EASTERN DRC NOTES - JUNE 24

UNCLAS KINSHASA 000602 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL MOPS KPKO CG SUBJECT: EASTERN DRC NOTES - JUNE 24 REF: KINSHASA 589 ¶1. (U) The information contained in this cable consists principally of spot reports from various sources. This cable is not exhaustive, nor can all the information contained therein be confirmed at this time. Security Situation - Haut Uele -------------- ¶2. (SBU) On June 22 MONUC provided a June 9-19 summary of LRA and FARDC activity in Haut Uele: on June 9 the LRA attacked the village of Manziga (northwest of Dungu) killing one civilian and abducting four children; on June 17 the LRA attacked and looted a FARDC position at Madigo (northwest of Dungu) and abducted civilians; the LRA and FARDC clashed at Awagon (northeast of Dungu) on June 18 (reported in reftel) - three LRA were killed and 12 hostages released - and again on June 19 when two LRA were killed and eight hostages released (Comment: MONUC said the information originated from FARDC sources who are likely withholding their own casualty figures. End comment). Security Situation - North Kivu -------------- ¶3. (SBU) On June 20, the FDLR allegedly attacked a minibus at Ndeko (between Rutshuru and Vitshumbi),killing a FARDC major and three civilians and injuring 16 other civilians. Two FDLR were killed as the FARDC pursued them into Virunga National Park. (Comment: A Goma contact alleges this was a deliberate assassination of the former CNDP major, not by FDLR but by other former CNDP now in the FARDC. End comment). Security Situation - South Kivu -------------- ¶4. (SBU) A series of MONUC patrols have determined that reports of eight villages having been burned near Kalehe (reftel) were unfounded. Meanwhile, 6,000 IDPs have arrived in the area of Kamitunga to the west of Mwenga, fearing FDLR reprisals for anticipated Kimia II operations. ¶5. (SBU) The FARDC in South Kivu claim to have wrested control of several mining sites from the FDLR around Shabunda; MONUC will investigate these claims in the coming days. (Note: the FARDC in Shabunda are led by Colonel Claude, former CNDP officer and Nkunda loyalist. End note.) The FARDC has launched operations against FDLR positions at Busurungi and Chikomo, both in Kalehe territory. We expect significant IDP movements as civilians anticipate FDLR reprisals. The FDLR attacked Chindubi village 20 kilometers northwest of Walungu, burning two houses before fleeing a MONUC patrol. The FDLR also abducted seven women from Nindja village, 100 kilometers west of Bukavu - a week prior to the abduction, the FDLR distributed pamphlets at the village market promising they would carry out the abductions if the population "continued to collaborate with the FARDC and MONUC." ¶6. (SBU) The FARDC 14th Brigade stationed at Kavumu in South Kivu continues to commit serious human rights abuses in the area with three soldiers allegedly gang raping a 15 year old girl June 20. FARDC commanders in Bukavu insist they are "dealing with the matter." Of eleven members of the 14th Brigade apparently arrested in the past month, three have stood trial. South Kivu Integration -------------- ¶7. (SBU) South Kivu integration numbers as of June 22: 1531 ex-combatants and 227 weapons registered. BROCK