GOMA NOTES - NOVEMBER 14

UNCLAS KINSHASA 001007 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL MOPS PHUM PREF KPKO CG SUBJECT: GOMA NOTES - NOVEMBER 14 REFS: (A) Kinshasa 980; (B) Kinshasa 984 ¶1. (U) The items contained in this report consist principally of spot information from various sources. This report is not exhaustive, nor can all the information contained therein be confirmed at this time. Security Situation in Goma and Surrounding Area -------------- -- ¶2. (SBU) According to information provided at a MONUC briefing in Kinshasa on November 13, there have been no major cease-fire violations in the past week. MONUC continues to hold Sake and the Sake-Goma road, a vital crossroads that the CNDP has tried to take. Rutshuru is, however, in CNDP hands. ¶3. (SBU) Additionally, the CNDP's recent military action consolidated its territory in North Kivu so that there is one vast contiguous CNDP-controlled zone. The CNDP was previously split between an eastern presence on the border with Rwanda and a western presence to the north of Sake. According to MONC officers, the recent CNDP consolidation will mke it much easier to supply the western forces fom Rwanda, since they will no longer need to pass through MONUC territory. MONUC Actions in the Est -------------- ¶4. (SBU) MONUC eported that it has trained almost 10,000 FARDC oldiers as of the present time. Of the eleven unis trained, nine held their positions during recent engagements. Additionally, MONUC believes thatthe continued training of the FARDC is absolutely necessary, even though they recognize that some o these soldiers may commit atrocities. MONUC isencouraged that Prime Minister Muzito condemnatios of FARDC human rights violations have been "scthing." Humanitarian -------------- ¶5. (SBU In a separate meeting with Poloff and Goma Poloffon November 13, UNHRO officials said that they wuld investigate the recent civilian killings in Kwanja (reftels) as possible war crimes. MONUC frces were in the area during the killings on Novmber 4-5, but were pinned down protecting approximtely 5,000 civilians who sought cover with MONUC Suspension of situation reports -------------- ¶6. (U) Beginning Monday, Novmber 17 Embassy Kinshasa will no longer issue twce-daily "situation reports." Instead, we will issue daily Goma reports that, as was done previously, cover all aspects of activities in Goma. BROCK