Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09KINSHASA307
2009-04-01 13:04:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Kinshasa
Cable title:
EASTERN DRC NOTES - APRIL 1: DRC SENATE COMMISSION
how-toVZCZCXRO6374 OO RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHGI RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHRN DE RUEHKI #0307 0911304 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 011304Z APR 09 FM AMEMBASSY KINSHASA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9403 INFO RUEHXR/RWANDA COLLECTIVE RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AF DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY COLLECTIVE RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE RUZEJAA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK
UNCLAS KINSHASA 000307
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL MOPS PHUM PREF KPKO CG
SUBJECT: EASTERN DRC NOTES - APRIL 1: DRC SENATE COMMISSION
DISCUSSES AMNESTY LAW
UNCLAS KINSHASA 000307
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL MOPS PHUM PREF KPKO CG
SUBJECT: EASTERN DRC NOTES - APRIL 1: DRC SENATE COMMISSION
DISCUSSES AMNESTY LAW
1. (U) The items contained in this report consist principally of
spot information from various sources. This report is not
exhaustive, nor can all the information contained therein be
confirmed at this time.
Amnesty Law
--------------
2. (U) The DRC Senate's Defense, Security and Border Controls
Commission debated the draft amnesty law March 31. The Commission
recommended that "acts of war" and "acts of insurrection" during the
period June 2003 until promulgation of the law be considered
eligible for amnesty. Genocide, crimes against humanity, and war
crimes would not be eligible for amnesty. Several senators noted
that the law should reflect the recommendations contained in the
recently concluded GDRC-CNDP Agreement. Addressing a question about
the status of Laurent Nkunda, Senator Jacques Djoli, Vice-Chairman
of the Commission, said that, if Nkunda qualified under the law for
amnesty, then it should be granted. However, Djoli underscored that
it is the responsibility of the judicial branch to decide if amnesty
is applicable in specific cases (Note: the National Assembly has
already passed an Amnesty Law, but the Senate has not. Some -
primarily from the CNDP camp, but not limited to that group - have
advocated for a general amnesty law. End Note).
Security Situation
--------------
3. (SBU) MONUC reported that the FRPI (Force de Resistance
Patriotique en Ituri) captured the town of Tchey from the FARDC in
recent days, also forcing the FARDC to withdraw from the nearby
villages of Geti and Aveba. Like many Ituri armed groups, the FRPI
was never integrated as intended into the FARDC, and they have
established a lucrative logging and charcoal business in the forests
near Tchey (Comment: With MONUC and the FARDC focused elsewhere, the
FRPI and possibly other armed groups in Ituri could seize a chance
to expand their operations. End Comment).
4. (SBU) Unpaid FARDC troops have been looting around Kelehe on the
western shore of Lake Kivu. The MONUC base has provided some
"administrative assistance" (often in the form of food) to the FARDC
to mitigate their predations on the local populace. Outbreaks of
looting among the FARDC have become increasingly common as the
soldiers' anger over lack of pay increases.
5. (U) Government officials in Lubero Territory have complained
that undisciplined soldiers perpetrated a series of lootings in
various places in the territory over the past week. One official
singled out elements of the FARDC's 2nd Brigade as particularly
disruptive.
6. (SBU) MONUC reported that the FDLR abducted two people from the
village of Lulibo, southeast of Hombo. Separately, a Polish priest
working for the NGO Caritas was shot by unknown assailants on March
28 in the vicinity of Rutshuru. MONUC has recommended that NGO's
working in the area request a MONUC armed escort. The priest was
treated at a MONUC facility and released.
Political Developments
--------------
7. (SBU) The GDRC will hold a ceremony on April 15 to commemorate
formally the integration of all North Kivu armed groups into the
FARDC. GDRC and MONUC sources state that armed groups who refuse to
integrate by that date will be treated as "bandits" (Comment: We
nevertheless deem it highly unlikely that all former fighters will,
by a reasonable standard of assessment, truly be "integrated" by
that date. End Comment).
GARVELINK
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL MOPS PHUM PREF KPKO CG
SUBJECT: EASTERN DRC NOTES - APRIL 1: DRC SENATE COMMISSION
DISCUSSES AMNESTY LAW
1. (U) The items contained in this report consist principally of
spot information from various sources. This report is not
exhaustive, nor can all the information contained therein be
confirmed at this time.
Amnesty Law
--------------
2. (U) The DRC Senate's Defense, Security and Border Controls
Commission debated the draft amnesty law March 31. The Commission
recommended that "acts of war" and "acts of insurrection" during the
period June 2003 until promulgation of the law be considered
eligible for amnesty. Genocide, crimes against humanity, and war
crimes would not be eligible for amnesty. Several senators noted
that the law should reflect the recommendations contained in the
recently concluded GDRC-CNDP Agreement. Addressing a question about
the status of Laurent Nkunda, Senator Jacques Djoli, Vice-Chairman
of the Commission, said that, if Nkunda qualified under the law for
amnesty, then it should be granted. However, Djoli underscored that
it is the responsibility of the judicial branch to decide if amnesty
is applicable in specific cases (Note: the National Assembly has
already passed an Amnesty Law, but the Senate has not. Some -
primarily from the CNDP camp, but not limited to that group - have
advocated for a general amnesty law. End Note).
Security Situation
--------------
3. (SBU) MONUC reported that the FRPI (Force de Resistance
Patriotique en Ituri) captured the town of Tchey from the FARDC in
recent days, also forcing the FARDC to withdraw from the nearby
villages of Geti and Aveba. Like many Ituri armed groups, the FRPI
was never integrated as intended into the FARDC, and they have
established a lucrative logging and charcoal business in the forests
near Tchey (Comment: With MONUC and the FARDC focused elsewhere, the
FRPI and possibly other armed groups in Ituri could seize a chance
to expand their operations. End Comment).
4. (SBU) Unpaid FARDC troops have been looting around Kelehe on the
western shore of Lake Kivu. The MONUC base has provided some
"administrative assistance" (often in the form of food) to the FARDC
to mitigate their predations on the local populace. Outbreaks of
looting among the FARDC have become increasingly common as the
soldiers' anger over lack of pay increases.
5. (U) Government officials in Lubero Territory have complained
that undisciplined soldiers perpetrated a series of lootings in
various places in the territory over the past week. One official
singled out elements of the FARDC's 2nd Brigade as particularly
disruptive.
6. (SBU) MONUC reported that the FDLR abducted two people from the
village of Lulibo, southeast of Hombo. Separately, a Polish priest
working for the NGO Caritas was shot by unknown assailants on March
28 in the vicinity of Rutshuru. MONUC has recommended that NGO's
working in the area request a MONUC armed escort. The priest was
treated at a MONUC facility and released.
Political Developments
--------------
7. (SBU) The GDRC will hold a ceremony on April 15 to commemorate
formally the integration of all North Kivu armed groups into the
FARDC. GDRC and MONUC sources state that armed groups who refuse to
integrate by that date will be treated as "bandits" (Comment: We
nevertheless deem it highly unlikely that all former fighters will,
by a reasonable standard of assessment, truly be "integrated" by
that date. End Comment).
GARVELINK