AMANI PROGRAM WORKING GROUP ON THE EXTENSION OF STATE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KINSHASA 000664 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL MOPS KPKO CG SUBJECT: AMANI PROGRAM WORKING GROUP ON THE EXTENSION OF STATE AUTHORITY MEETS IN GOMA AUGUST 9 REF: KINSHASA 655 ¶1. (SBU) Summary: European Union (EU) political advisor Veronique Aulagnon provided Emboff notes from the August 9 meeting of the Amani Program working group on the extension of state authority in North and South Kivu. Provincial government members suggested increasing the number and pay of magistrates to improve the rule of law and provision of justice, while representatives from the FRF ("Forces republicaines federalistes" in French) criticized a murder investigation in South Kivu. The working group agreed to create a sub group to produce a single document describing strategies and operations to restore state authority and address budget and timetable questions. Aulagnon later met individually with CNDP ("Congres pour la defense du peuple" in French; the military-political organization headed by renegade Tutsi General Laurent Nkunda) spokesman Renee Abandi who expressed skepticism towards the Amani process due to the perceived indifference of the GDRC to the success of the program. End summary. ¶2. (SBU) The Amani program working group for the extension of state authority discussed the status of progress in North and South Kivu, the establishment of a justice task force to address gender based violence and property disputes, and the dissatisfaction of the armed group FRF with a murder investigation in Minembwe, South Kivu. (Note: FRF is the self-appointed protector of the Banyamulenge people of the Minembwe area. The Banyamulenges are of Tutsi origin. End note.) The meeting was held in Goma and members in attendance were the Ministers of Justice for North and South Kivu, the current FARDC commander for the 8th military district General Mayala, MONUC representatives, EU officers, representatives of several Mai Mai groups, including PARECO ("Patriotes resistants congolais" in French) and the FRF. ¶3. (SBU) The working group reviewed a North Kivu justice ministry report on measures to re-establish state authority. (Note: the South Kivu report will be ready August 10, according to the South Kivu Justice minister. End note.) The provincial minister proposed a "justice task force" to combat gender based violence and land ownership disputes. He also proposed the recruitment of additional magistrates and the establishment of additional judicial forums. He announced that the minimum salary for a magistrate will be increased to $500 per month. However,the minister did not support the concept propose by national Interior Minster Denis Kalume at the August 6-7 Amani steering committee meeting (reftel) of recruiting police officials from outside the province. He did, however, advocate for stronger penalties for officials convicted of abuse of office. ¶4. (SBU) The armed group FRF criticized the results of a South Kivu provincial investigation into the death of a child in Minembwe, noting the continued freedom of the FARDC soldiers the FRF considers responsible for this act. FRF representatives also expressed the group's desire for representation on the provincial committee conducting the investigation and the mention of the absence of state authority as a causative factor in the murder. (Note: Aulagnon assesses that the continued participation of FRF in the working group meetings is uncertain. End note.) ¶5. (SBU) The working group agreed to create a sub-group of provincial authorities and armed group representatives, with the international facilitation as an observer, to consolidate existing reports into one comprehensive document describing strategies and operations to restore state authority, address budget issues, and establish timetables. The sub-group will meet August 10-11 and present the document to the full working group on August 12. ¶6. (SBU) Following the working group meeting August 9, Aulagnon discussed Amani program progress, CNDP absence from Amani meetings, and suggestions for the advancement of the program with CNDP spokesman Renee Abandi. Abandi listed several reasons for CNDP pessimism with regards to the Amani process. He cited a lack of engagement by the GDRC in Amani processes and active FARDC preparations for war. He asked that the international facilitation affirm to Kabila that MONUC will not defend the FARDC should they attack the CNDP. He also listed the DRC refusal to assign Nkunda to an Amani brassage committee, the lack of progress against the FDLR, the uncertain future of CNDP leaders in the DRC, and the absence of progress in the negotiation between UNHCR, GDRC and Rwanda on the return of refugees to the DRC as reasons for CNDP skepticism. ¶7. (SBU) Abandi explained his absence from the JTCPS (Joint Technical Commission for Peace and Security) as due to reluctance to be away from CNDP forces while the FARDC prepares for war. He said administrative assistant Bernard Bisima would represent CNDP in the interim. Abandi was open to a plenary session of the JTCPS, KINSHASA 00000664 002 OF 002 although he said an agenda could be adopted by the commission without CNDP involvement. Abandi said the establishment of disengagement zones occupied by MONUC would reduce clashes between armed groups and government forces, and would thereby decrease the chances of war and advance the Amani program forward. ¶8. (SBU) Comment: Recent comments by the CNDP evince continuing distrust of the GDRC and a hesitancy to engage in the Amani process. The CNDP's assertion that the FARDC is preparing for war is unproven and would appear to be mostly posturing at this point. End comment. GARVELINK