HUMAN RIGHTS VETTING FOR GOLDEN SPEAR CONFERENCE

UNCLAS KIGALI 000916 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR AF/E, DRL/PHD, PM/RSAT AND L/PM E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: MARR MASS PREL RW SUBJECT: HUMAN RIGHTS VETTING FOR GOLDEN SPEAR CONFERENCE ¶1. (U) This is an action request, see paragraph 2. ¶2. (SBU) Per Leahy Amendment human rights vetting requirements, please screen General Marcel GATSINZI, Minister of Defense (DOB: 01/09/1948),scheduled to attend the Golden Spear conference, November 7 and 8, 2007. ¶3. (SBU) Post has discovered no derogatory information on the nominees from its own files or reputable sources. While Gatsinzi has been the focus of rumors regarding his role in the 1994 genocide as a senior officer of the Habyarimana-era armed forces, he was a moderate Hutu officer who both attempted to restrain the extremists in security force ranks, and broke with the regime and joined the RPA when he was able to do so. He offered a general apology to the Rwandan public in 2005 for being a member of the genocidal government. ¶4. (U) Post point of contact is POLOFF Jennifer Orrico. ARIETTI