US embassy cable - 00KINSHASA8008

UNCLAS KINSHASA 008008 
 
S/CT FOR REAP 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PTER, PGOV, PREL, CG 
SUBJECT: (DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO): 2000 ANNUAL 
TERRORISM REPORT 
 
REF: STATE 217248 
 
THE FOLLOWING RESPONSES ARE KEYED TO QUESTIONS IN PARA 3 OF 
REFTEL: 
 
A.  DURING 2000, THE EMBASSY IS UNAWARE OF ANY ACTS OF 
TERRORISM THAT OCCURRED IN THE GOVERNMENT-CONTROLLED AREA OF 
THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO (DRC).  IN BUKAVU, SOUTH 
KIVU, THERE WAS A GRENADE ATTACK AT A CROWDED FESTIVAL 
DOWNTOWN THAT KILLED SEVEN PEOPLE AND WOUNDED OVER 100 ON 
AUGUST 26.  THE RCD-GOMA REBEL GROUP -- WHICH IS SUPPORTED BY 
RWANDA -- IMMEDIATELY BLAMED THE INTERAHAMWE FOR THE ATTACK. 
THERE WERE RUMORS IN BUKAVU THAT THE RWANDAN MILITARY WAS 
RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ATTACK.  IT IS UNKNOWN WHETHER THE 
RCD-GOMA AUTHORITIES CONDUCTED A CONCLUSIVE INVESTIGATION; 
EMBASSY IS UNAWARE OF ARRESTS OR PROSECUTIONS IN THIS CASE. 
 
B.  THE GOVERNMENT NEITHER EXTRADITED NOR REQUESTED THE 
EXTRADITION OF KNOWN TERRORISTS. 
 
C.  THE RULE OF LAW IS ABSENT THROUGHOUT CONGO AND THE 
JUSTICE SYSTEM FUNCTIONS ARBITRARILY, IF AT ALL.  THE ALREADY 
DECIMATED LEGAL INFRASTRUCTURE HAS BEEN REDUCED TO ALMOST 
NOTHING DURING THE WAR WHICH BEGAN IN 1998.  THE MILITARY 
COURT CONTINUES TO TRY CIVIL CASES. 
 
D.  THE GDRC MADE NO STATEMENTS IN 2000 REGARDING TERRORIST 
INCIDENTS. 
 
E.  THE GDRC MADE NO MAJOR COUNTER-TERRORISM EFFORTS IN 2000. 
 
F.  THE GDRC DOES NOT SUPPORT INTERNATIONAL TERRORIST GROUPS. 
 
G.  THE GDRC HAS NOT MADE PUBLIC STATEMENTS IN SUPPORT OF 
TERRORIST-SUPPORTING COUNTRIES ON THE SUBJECT OF TERRORISM. 
THE GDRC DOES HAVE DIPLOMATIC TIES TO CUBA, IRAN, LIBYA, 
NORTH KOREA AND SUDAN. 
 
H.  THERE HAS BEEN NO CHANGE IN THE GDRC'S ATTITUDE TOWARD 
TERRORISM. 
 
I.  N/A 
 
J.  N/A 
 
K.  SINCE THE 1998 BOMBINGS IN NAIROBI AND DAR ES SALAAM, THE 
EMBASSY HAS ASKED PERMISSION FROM THE GDRC TO CLOSE THE ROAD 
IN FRONT OF THE CHANCERY TO INCREASE OUR SETBACK.  WHILE THE 
GDRC HAS AGREED IN PRINCIPLE, WE HAVE THUS FAR BEEN UNABLE TO 
OBTAIN OFFICIAL AUTHORIZATION TO DIVERT AND CLOSE THE ROAD. 
 
 
SWING