BAS-CONGO UPDATE

C O N F I D E N T I A L KINSHASA 000370

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/21/2018
TAGS: PGOV ASEC SOCY PHUM CG
SUBJECT: BAS-CONGO UPDATE

REF: A. KINSHASA 300

B. KINSHASA 272

C. KINSHASA 243

D. KINSHASA 218

Classified By: PolCouns D. Brown, reasons 1.4 (b) & (d)


1. (C) Summary: Following recent violence involving
militants of the political-religious movement Bundu dia Kongo
(BDK) and Congolese police forces (reftels),focus is now on
investigating claims of excessive use of force and the steps
needed for political reconciliation. MONUC currently expects
to release its report on the clashes this week. The Kinshasa
press has highlighted both the alleged discovery of mass
graves in the province and the intention of BDK leader Ne
Muanda Nsemi to refer the recent and previous incidents of
violence in Bas-Congo to the International Criminal Court
(ICC). Following Interior Minister Denis Kalume's briefing
on the government's view of the violence, the National
Assembly voted to recommend holding a peace, security, and
economic development conference on Bas-Congo. End summary


2. (C) The situation in Bas-Congo province has remained calm
following recent violence involving militants of the
political-religious movement BDK and Congolese police forces.
Focus has now turned to investigations of the claims of
excessive use of force by police and the steps needed for
political reconciliation. MONUC currently expects to release
its report on the clashes this week; until then, staffers are
remaining tight-lipped on firm instructions from the SRSG to
avoid another embarrassing leak of a MONUC Bas-Congo
investigation (ref B).


3. (C) Kinshasa press reports have highlighted the alleged
discovery of mass graves in the province. Amigo Ngonde,
President of the African Association for the Defense of Human
Rights, told us on April 17 that four mass graves have been
found containing as many as 85 bodies. MONUC's lead
Bas-Congo analyst noted the same day that a military
observation team had found evidence of a possible mass grave
in Materne, north of the port of Boma. The day after the
team had initially left to observe the area, the site was
secured by police and part of the ground appeared to have
been dug up.


4. (C) Press reports have made much of BDK spiritual leader
Ne Muanda Nsemi,s rhetoric on referring the recent and
previous incidents of violence in Bas-Congo to the
International Criminal Court (ICC). Local ICC Administrator
Roberto Buccianti confirmed to us on April 17 that the Court
has neither received a specific referral from Nsemi nor
intends to take up this matter.


5. (U) Interior Minister Kalume briefed the National Assembly
March 26-27 on the government's view of the violence and
outlined a stinging indictment against the BDK and Nsemi.
Kalume charged that Nsemi bears principal responsibility for
the recent clashes. Nsemi, himself a National Assembly
deputy, took the floor in turn to denounce the actions of the
police and "genocide" of the Kongo people. The Assembly
voted to recommend holding a peace, security, and economic
development conference on Bas-Congo.


6. (C) The way forward on such a conference and the
government's will to hold one is not yet clear, a counselor
to National Assembly President Kamerhe told us on April 12.
Separately, the political advisor to UN Secretary General's
Special Representative Alan Doss reported April 16 that MONUC
is working behind the scenes with politicians and civil
society in Bas-Congo to ensure that political dialogue
continues.


7. (C) Comment: Reliable information as to the casualty
figures from the recent violence and who bears responsibility
has been extremely difficult to come by. MONUC,s report
should shed some light on this point. While the situation
appears calm for the moment, the recent history of violence
between Congolese forces and the BDK in Bas-Congo remains
unresolved in the absence of significant political and
economic advances. End comment
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