AD HOC FACILITATION MEETING WITH CNDP

UNCLAS KINSHASA 000665 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL MOPS KPKO CG SUBJECT: AD HOC FACILITATION MEETING WITH CNDP REF: KINSHASA 655 ¶1. (SBU) Summary: The International Facilitation in Goma held an informal meeting August 11 with two CNDP representatives, Rene Abandi and Bertrand Bisimwa. The two representatives raised a new CNDP concern: a recent statement by RCD ("Rassemblement congolais pour la democratie" in French, a political party with historical ties to Rwandan -- and Tutsi-- interests) president Azarias Ruberwa concerning the need for change of the current government has, according to CNDP, set off a barrage of anti-Tutsi propaganda. This was followed by an inconclusive discussion of the planned plenary meeting of the Joint Technical Commission on Peace and Security (JTCPS). The Facilitation told Abandi and Bisimwa that they want to hold a meeting at Kimoka between Nkunda, PARECO representatives Mugabo and Lafontaine and FARDC General Mayala. Abandi and Bisimwa asked if CNDP representatives could be allowed to sleep with armed protection within the Kimoka exclusion zone. End summary. ¶2. (SBU) Members of the International Facilitation in Goma met by chance two CNDP representatives, Rene Abandi and Bertrand Bisimwa, on August 11 and invited them to an informal meeting. Abandi and Bisimwa raised a new CNDP concern during this session: a recent statement by RCD president Azarias Ruberwa (himself a Banyamulenge Tutsi from South Kivu) concerning the need for change of the current government has, according to CNDP, set off a barrage of anti-Tutsi propaganda. The two CNDP representatives cited Defense Minister Chikez, among others, as making public anti-Tutsi remarks. ¶3. (SBU) Abandi and Bisimwa relayed CNDP concerns that such remarks are inciting the population against Tutsis and that they are similar to the hostile propaganda that was common in the period leading up to the December 2007 FARDC military campaign, thus perhaps indicating that the GDRC is preparing for war. Facilitation members agreed that, if true, this is not a helpful development. ¶4. (SBU) This was followed by an inconclusive discussion of the planned plenary meeting of the Joint Technical Commission on Peace and Security (JTCPS). No agreement was reached on a scenario for negotiating, debating, and adopting a disengagement plan. (Note: As the purpose of a JTCPS plenary would be to adopt such a plan, it is unclear what point there would be in holding a plenary. End note.) ¶5. (SBU) The Facilitation told Abandi and Bisimwa that they want to hold a meeting at Kimoka between Nkunda, PARECO representatives Mugabo and Lafontaine and FARDC General Mayala. Abandi suggested including the Governor or Vice Governor of North Kivu, to which the Facilitation agreed. The Facilitation, however, resisted Abandi's request that CNDP be represented at this meeting by area military commanders rather than Nkunda. The Facilitation actively pressed Abandi and Bisimwa regarding the need for Nkunda to agree to this meeting. They agreed to raise this issue with Nkunda. ¶6. (SBU) Abandi and Bisimwa asked if CNDP representatives could be allowed to keep armed close protection in the Kimoka exclusion zone. CNDP is going to talk to MONUC about this (Note: CNDP is transparently trying to renegotiate the deal regarding the demilitarization of Kimoka. End note) ¶7. (SBU) Comment: The CNDP concern about fallout from Ruberwa's recent, relatively anodyne, statement strikes us disingenuous. If the CNDP is concerned about negative repercussions, its leadership should be taking steps to help manage the issue, such as by issuing a statement distancing itself from Ruberwa. The request to allow armed CNDP soldiers into a neutral zone is a flagrant violation of earlier agreements as well as conventional practice. The meeting with Abandi and Bisimwa suggests that the CNDP is not yet serious about peace. End comment. GARVELINK