FARDC 1ST BRIGADE AGAIN FACES MILITARY JUSTICE FOR

UNCLAS KINSHASA 000085 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PHUM PGOV MOPS KPKO KJUS CG SUBJECT: FARDC 1ST BRIGADE AGAIN FACES MILITARY JUSTICE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES REF: 06 KINSHASA 1797 ¶1. (U) Summary: Soldiers from the Congolese army's First Integrated Brigade have earned another military court date, this time on charges of looting and rape in Bunia, Ituri District January 11 and 12 after mutinying. 34 of more than 200 defendants appeared before a military judge in Bunia January 24. End summary. ¶2. (U) The FARDC First Integrated Brigade (1st IB), implicated in summary execution of civilians in September 2006 (reftel),now stands accused of looting and rape. Soldiers went on a rampage through the southern part of Bunia on the evening of January 11, shooting indiscriminately and looting shops and civilian homes after hearing a rumor that they were supposed to have received a USD 50 New Year's bonus. Bunia health officials claimed as many as nine women, including four young girls, were raped during the incidents. The soldiers also attacked a MONUC camp and armed personnel carriers on patrol, but no damage was reported. ¶3. (U) MONUC temporarily evacuated 80 UN and international NGO staff, secured the FARDC ammunition depot, and arrested 29 FARDC soldiers. On January 12, the Deputy Commander of the 1st IB, Colonel Ngona, disarmed an additional 267 soldiers and put all under house arrest pending hearings before a military prosecutor. ¶4. (U) The first 34 accused soldiers began trial before a military judge in Bunia on January 24. They included two captains and two second lieutenants. The military jail is full, so the accused soldiers remain at the 1st IB camp, guarded by the Rapid Response Police and other FARDC soldiers. Eight others were declared innocent by the FARDC following an internal investigation. ¶5. (U) Looting victims have organized and demanded the government make reparations of all stolen materials. FARDC authorities claim to have returned some goods found on the arrested soldiers. The Bunia-based human rights NGO Justice Plus is accompanying victims to court. ¶6. (SBU) MONUC Head of Office Charles Gomes confirmed that the USD 50 "promised bonus" was only a rumor. Instead, USD 6 per soldier was given to the commanders as a lump sum for holiday rations. ¶7. (SBU) Comment: The Bunia military prosecutor has proven willing to take on cases that in the past would never have come to court. The Belgian-trained 1st IB now has two black eyes and a tarnished human rights record, a blow to what had heretofore been cited as an example of the success of the integration process. End comment. MEECE