CNDP STIPULATES VERIFICATION OF ALLEGED FARDC TROOP

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KINSHASA 000004 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL MOPS PHUM PREF KPKO CG SUBJECT: CNDP STIPULATES VERIFICATION OF ALLEGED FARDC TROOP MOVEMENTS PRIOR TO NAIROBI TALKS REF: KINSHASA 3 ¶1. (SBU) A January 1 CNDP statement mass emailed by spokesman Bertrand Bisimwa stipulated the "verification" of CNDP claims of FARDC troop movements into disengagement zones in areas north of Goma. CNDP states that verification is a prerequisite to the resumption of bilateral talks between CNDP and GDRC scheduled to resume January 7 in Nairobi under the mediation of UN Special Envoy Obasanjo and that the verification should be performed by the "mediation". MONUC refuted the troop movement claims in a December 29 letter to CNDP (reftel). Unofficial embassy translation of the January 1 statement by CNDP is at paragraph 2. ¶2. (SBU) Begin unofficial embassy translation of January 1 CNDP statement: Negotiation Newsletter January 1, 2009 On the eve of the resumption of the Nairobi negotiations, MONUC confirms the logic of war The negotiations between CNDP and the Kinshasa government are officially resuming Wednesday, January 7, 2009 in the Kenyan capital. This third session consists of resolving the pending procedural issues, especially the one concerning the participation of the DRC National Parliament in the negotiation in the capacity of facilitator, a firm request formulated by the CNDP to the Mediation, but rejected by the government delegation. However, the higher interest of the Nation commands that the national representation be, from the outset, associated in the political dialogue and fully vested in the spirit of negotiation so that in due course - the moment of implementation - it is able to legislate with full knowledge. However, the resumption of negotiations risks posing problems, because CNDP requires in advance that clarification be rendered on an issue it considers major: the reoccupation by the government coalition of zones from which CNDP troops had disengaged from October 29, 2008, an act which is a violation of the unilateral ceasefire decreed by the Movement. CNDP had created those separation areas to discard any possibility of confrontation between the warring troops. But, against any clear logic, MONUC, the UN Mission to the DRC, continues to support the position that no presence of government troops has been noticed since late October 2008 in the aforementioned areas, notably: the GOMA - KIBATI, KABASHA - KIWANDJA, KANYABAYONGA - NYANZALE, ISHASHA - KIWANDJA axes. This is a deliberate lie by MONUC, because any traveler, even blind, would have no difficulty seeing it. In a recent letter to the Representative of the Secretary General of the UN in DRC, the CNDP was indignant about the situation, because the presence of the government coalition on the aforementioned axes is so large that it would take a spark to launch the war again. MONUC is entrenched in its position and continues to deny, even in writing, any FARDC presence in the areas. MONUC refutes the presence simply because it is affirmed by CNDP. We can remind, indeed, that MONUC, a few weeks ago, said it was worried about the proximity of belligerent troops in KIBATI to the point of calling on them to refrain from any act likely to compromise the stability of the city of Goma. Then, on its own radio station (Radio Okapi) MONUC acknowledged the visit paid to the FARDC at KIBATI by a government delegation led by the Defense Minister accompanied by the FARDC Chief of Staff last weekend. Finally, if it is true that the government army is absent from there, how can one understand the reports from the humanitarians or the daily reports from MONUC, the famous "SITREP" which denounce several cases of rape, murder, lootings and other exactions perpetrated by the FARDC in the KIBATI camp? Let us add that MONUC has supported the humanitarian plan to relocate the IDP camp from KIBATI lest it be in the crossfire soon. With regard to these obvious facts, any fair observer should wonder: why MONUC is blind only when it comes to noticing the deployment of government troops in the axes disengaged by CNDP. Why does it indulge in distilling lies on issues concerning security for the whole nation: is it a mere flippancy or a real deliberate intention to support resumption of war? Let us recall that some time ago, MONUC warmly congratulated CNDP when it decided to stop its breakthrough on October 29, 2008 after reaching the Goma airport neighborhood, and then disengaged its forces first to 12 km on the GOMA-KIBATI axis, then on November 18, 2008, to 40 km on each of the two KABASHA - KIWANDJA and KANYABAYONGA - NYANZALE axes. MONUC was charged with the protection of the separation areas, today it just refuses to admit its incapacity to fulfill the task. Therefore, CNDP makes it a prerequisite to the resumption of the Nairobi negotiations, the visit of the mediation on the ground, KINSHASA 00000004 002 OF 002 especially on the different axis indicated by CNDP to vet the veracity of its allegations. It is essential to discard any possibility of resuming the war. We think that the mediation and the government party will accept the vetting just because we should ensure a calm climate on the ground during the negotiations. This is all the more in the spirit that the mediation proposed to both parties in the singing on December 20 of the Act of acknowledgment of the pursuit of ceasing hostilities to which the government party officially adhered. Signed/Office of the CNDP Spokesman End unofficial embassy translation of January 1 CNDP statement. GARVELINK