Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07KIGALI146
2007-02-14 12:26:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kigali
Cable title:  

AMBASSADOR DELIVERS LEAHY MESSAGE TO FOREIGN

Tags:  PREL MASS PGOV ASEC SU RW 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0001
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHLGB #0146 0451226
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 141226Z FEB 07
FM AMEMBASSY KIGALI
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3762
C O N F I D E N T I A L KIGALI 000146 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR DAS SWAN, AF/C, DRL, AF/RSA AND PM
EUCOM FOR POLAD

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/13/2017
TAGS: PREL MASS PGOV ASEC SU RW
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR DELIVERS LEAHY MESSAGE TO FOREIGN
MINISTER

REF: STATE 15216

Classified By: Poloff GLEARNED for reasons 1.4 (b,d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L KIGALI 000146

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR DAS SWAN, AF/C, DRL, AF/RSA AND PM
EUCOM FOR POLAD

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/13/2017
TAGS: PREL MASS PGOV ASEC SU RW
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR DELIVERS LEAHY MESSAGE TO FOREIGN
MINISTER

REF: STATE 15216

Classified By: Poloff GLEARNED for reasons 1.4 (b,d)


1. (SBU) Summary. On 12 Feb Ambassador Arietti met with
Foreign Minister Murigande to deliver demarche per reftel.
This meeting was a follow up to a 2 Feb meeting with Minister
of State for Cooperation Rosemary Museminali where Ambassador
first formally informed MINAFET that the USG had derogatory
information on 14th Battalion Commander LtCol Goodman
Ruzibiza that, due to the Leahy Amendment, could jeopardize
USG support to the Battalion. In a separate meeting with
emboffs, Ruzibiza gave his version- his battalion did not
commit any human rights abuses but were punished for not
preventing the killings in Kanambe. End summary.


2. (C) In meeting with Minister Murigande, Ambassador drew on
reftel points to explain the Leahy Amendment and told him
that if LtCol Ruzibiza remained as the Commanding Officer of
the 14th BN, the USG would be forced to cease ACOTA training
for that battalion, would not provide strategic lift and
would not support the Battalion in Darfur. Ambassador noted
that the Leahy Amendment is intended to prevent USG
assistance to security units involved in "gross violations of
human rights." He said the USG had to base its decisions on
information on hand- information which some RDF contacts have
told us is not accurate. Murigande, who seemed familiar with
the case, reiterated the GOR's previous sentiment- that the
Rwandan Defense Forces (RDF) holds its officers to high
standards and in this case, neither LtCol Ruzibiza nor his
men had committed the atrocities. Murigande said Ruzibiza,
and other officers in the chain of command, were not present
during the actual incident but were held accountable for
failing to stop it as it occurred in the unit's area of
responsibility. He said he believed that other individuals
were found guilty of the actual human rights abuses in
Kanambe. Murigande reiterated the same position that
Musemenli had on 2 Feb- that it is the GOR's firm position
that Ruzibiza had been appropriately disciplined and was
fully qualified for his current billet.


3. (C) Ambassador reiterated that, based on information
available to the USG the Leahy Amendment would lead to an end
of the training of the 14th BN so long as LtCol Ruzibiza
remained its commander. The USG could, of course, review any
information provided by GOR about the incident, including
additional individuals found to be guilty of the human rights
abuses on 11/12 Sep 95. Minister Murigande agreed to contact
the RDF concerning this incident. Ambassador noted the need
for a quick response- within three to four days.


4. (C) On 7 Feb DCM, DATT and visitors from AF/RFA visited
ACOTA training site and spoke with LtCol Ruzibiza directly.
(Note. Per Department instructions, Ruzibiza is not receiving
ACOTA training, however, as the BN commanding officer he
remains with his unit. End note.) Ruzibiza said that on 11
Sep 1995 his Battalion (at the time he was the BN executive
officer) received orders to respond to an attack by
ex-FAR/Interahamwe forces in the vicinity of Kanama township
in Gisenyi Prefecture. He said that when he and his unit
arrived on the scene, the attackers had moved on after
killing 19 civilians and were abusing the locals for
supporting the RPA. He noted that several of his troops came
from the village and had relatives living there. Ruzibiza
said he was arrested on 16 Sep, charged and subsequently (in
1997) found guilty of negligence for not deploying his troops
fast enough to protect the civilians, and served 28 months in
military detention.


5. (C) Comment. Decision makers in the GOR are currently at
an annual government retreat in Akagera National Park making
further communications with government contacts this week
challenging. End comment.
THURSTON