ARCHBISHOP MONSENGWO CRITICIZES CEI FOR LACK OF

UNCLAS KINSHASA 000706 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV KDEM KPKO CG SUBJECT: ARCHBISHOP MONSENGWO CRITICIZES CEI FOR LACK OF "POLITICAL CONSENSUS" ON NEW ELECTORAL CALENDAR REF: KINSHASA 681 ¶1. (U) Monsignor Laurent Monsengwo, the Catholic archbishop of Kisangani and president of the National Episcopal Conference of Congo (CENCO),criticized the Independent Electoral Commission (CEI) for establishing a new electoral calendar (reftel) without first consulting the DRC's political actors. During a May 1 press conference in Kinshasa at which a CENCO communique was released, Monsengwo said that because it is "impossible" to organize elections before June 30, "political consensus" is required for a revision of the electoral calendar and an extension of the transition. (Note: The communique makes no specific reference to the newly-announced electoral calendar, and seems to have been written in advance of CEI President Malu Malu's April 30 announcement that the first round of elections will take place on July 30. End note.) Monsengwo said that since the CEI had "failed" to organize elections before June 30, there must be a national political "dialogue." Monsengwo called for the creation of a national committee to monitor the elections process, saying the CEI should not be the sole organizer of elections. Monsengwo issued similar declarations in May 2005. ¶2. (SBU) Comment: It is worth noting that the CEI is the sole body charged with establishing the electoral calendar and is not obliged to consult any group before doing so. That said, Malu Malu has been criticized, and not only by Monsengwo, for his decision to establish a new electoral calendar without fully consulting the DRC's main political parties beforehand. He was also criticized for making his announcement immediately before leaving the country for a week. As a result, the door seems to have been left open for renewed calls for "dialogue." While advance consultations would have been helpful (even though obtaining a full "political consensus" on anything in the DRC is impossible),the call for a "new dialogue" is worrisome. For many (especially the UDPS),"dialogue" is a code-word for negotiating a post-June 30 power-sharing arrangement, for re-opening voter registration, and for further delaying elections. ¶3. (SBU) Comment cont'd: At the May 4 CIAT meeting, it was decided to invite Monsengwo to the next CIAT meeting on May ¶12. CIAT members agreed that it would be useful not only to hear the Archbishop's views, but also to share with him CIAT's commitment to ensuring that the new electoral calendar is respected. End comment. DOUGHERTY