KABILA'S TAPED STATEMENT TO THE NATION

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 05 KINSHASA 000644 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL MOPS KPKO CG SUBJECT: KABILA'S TAPED STATEMENT TO THE NATION ON THE 49TH ANNIVERSARY OF INDEPENDENCE REF: Kinshasa 632 ¶1. (U) President Joseph Kabila presided over Congolese Independence day ceremonies in Goma on July 1 (reftel). Kabila did not speak in Goma. Instead, prior to leaving Kinshasa, Kabila taped a speech for nationwide diffusion that was later broadcast via the news media. The speech is at para 3 below in an unofficial English translation, and at para 4 in its original French text. ¶2. (SBU) Comment: Kabila's well-drafted National Day statement, which touches on many of the major issues of concern to Congolese and foreigners alike as the country enters its 50th year of independence, refers to many areas of activity but does not mention any meaningful results since Kabila took office in 2006. On some matters we question Kabila's attribution of responsibility for a particular problem. For example, he places the presidency in opposition to the judicial branch, which he clearly blames for wide-spread impunity when, in fact the armed forces (which Kabila tends to protect as a military man himself) is equally a culprit. In short, when reading the statement it is possible to imagine that the DRC is indeed making progress. Although some progress may in fact be occurring, many observers would argue that it is much slower than the speech suggests. This may explain why Kabila chose to tape it rather than read it before a live audience. End comment. ¶3. (SBU) Begin unofficial English translation: My dear compatriots, June 30, 2009, the anniversary of our independence, is celebrated this year in Goma. Yesterday a victim, Goma is today bearing a new expectation for the Democratic Republic of the Congo, itself almost 50 years old. In 49 years there have been breakthroughs, but also failures and backsliding, as was the case of the sad events of looting and destruction, foreign aggression, atrocities, including notably sexual violence against our mothers, our wives, or sisters and our children. I cannot overlook the looting of our natural resources, treasons and other shocks. At the cost of numerous sacrifices, the country has been reunified, we have entered democracy and, despite turbulence here and there, peace is strengthening, the formal economy is restarting and renewed hope is on the agenda. All that which plunged our country into chaos, far from being forgotten, must rather serve as a lesson for us and compel us to deeply question ourselves, to correct errors of the past and seize a new momentum. Therefore: On the security front, we have firmly committed ourselves to eradicate remaining pockets of insecurity in the territories of Orientale Province and North and South Kivu. Efforts will be intensified with the objective of creating absolute security for our populations and immediate cessation of violence of all forms, especially rape and other odious acts against women, young girls and children. A stabilization and reconstruction program for zones emerging from armed conflicts will be set up soon. Likewise, I want to reassure victims of