AMBASSADOR DELIVERS LEAHY MESSAGE TO FOREIGN

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