CAR: FORMER MINISTER AND CURRENT MILITA LEADER LIKELY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BANGUI 000034

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E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM PINR CT
SUBJECT: CAR: FORMER MINISTER AND CURRENT MILITA LEADER LIKELY
MURDERED

REF: A. A- 09 BANGUI 203

B. B- 09 BANGUI 273

C. C- 10 BANGUI 29


1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Charles Massi, a four-time former minister and
political head of the Patriotic Convention for Justice and Peace
(CPJP) militia group (Ref A),is widely presumed murdered after
Chadian forces arrested him and turned him over to Central
African authorities in December 2009. While few in the Central
African Republic (CAR) mourn his passing, some in the country
worry his killing may signal a return to the political violence
of regimes past. Furthermore, the possible summary execution of
a political figure, albeit a disgraced one representing forces
in active conflict with the CARG, could be seen as a message
from Bozize that his patience for negotiation with the myriad
armed groups in the CAR has run out. Post will closely monitor
the fallout among the opposition and watch for any signs that
this may become a pattern by the regime. END SUMMARY.


2. (SBU) The death of former minister and CPJP representative
Charles Massi remains shrouded in mystery. Yet increasingly,
credible sources with insider knowledge report in vivid detail
the people involved in the turnover of the former minister to
Central African authorities and his alleged murder shortly
thereafter. According to one source, President Deby of Chad
turned over Massi to Bozize's forces during an end of the year
visit by the CAR president to Chad. Reportedly, Bozize assured
Deby that he had nothing personally against Massi and that they
shared a strong bond stemming from membership in the same Free
Mason Lodge. Very shortly after taking custody of Massi,
however, Central African military personnel allegedly tortured
and killed him. The ``Lettre du Continent'' has published such a
report.


3. (SBU) A very well informed western contact in Bangui believes
Massi was summarily executed by the Presidential Guard (GP)
shortly after being turned over by the Chadians in retaliation
for the killing of a prominent Gbaya military officer during the
CPJP's November 2009 attack on Ndele (Ref B). (Note: President
Bozize and a large number of the GP are closely-related members
of the Gbaya ethnic group. End Note.)


4. (SBU) On January 30, Bozize convoked the Central African
political class and diplomatic corps to discuss the elections
and broached the subject of Massi (Ref C). After listening to
the charges against him, Bozize gave a cryptic non-answer about
Massi's fate. He questioned why people were so concerned about a
man who was in open rebellion against the government and why
there was not a similar outcry when Massi's militia killed
Central African soldiers. Bozize stated that Massi knew full
well that issues are ``settled with Kalashnikovs'' during such
affairs. A January 20 press release by the Ministry of Defense
was more vehement in its denial of complicity, belittling the
claims of government responsibility as an ``intoxication
campaign'' aimed at destabilizing the DDR process and the
government in general.


5. (SBU) The opposition is trying to use the Massi affair to tar
Bozize as an oppressive despot. The newspapers carry constant
updates about rumors and allegations and his fate is widely
discussed within political circles in Bangui. Yet, as is so
often the case in the CAR, the opposition has not been able to
marshal the anger over Massi's killing into action. Their
disunity - coupled with the ambivalence by the average Central
African, who sees Massi as merely another politician who played
with fire - means that though there have been wide discussions
about the man, no popular action has been taken to demand
accountability from the government.


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6. (SBU) COMMENT: Disappearances were common place during
President/Emperor Bokassa's time (1966-79) and briefly
resurfaced after the coup attempts against President Kolingba in
1982 and President Patasse in 2001 (Comment: Bozize, who was
Chief of Staff of the Army under Patasse, is implicated in
ordering the killing of several anti-Kolingba rebels in Kembe
prefecture in 1999. End Comment). Bozize is thought to have
liquidated a small, select group of Patasse sympathizers after
his 2003 coup, but this was targeted and short in duration.
Since that time, abductions and murder without due process have
been very rare; and nonexistent for prominent political figures.


7. (SBU) It is unclear if Massi was killed under direct orders
from the President, or if the assassination was endorsed after
the fact. Regardless of Bozize's direct or indirect implication
in the killing of Massi, the opposition, and indeed some figures
closer to the President, worry the killing may be the start of a
policy of intimidation. During his New Years address to the
nation in Sango (not included in the French version) he did warn
he would ``carve up'' all those who opposed him, and has indeed
pursued a policy of confrontation with the armed groups, such as
the CPJP, that remain outside of the DDR process. It is
currently unclear if the apparent extra-judicial killing of
Massi was an anomaly or the beginning of an unfortunate trend.
END COMMENT.
COOK