the humanitarian catastrophe provoked by external aggressions, internal conflicts and other atrocities, of my commitment to continue existing efforts, and of the solidarity of the Congolese people to eradicate the causes of the tragedy in order to consolidate peace. Therefore, I salute our armed forces, police forces and security forces for the job they have done in the field, in an extremely difficult environment, often sacrificing their lives. I use this opportunity to ask our people to offer them the support they need at this time. The isolated cases of wrongdoing and indiscipline should not be attributed to the whole army. Accordingly, the guilty have been rendered to the appropriate jurisdictions, as it should and always will be. On the social and economic front, the many-sided crisis that is directly hitting our country is due notably to a confluence of international events and do not spare any country in the world. But it cannot stop our determination to go ahead in implementing of our development program. KINSHASA 00000644 002 OF 005 Therefore, following the conference of provincial governors which has just taken place in Kisangani June 24-25, 2009, I have ordered the heads of provincial executive authorities to put our populations back to productive agricultural work with the short-term objective of the mechanization of agriculture, and in the medium term, food self-sufficiency and transformation of our agricultural industry to export. It is in this context that, for the first time, the agricultural fair will open here in Goma tomorrow (NOTE: July 1st). On the development front, I have proposed to you an ambitious national reconstruction program called 'the five priorities' to change the country. Therefore, today's Congo looks like a huge worksite that we have undertaken together since 2006. The program that is shaping up will certainly lead us to a real, endogenous and integral development. Several projects have already started and are in the process of implementation. The Congolese people, rather than watching as spectators or critics, must accept and support these efforts. Yet, if we do not care, negative values, which are taking root within Congolese society and which include indiscipline, intolerance, misappropriation of funds, financial mismanagement, and corruption risk endangering these ambitious projects. My dear compatriots, I have denounced several times since December 6, 2007 the troublesome application of justice in our country. Being rightfully perceived by the legislative as the guarantor of peace and indispensable to political stability as well as social and economic development, justice finds itself today in the defendant's dock. Abusive of the independence linked to the delicacy and nobility of his duty, the magistrate has proven himself to be guilty of theft, misappropriation of funds, corruption and even common law offenses, with disconcerting efficacy. As for me, the constitutional guarantor functional institutions, I am determined to end this state of affairs, with the assistance of the appropriate authorities. To this end, I intend to hold accountable immediately all conclusions of the work of the second extraordinary session of the Supreme Counsel of Magistrates held in