ACCUSED KILLERS OF NORTH KIVU TRADER APPEAR BEFORE

UNCLAS KINSHASA 000779 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ETRD PGOV KCRM CG SUBJECT: ACCUSED KILLERS OF NORTH KIVU TRADER APPEAR BEFORE MILITARY COURT REF: KINSHASA 764 ¶1. (SBU) The six accused killers of Kambale Kisoni, a wealthy North Kivu businessman who had been designated by the U.S. and UN for violating UN arms embargoes, appeared before a military tribunal in Butembo July 6. Kisoni was shot and killed in the city July 5 (reftel). The chief military judge told MONUC's Radio Okapi three Kalashnikovs and one revolver were recovered from the accused, but declined to give details about the contents of the statements they made or the case against them. As reported reftel, MONUC told us that the suspects included two Ugandans, one Kenyan, and three people of unidentified nationality. However, Agence France Presse (AFP) reported July 7 that four of those arrested were Ugandan, and two Kenyan. ¶2. (SBU) AFP also quoted an anonymous "high-level local administrator" who said that, according to their passports the six were traders, had admitted they killed Kisoni, and were acting on the orders of someone else, reportedly a Congolese. The administrator reported the unnamed mastermind was being sought. ¶3. (SBU) A friend of Kisoni's in Butembo told us July 9 that the population of the town was angry about the killing. He said Kisoni was well-liked in the town, especially among young people. He claimed the alleged killers had admitted in court to being sent to kill Kisoni and to having already received payment. However, they reportedly could not or would not say who sent them to kill Kisoni or why. MEECE