Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08KINSHASA7
2008-01-07 11:58:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Kinshasa
Cable title:
Joint Monitoring Task Force (JMG-TF)
how-toVZCZCXRO5998 RR RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHGI RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHRN DE RUEHKI #0007/01 0071158 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 071158Z JAN 08 FM AMEMBASSY KINSHASA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7329 INFO RUEHXR/RWANDA COLLECTIVE RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AF DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KINSHASA 000007
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL MOPS PHUM PREF KPKO CG
SUBJECT: Joint Monitoring Task Force (JMG-TF)
Meeting of 4 January 2008
REF: (A) 07 Kinshasa 1419; (B) 07 Kinshasa 1426
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KINSHASA 000007
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL MOPS PHUM PREF KPKO CG
SUBJECT: Joint Monitoring Task Force (JMG-TF)
Meeting of 4 January 2008
REF: (A) 07 Kinshasa 1419; (B) 07 Kinshasa 1426
1. Refs (A) and (B) are reports on two prior meetings of the
JMG-TF.
2. Following are highlights of the Task Force Meeting of the Joint
Monitoring Group held in Goma on January 4, 2008.
Participants
--------------
3. Moderator:
Gernot Sauer, Acting Head of MONUC's Goma Office
Rwandese Delegation:
Major Franco Rutagengwa, Head of delegation
Mr. Fidele Mwinyaishaka,
Mr. James Burabyo
Mr. Damascene Rutadasingwa
DRC Delegation:
Colonel Augustin Mamba, Head of delegation
Major Ambroise Nanga Lumbeku
Observers:
Mr. Hugues Chantry, EU (Belgian Consul General Bukavu)
Lt. Colonel Yotto Sosthene, AU
Mr. Victor Bushamuka, U.S. (USAID/OFDA)
Others:
Mr. Jean Baptiste Fortes, MONUC Secretariat
MONUC DDRRR Representative (name not obtained)
4. The meeting started at 11:00 and was opened with introductory
remarks from the moderator followed by the heads of delegations and
the observers.
Agenda:
-- Adoption of minutes of previous meeting
-- Updates by parties on steps taken to implement the
Nairobi Communique
-- Follow up on the recommendations made to the Envoys
-- Any other business
-- Closing remarks
Meeting highlights
--------------
5. Both parties reiterated their commitment to the implementation
of the Nairobi Communique. The DRC reported that its Government
(GDRC) had officially presented its plan to disarm all armed groups
operating in the country and has lunched its awareness campaign
("sensibilization") for disarmament. The Rwandan delegation stated
that the Government of Rwanda (GOR) has completely sealed its
borders by increasing its police and military presence on all its
borders with DRC. The GOR is also working closely with the GDRC and
MONUC to keep its borders completely sealed and said that armed
groups operating in the DRC will not get assistance of any sort from
the GOR. To facilitate the return of ex-FAR/Interahamwe, the GOR
has increased the number of assistance programs targeting returnees
from DRC.
6. According to the GOR delegation, the Nairobi Communique
considered the ex-FAR/Interahamwe as the main threat to both
countries. Therefore, the Rwandans said, the ex-FAR problem should
be addressed by the GDRC on a priority basis. Nkunda, the Rwandans
continued, is an internal DRC problem and should be dealt with after
the ex-FAR. The Rwandans alluded to the Nairobi Communique to
justify this argument: The ex-FAR/Interahamwe are the first to be
cited in the Communique and they are mentioned more than any other
armed group, a clear indication of the importance of the ex-FAR
problem.
7. The GDRC delegation replied that it had information to show that
the GOR continues to supply Nkunda with new recruits, soldiers and
materiel using Runyonyi and Ruhengeri as entry points. The GDRC has
recently arrested a number of trucks with Rwandan citizens on their
way to Nkunda-controlled areas. The GOR delegation retorted that it
had indications of the presence of ex-FAR/Interahamwe leaders in
Goma waiting to participate in the upcoming Peace Conference.
8. The GOR promised to hand over the list of ex-FAR Interahamwe
responsible of the 1994 genocide. However, the GOR is not yet
ready, but will provide the list as soon as possible. Since the
Nairobi Communique did not specify a date when the list has to be
provided, the GOR insisted that the GDRC should not wait for the
KINSHASA 00000007 002 OF 002
list to move forward with its ex-FAR disarmament plan.