Kinshasa from June 11-23, ¶2009. It is time for the members of judicial institutions to choose their side: either to serve, or to torture once more a people bruised and afflicted by several years of conflicts and violence. I have no doubt that the whole population will support the measures which, in the short run, will certainly contribute to guaranteeing justice and judicial security for all. My dear compatriots, Next year, our country will celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of its independence. This jubilee year is a propitious moment for consolidating our common vision of the Republic and its future. It is with this anniversary in mind that the General Commission for the 50th anniversary has just been set up with the major objective of devising and coordinating activities commemorating the 50th anniversary of our independence. The commission is also tasked to rekindle the collective memory of the Congolese people. As you may well note, the work of the commission offers a timely framework for reflection to all Congolese and will enable them to bring substantial contributions to the improvement of the Democratic Republic of the Congo for the next fifty years. My dear compatriots, It must be noted that that all countries around the world face, to various degrees, problems related to security and development, which remain permanent challenges. As for me, I think we are on the right course. Let us not be discouraged, let us rather be ready to assume, each of us, his part of responsibility, even if our full potential may be unknown. Therefore, I encourage each one of you, men, women, leaders, elites KINSHASA 00000644 003 OF 005 from all sectors, intellectuals, church leaders from all religious denominations, workers, peasants, students, young and old, to a moral and patriotic rearmament to ensure a better future for our people and to bequeath a country that is more beautiful than before to our children. Happy Independence Day May God bless the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Thank you. End unofficial translation. ¶4. (SBU) Begin original French version: MES TRES CHERS COMPATRIOTES, LE 30 JUIN 2009, JOUR ANNIVERSAIRE DE NOTRE INDEPENDANCE, EST CELEBREE CETTE ANNEE A GOMA. HIER VICTIME, GOMA EST AUJOURD'HUI PORTEUSE D'UNE NOUVELLE ESPERANCE POUR LA REPUBLIQUE DEMOCRATIQUE DU CONGO, PRESQUE CINQUANTENAIRE. DES AVANCES, IL Y EN A EU EN 49 ANS, MAIS EGALEMENT DES RATES, DES RETOURS EN ARRIERE, COMME CE FUT LE CAS DE TRISTES EVENEMENTS DES PILLAGES ET DESTRUCTIONS, DES AGRESSIONS EXTERIEURES, DES ATROCITES DE TOUS GENRES, DONT NOTAMMENT DES VIOLENCES SEXUELLES SUR NOS MERES, NOS FEMMES, NOS SOEURS ET NOS ENFANTS. JE NE SAURAIS PASSER SOUS SILENCE LES PILLAGES DE NOS RESSOURCES NATURELLES, LES TRAHISONS ET TANT D'AUTRES SOUBRESAUTS. AU PRIX DE NOMBREUX SACRIFICES, LE PAYS A ETE REUNIFIE, NOUS SOMMES ENTRES EN DEMOCRATIE ET, EN DEPIT DE QUELQUES TURBULENCES ENREGISTREES CA ET LA, LA PAIX SE CONSOLIDE, L'ECONOMIE FORMELLE SE RELANCE ; L'ESPOIR S'INSCRIT DE NOUVEAU A L'ORDRE DU JOUR. TOUTE CETTE SITUATION QUI A PLONGE NOTRE PAYS DANS LE CHAOS, LOIN D'ETRE OUBLIEE, DOIT PLUTOT NOUS SERVIR DE LECON ET NOUS POUSSER A NOUS REMETTRE PROFONDEMENT EN CAUSE, POUR CORRIGER LES ERREURS