENCO's
permanent committee notably expressed its concern over the
"exacerbation of ethnic cleavages" in the country with the
resurgence of parties based on national identity. The bishops
deplored the verbal attacks underway between political
leaders, which they characterized as a true menace to peace.
The CENCO message blamed the country's political class for
mismanagement of the country's economy and social network,
saying that the DRC faced one of the "most serious
humanitarian crises since the Second World War." The message
noted the country was composed of two economic classes: one
which lived in opulence, and the other which lives in poverty
and has to make do with empty promises.


3. (U) CENCO called on the Congolese people to elect a new
generation of political leadership. According to the CENCO
statement, the DRC will only succeed if the people elected
leaders who love their country, promote good governance, and
are of high moral character. The message went on to state
that the DRC needs leaders who want the development of peace,
justice and national unity.


4. (U) CENCO made several recommendations to the country's
governing class, political actors and the international
community to ensure the sound management of the electoral
process. CENCO appealed to the DRC's political parties to
abstain from all forms of violence -- verbal and physical --
towards their political adversaries, and to respect the
country's political code of conduct. In a thinly-veiled
reference to the current debate over the fate of Olivier
Kamitatu and the presidency of the National Assembly
(reftel),CENCO called on political leaders to "abstain from
destabilizing the institutions of the Republic because of
internal political party affairs."


5. (U) CENCO urged the Independent Electoral Commission to
establish a workable electoral calendar within the framework
and timetables of the DRC's constitution. It called on the
international community not to impose its own choice of
political leaders on the DRC, but rather to support the
people's choices. Moreover, CENCO appealed for the continued
assistance of the international community and MONUC to
provide for security throughout the country during the course
of the elections.


6. (U) In closing, CENCO called on the Congolese people to
avoid supporting politicians based solely on their regional
or ethnic identities, noting that choices made on that basis
would result in the return of dictatorship in the DRC. In
addition, CENCO urged all Congolese, including Church
officials, to participate in the civic education campaign
before elections this year.


7. (SBU) Comment: By issuing a "yellow card," to all
political players, CENCO's message -- which will be widely
distributed throughout the country -- puts potential spoilers
on notice that attempts to derail the transition will not be
tolerated. Pronouncements from CENCO in the past have had
significant impact, and it is likely this message will as
well. Furthermore, the statement was fortuitously timed, as
it comes after a week of political confusion regarding the
presidency of the National Assembly. CENCO has now made its
position perfectly clear: the transitional government (and
elections) should not be dragged down by internal party
politics. End comment.
MEECE