9. The last part of the meeting focused on recommendations to
Envoys, including a request for clarification of the mandate of the
Joint Verification Team. In this connection, the question arose as
to whether the JMG-TF is the appropriate forum to address the kinds
of allegations that had arisen during today's meeting. The envoys
should define clearly the type of investigation and inspection to be
undertaken by the JMG-TF and push for a UN Security Council
resolution on ex-FAR/Interahamwe issue.
Garvelink
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL MOPS PHUM PREF KPKO CG
SUBJECT: Joint Monitoring Task Force (JMG-TF)
Meeting of 4 January 2008
REF: (A) 07 Kinshasa 1419; (B) 07 Kinshasa 1426
1. Refs (A) and (B) are reports on two prior meetings of the
JMG-TF.
2. Following are highlights of the Task Force Meeting of the Joint
Monitoring Group held in Goma on January 4, 2008.
Participants
--------------
3. Moderator:
Gernot Sauer, Acting Head of MONUC's Goma Office
Rwandese Delegation:
Major Franco Rutagengwa, Head of delegation
Mr. Fidele Mwinyaishaka,
Mr. James Burabyo
Mr. Damascene Rutadasingwa
DRC Delegation:
Colonel Augustin Mamba, Head of delegation
Major Ambroise Nanga Lumbeku
Observers:
Mr. Hugues Chantry, EU (Belgian Consul General Bukavu)
Lt. Colonel Yotto Sosthene, AU
Mr. Victor Bushamuka, U.S. (USAID/OFDA)
Others:
Mr. Jean Baptiste Fortes, MONUC Secretariat
MONUC DDRRR Representative (name not obtained)
4. The meeting started at 11:00 and was opened with introductory
remarks from the moderator followed by the heads of delegations and
the observers.
Agenda:
-- Adoption of minutes of previous meeting
-- Updates by parties on steps taken to implement the
Nairobi Communique
-- Follow up on the recommendations made to the Envoys
-- Any other business
-- Closing remarks
Meeting highlights
--------------
5. Both parties reiterated their commitment to the implementation
of the Nairobi Communique. The DRC reported that its Government
(GDRC) had officially presented its plan to disarm all armed groups
operating in the country and has lunched its awareness campaign
("sensibilization") for disarmament. The Rwandan delegation stated
that the Government of Rwanda (GOR) has completely sealed its
borders by increasing its police and military presence on all its
borders with DRC. The GOR is also working closely with the GDRC and
MONUC to keep its borders completely sealed and said that armed
groups operating in the DRC will not get assistance of any sort from
the GOR. To facilitate the return of ex-FAR/Interahamwe, the GOR
has increased the number of assistance programs targeting returnees
from DRC.
6. According to the GOR delegation, the Nairobi Communique
considered the ex-FAR/Interahamwe as the main threat to both
countries. Therefore, the Rwandans said, the ex-FAR problem should
be addressed by the GDRC on a priority basis. Nkunda, the Rwandans
continued, is an internal DRC problem and should be dealt with after
the ex-FAR. The Rwandans alluded to the Nairobi Communique to
justify this argument: The ex-FAR/Interahamwe are the first to be
cited in the Communique and they are mentioned more than any other
armed group, a clear indication of the importance of the ex-FAR
problem.
7. The GDRC delegation replied that it had information to show that
the GOR continues to supply Nkunda with new recruits, soldiers and
materiel using Runyonyi and Ruhengeri as entry points. The GDRC has
recently arrested a number of trucks with Rwandan citizens on their
way to Nkunda-controlled areas. The GOR delegation retorted that it
had indications of the presence of ex-FAR/Interahamwe leaders in
Goma waiting to participate in the upcoming Peace Conference.
8. The GOR promised to hand over the list of ex-FAR Interahamwe
responsible of the 1994 genocide. However, the GOR is not yet
ready, but will provide the list as soon as possible. Since the
Nairobi Communique did not specify a date when the list has to be
provided, the GOR insisted that the GDRC should not wait for the
KINSHASA 00000007 002 OF 002
list to move forward with its ex-FAR disarmament plan.
9. The last part of the meeting focused on recommendations to
Envoys, including a request for clarification of the mandate of the
Joint Verification Team. In this connection, the question arose as
to whether the JMG-TF is the appropriate forum to address the kinds
of allegations that had arisen during today's meeting. The envoys
should define clearly the type of investigation and inspection to be
undertaken by the JMG-TF and push for a UN Security Council
resolution on ex-FAR/Interahamwe issue.
Garvelink