DU PASSE ET PRENDRE LE PLUS BEL ELAN. VOILA POURQUOI : SUR LE PLAN SECURITAIRE, NOUS NOUS SOMMES ENGAGES FERMEMENT A ERADIQUER LES POCHES RESIDUELLES D'INSECURITE DANS CERTAINS TERRITOIRES DE LA PROVINCE ORIENTALE, DU NORD-KIVU ET DU SUD-KIVU. DES EFFORTS SERONT INTENSIFIES DANS CE SENS EN VUE DE DEBOUCHER SUR LA SECURISATION TOTALE DE NOS POPULATIONS AINSI QUE LA CESSATION IMMEDIATE DE VIOLENCES DE TOUTES FORMES ET PLUS PARTICULIEREMENT LES VIOLS ET TOUS AUTRES ACTES INFAMES CONTRE LA FEMME, LA JEUNE FILLE ET L'ENFANT. UN PROGRAMME DE STABILISATION ET DE RECONSTRUCTION DES ZONES SORTANT DES CONFLITS ARMES SERA INCESSAMMENT EN PLACE. DE MEME, JE VOUDRAIS RASSURER LES VICTIMES DE LA CATASTROPHE HUMANITAIRE PROVOQUEE PAR LES AGRESSIONS EXTERIEURES, LES CONFLITS INTERNES ET LES ATROCITE DE TOUS GENRES DE MON ENGAGEMENT A POURSUIVRE LES EFFORTS DEJA ENTREPRIS, ET DE LA SOLIDARITE DES CONGOLAIS A ERADIQUER LES CAUSES DE CE DRAME, EN VUE DE LA CONSOLIDATION DE LA PAIX. A CET EFFET, JE RENDS HOMMAGE A NOS FORCES ARMEES, DE POLICE ET DE SECURITE POUR LE TRAVAIL ABATTU SUR LE TERRAIN DES OPERATIONS, DANS UN ENVIRONNEMENT EXTREMEMENT DIFFICILE, SOUVENT AU SACRIFICE DE LEURS VIES. C'EST ICI, POUR MOI, LE LIEU DE DEMANDER A TOUT NOTRE PEUPLE DE LEUR APPORTER LE SOUTIEN DONT ILS ONT BESOIN EN CE MOMENT. LES CAS ISOLES DE DERAPAGE ET D'INDISCIPLINE RELEVES CA ET LA NE DOIVENT PAS ETRE ATTRIBUES A TOUTE L'ARMEE. C'EST POURQUOI LES COUPABLES ONT ETE TRADUITS DEVANT LES JURIDICTIONS COMPETENTES. IL EN SERA TOUJOURS AINSI. AU PLAN SOCIAL ET ECONOMIQUE, LA CRISE MULTIFORME QUI FRAPPE NOTRE PAYS DE PLAIN FOUET PROCEDE NOTAMMENT DE LA CONJONCTURE INTERNATIONALE QUI N'EPARGNE AUCUN PAYS DU MONDE. MAIS ELLE NE SAURAIT ARRETER NOTRE DETERMINATION D'ALLER DE L'AVANT DANS LA MISE EN OEUVRE DE NOTRE PROGRAMME DE DEVELOPPEMENT. C'EST POURQUOI, A L'ISSUE DE LA CONFERENCE DES GOUVERNEURS DE PROVINCE QUI VIENT DE SE TENIR A KISANGANI LES 24 ET 25 JUIN 2009, J'AI INSTRUIT LES CHEFS DES EXECUTIFS PROVINCIAUX A REMETTRE NOS POPULATIONS AU TRAVAIL PRODUCTIF DE LA TERRE, AVEC COMME OBJECTIF A COURT TERME, LA MECANISATION DE L'AGRICULTURE ET A MOYEN TERME, L'AUTOSUFFISANCE ALIMENTAIRE AINSI QUE LA TRANSFORMATION DE NOS PRODUITS AGRICOLES EN VUE DE LEUR EXPORTATION. KINSHASA 00000644 004 OF 005 C'EST D'AILLEURS SOUS CES AUSPICES QUE S'OUVRE DEMAIN (NDLR : 1ER JUILLET) ET POUR LA TOUTE PREMIERE FOIS, ICI A GOMA, LA FOIRE AGRICOLE. AU PLAN DE DEVELOPPEMENT, JE VOUS AI PROPOSE UN AMBITIEUX PROGRAMME DE RECONSTRUCTION NATIONALE APPELE LES CINQ CHANTIERS POUR CHANGER LE PAYS. LE CONGO D'AUJOURD'HUI RESSEMBLE DONC A UN VASTE CHANTIER QUE NOUS AVONS ENTREPRIS ENSEMBLE DEPUIS DECEMBRE 2006. CE PROGRAMME QUI PREND DE PLUS EN PLUS CORPS, NOUS CONDUIRA CERTAINEMENT VERS UN REEL DEVELOPPEMENT ENDOGENE ET INTEGRAL. PLUSIEURS PROJETS ONT DEJA DEMARRE ET SONT EN COURS D'EXECUTION. NOTRE PEUPLE, PLUTOT QUE D'ASSISTER EN SPECTATEUR OU EN DETRACTEUR, DOIT S'EN APPROPRIER EN Y APPORTANT SON CONCOURS. CEPENDANT, SI ON N'Y PREND GARDE, LES ANTI-VALEURS QUI S'ENRACINENT AU SEIN DE LA SOCIETE CONGOLAISE A SAVOIR : L'INDISCIPLINE, L'INTOLERANCE, LA CONCUSSION, LA GABEGIE FINANCIERE AINSI QUE LA CORRUPTION RISQUENT DE METTRE EN PERIL CE PROJET AMBITIEUX. MES TRES