RWANDAN ARMED GROUP POLITICAL LEADERSHIP PUSHES FOR

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KINSHASA 001016 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL MOPS KPKO CG SUBJECT: RWANDAN ARMED GROUP POLITICAL LEADERSHIP PUSHES FOR REPATRIATION VICE RELOCATION IN LETTER TO DRC GOVERNEMNT REFS: A) KINSHASA 463 B) KINSHASA 630 ¶1. (SBU) Post received a copy of a letter dated November 13 from the National Congress for Democracy (CND -- "Congres national pour la democratie" in French),which is a political umbrella for several FDLR elements, to Minister of Foreign Affairs Alexis Thambwe Mwamba. CND makes an open call to repatriate to Rwanda FDLR - RUD (an FDLR-origin group known as "Rassemblement pour l'unite et la democratie" in French) combatants and dependents. The RUD participated in the disarmament and demobilization process launched at the May 2008 Kisangani Conference in conjunction with the "Road Map for the Disarmament of Rwandan Armed Groups in the Democratic Republic of Congo." (ref A). The RUD combatants and dependents entered a regroupment center in Lubero District (Kasiki town),North Kivu in July, but have not been relocated within the DRC as outlined in the Kisangani roadmap (ref B). ¶2. (SBU) The CND letter jettisons previous possibilities to relocate RUD members and family within DRC under refugee status in favor of repatriation to Rwanda. Dr. Felicien Kanyamibwa, who signed the road map in May for CND and speaks as the political leader of FDLR - RUD and FDLR - RPR ("Rassemblement du peuple rwandais" in French) elements, makes a plea for the GDRC and international community to urge Rwandan President Paul Kagame to create conditions favorable to return, including an inter-Rwandan dialogue (Note: the precondition of an inter-Rwandan dialogue for repatriation of FDLR elements is a consistent FDLR demand and was dismissed as "absurd" by DRC Ambassador-at-Large Seraphin Ngweg in his remarks at the Kisangani Conference in May. End Note.) MONUC's DDRRR office, in conjunction with a Congolese private businessman close to former Foreign Affairs Minister Mbusa Nyamwisi, organized the construction of the regroupment center for 67 combatants plus dependents and the collection of 42 weapons from the group. ¶3. (SBU) Unofficial embassy translation follows. Begin unofficial embassy translation: Congres National pour la Democratie (CND) - National Democratic Congress (NCD) RUD/RPR Telephone 001-201-794-6542, 001-201 9315209 e-mail: urunana@optonline.net Fax: 001-201-794-6542 HOME URL: WWW.RUD-URUNANA.ORG November 13, 2008 
To: His Excellency Mr. Alexis Tambwe Mwamba Minister of Foreign Affairs of the DRC Professor Kaumba Lufunda Samajiku Special Advisor to the Head of State of the DRC Monsignor Matteo Zuppi San'Egidio CC: His Excellency Ban Ki-Moon UN Secretary-General Dr. Jendayi Frazer Assistant Secretary, U.S. State Department ¶H. E. Mr. Zhang Yesui Ambassador of the People's Republic of China to United Nations Fax: 212-634-0042 ¶H. E. Pierre Jacquemot Ambassador of France in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) Fax: 243-815-559-957 ¶H. E. Vitaly Churkin Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the United Nations Fax: 212-628-0252 Nicholas H. E. Cannon Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom to Rwanda Fax: 250-582044 Ambassador W. Stuart Symington KINSHASA 00001016 002 OF 002 U.S. Ambassador to Rwanda Fax: 250-596400 Ambassador H. E. Dr. M. S. Tsele Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of South Africa in the DRC Fax: 243-81555 4321 Bishop Kuye Ndondo ECC Subject: Combatants regrouped at Kasiki await the initiative of the Government of the DRC to return home. Earlier this year, the National Congress for Democracy (CND) and Rwandan refugees engaged voluntarily in the Kisangani process with the DRC Government, under the facilitation of the San'Egidio Community and with the support of the international community. In July 2008, the CND proceeded with the regrouping of RUD/RPR combatants at Kasiki, Lubero Territory, North Kivu Province. The introduction of the road map to the international community in Kisangani on May 26, 2008, and this regrouping, followed by disarmament, is for us a positive and strong signal that we sent to the international community in the search for sustainable peace in the region. Against winds and tides and despite the huge obstacles that we have faced, we have asked the international community that they proceed with the identification of combatants and their dependents. The Kasiki combatants have unequivocally expressed their wish to return home, rather than the alternative which was presented as refugee status in DRC territory. We prepared, in vain, to send an exploratory team to visit Rwanda to assess in person the security conditions that those who volunteer to return will face. This initiative, reflecting the desire of combatants to return home, has been sabotaged by several players. The CND has thus resolutely entered into the Kisangani process. Today, more than ever, the CND, together with the combatants and their dependents, seeks the mobilization of the international community to create all necessary conditions to enable the repatriation of all those who wish to return home. We call upon the Government of the DRC to seek all ways and means of compelling General Paul Kagame to commit to receive his countrymen in their own country and to ensure their basic human rights, including security, in Rwanda. We remain convinced that the best framework would be organizing an inter-Rwandan dialogue to enable all refugees wherever they are to return home. Yours truly, Felicien Kanyamibwa, PhD Congrhs National pour la Democratie (CND) - National Congress for Democracy (NCD) End unofficial embassy translation. GARVELINK