POLICE SURROUND HOMES OF FOUR DRC PRESIDENTIAL

UNCLAS KINSHASA 000837

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KDEM KPKO CG ELECTIONS
SUBJECT: POLICE SURROUND HOMES OF FOUR DRC PRESIDENTIAL
CANDIDATES



1. (U) The Kinshasa homes of four DRC presidential
candidates, as well as those of other prominent political
personalities, were temporarily surrounded by elements of the
Congolese police beginning the night of May 23. Among the
presidential candidates involved were Mboso N'Kodia Pwanga
(Convention for the Republic and Democracy -- CRD),Roger
Lumbala (Rally of Congolese Democrats -- RCDN),Joseph
Olenghankoy (Innovative Forces for Unity and Peace -- FONUS),
and Pierre Matusila (independent). Valentin Mubake, the
secretary general of opposition party Union for Democracy and

SIPDIS
Social Progress (UDPS),said his home had also been
surrounded by police the same evening. General Patrick
Sabiti, Kinshasa's police inspector, said police were
deployed to these locations to provide security in advance of
a planned demonstration in Kinshasa by the UDPS on May 24.
Sabiti also said certain individuals had requested police
protection, fearing the disorder that might result from the
demonstration. (Note: An estimated 300 people took part in
the UDPS rally, which also included members of the MLC and
FONUS. The demonstration itself was uneventful, taking place
under heavy police surveillance. End note.)


2. (U) The police action is somewhat puzzling as three of the
presidential candidates whose homes were surrounded --
Matusila, Olenghankoy and Lumbala -- had been in neighboring
Brazzaville since May 22 to meet with ROC President Sassou
Nguesso, in order to discuss what they regarded as problems
with the DRC's electoral system. The three were still in
Brazzaville the night of May 23.


3. (U) Several organizations have criticized the police
action as intimidation of political opponents by the GDRC.
Two local human rights NGOs, the African Association for the
Defense of Human Rights (Asahdo) and Voice of the Voiceless
(VSV),issued statements saying such intimidation risks
derailing the electoral process. The International Committee
to Accompany the Transition (CIAT) issued a communique May 25
urging a climate of calm and tolerance during the
pre-election period. The CIAT statement urged the GDRC to
respect the rights of freedom of expression and assembly, as
well as to take all necessary measures to ensure that
security forces do not abuse their power.


4. (U) An unofficial translation of the CIAT communique
follows:

"The International Committee to Accompany the Transition
(CIAT) believes that a climate of calm and tolerance is
essential during the entire electoral process, so as to
ensure the respect of the principle of equal chances of
success for all candidates and to allow voters to exercise
their rights and civic duties in complete serenity. Peaceful
rallies and legitimate debate must also be authorized so that
public order during this period is maintained.

Therefore, the CIAT deplores the recent maneuvers of
intimidation by certain armed security elements as they
relate to several presidential candidates and certain
political personalities associated with the May 24
demonstration. It denounces as well the political
exploitation of the supposed coup d'etat.

Moreover, the CIAT is worried to see that methods of
manipulation, intimidation and lies are in the process of
overtaking the political debate which is suitable for an
election period. It asks the government to make sure
fundamental and constitutional freedoms be fully respected
and to take all necessary measures in order that no abuses of
power are committed by security forces.

The CIAT continues to call, on one hand, for the entire
political class and all electoral candidates to respect the
code of conduct during the electoral period and, on the
other, for the government to show restraint in respecting
especially the freedoms of expression and assembly.

(The CIAT is composed of the five permanent members of the
Security Council (China, the United States, France, Great
Britain, and Russia),Belgium, Canada, South Africa, Angola,
Gabon, Zambia, the European Union (Commission and
Presidency),the African Union (Commission and Presidency),
and MONUC.)"
MEECE