CHERS COMPATRIOTES, J'AI, DANS CE SENS, DEPUIS LE 06 DECEMBRE 2007, DENONCE A MAINTES REPRISES, LA QUALITE PREOCCUPANTE DE LA DISTRIBUTION DE LA JUSTICE DANS NOTRE PAYS. PERCUE A JUSTE TITRE PAR LE LEGISLATEUR COMME GARANTE DE LA PAIX CIVILE ET FACTEUR INDISPENSABLE A LA STABILITE POLITIQUE AINSI QU'AU DEVELOPPEMENT ECONOMIQUE ET SOCIAL, AUJOURD'HUI, LA JUSTICE EST ELLE-MEME AU BANC DES ACCUSES. ABUSANT DE L'INDEPENDANCE LIEE POURTANT A LA DELICATESSE ET A LA NOBLESSE DE SA CHARGE, LE MAGISTRAT SE REND LUI AUSSI COUPABLE DE VOL, DE CONCUSSION, DE CORRUPTION ET VOIRE MEME DES INFRACTIONS DE DROIT COMMUN, AVEC UNE FACILITE DECONCERTANTE. QUANT A MOI, GARANT CONSTITUTIONNEL DU BON FONCTIONNEMENT DES INSTITUTIONS, JE SUIS DETERMINE A METTRE FIN A CET ETAT DE CHOSES, AVEC LE CONCOURS DES INSTANCES ATTITREES. DANS CETTE PERSPECTIVE, J'ENTENDS TIRER INCESSAMMENT TOUTES LES CONSEQUENCES DES CONCLUSIONS DES TRAVAUX DE LA DEUXIEME SESSION EXTRAORDINAIRE DU CONSEIL SUPERIEUR DE LA MAGISTRATURE TENUS A KINSHASA DU 11 AU 23 JUIN 2009. IL EST TEMPS QUE LES OPERATEURS JUDICIAIRES CHOISISSENT LEUR CAMP ; CELUI DE SERVIR OU DE MARTYRISER DAVANTAGE UN PEUPLE MEURTRI ET EPROUVE PAR PLUSIEURS ANNEES DE CONFLITS ET DE VIOLENCES. JE NE DOUTE PAS DU RESTE, DE TOUT LE SOUTIEN QUE LA POPULATION TOUT ENTIERE APPORTE A CES MESURES QUI, DANS LE PLUS BREF DELAI, CONTRIBUERONT, A COUP SUR, A GARANTIR LA JUSTICE ET LA SECURITE JUDICIAIRE POUR TOUS. MES TRES CHERS COMPATRIOTES, L'ANNEE PROCHAINE, NOTRE PAYS VA CELEBRER LE CINQUANTENAIRE DE SON INDEPENDANCE. CETTE ANNEE JUBILAIRE CONSTITUE UN MOMENT PROPICE A LA CONSOLIDATION DE NOTRE VISION COMMUNE DE LA REPUBLIQUE ET DE SON AVENIR. C'EST DANS CETTE PERSPECTIVE QUE LE COMMISSARIAT GENERAL DU CINQUANTENAIRE VIENT D'ETRE MIS EN PLACE AVEC POUR MISSION PRINCIPALE DE CONCEVOIR ET DE COORDONNER LES ACTIVITES COMMEMORATIVES DU 50EME ANNIVERSAIRE DE NOTRE INDEPENDANCE. CE COMMISSARIAT EST CHARGE EGALEMENT DE RECONSTITUER LA MEMOIRE COLLECTIVE DU PEUPLE CONGOLAIS. COMME ON PEUT BIEN LE CONSTATER, IL S'AGIT LA D'UN CADRE PROPICE DE REFLEXION OFFERT A TOUS LES CONGOLAIS EN VUE DE LEUR PERMETTRE DE DONNER DES CONTRIBUTIONS SUBSTANTIELLES A L'EDIFICATION DE LA REPUBLIQUE DEMOCRATIQUE DU CONGO DES CINQUANTE PROCHAINES ANNEES. MES TRES CHERS COMPATRIOTES, IL Y A LIEU DE NOTER EN DEFINITIVE QUE TOUS LES PAYS DU MONDE SONT CONFRONTES, A DIVERS DEGRES, AUX PROBLEMES LIES A LA SECURITE ET AU DEVELOPPEMENT, QUI DEMEURENT DES DEFIS PERMANENTS. POUR MA PART, J'ESTIME QUE NOUS SOMMES SUR LA BONNE VOIE. NE NOUS DECOURAGEONS PAS, SOYONS PLUTOT PRETS A ASSUMER CHACUN SA PART DE RESPONSABILITE, DU RESTE INCOMPREHENSIBLE AU REGARD DES POTENTIALITES IMMENSES DONT IL EST DOTE. J'EXHORTE DONC CHACUN DE VOUS, HOMMES, FEMMES, GOUVERNANTS, ELITES KINSHASA 00000644 005 OF 005 DE TOUS LES SECTEURS D'ACTIVITES, INTELLECTUELS, CADRES ECCLESIASTIQUES DE TOUTES LES CONFESSIONS RELIGIEUSES, OUVRIERS, PAYSANS, ETUDIANTS, JEUNES ET VIEUX, A UN REARMEMENT MORAL ET PATRIOTIQUE EN VUE D'ASSURER DES LENDEMAINS MEILLEURS A TOUT NOTRE PEUPLE ET DE LEGUER UN PAYS PLUS BEAU QU'AVANT A NOS ENFANTS. BONNE FETE DE L'INDEPENDANCE. QUE DIEU BENISSE LA REPUBLIQUE DEMOCRATIQUE DU CONGO, JE VOUS REMERCIE. End original French version. GARVELINK