US embassy cable - 00KINSHASA8356

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KINSHASA 008356 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
AF/RA FOR NICOLE PEACOCK, USAID/AFR/SD/DG FOR MELISSA 
ROSSER, DRL, USAID/AFR/DP, NAIROBI FOR AID 
 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV, PHUM, KDEM, EAID, XA, CG 
SUBJECT: DHRF FY 2001 FUNDING REQUEST 
 
 
REF: STATE 216032 
 
 
1. EMBASSY KINSHASA REQUESTS $131,100 FOR SEVEN SMALL 
DEMOCRACY AND HUMAN RIGHTS FUND (DHRF) PROJECTS IN FY 2001, 
PLUS AN ADDITIONAL $15,000 FOR UNIDENTIFIED PROJECTS, 
BRINGING THE TOTAL REQUEST TO $146,100.  THE LUSAKA PEACE 
PROCESS, INCLUDING PLANS FOR AN INTER-CONGOLESE DIALOGUE, 
HAVE BEEN UNDERWAY FOR MORE THAN A YEAR WITH SOME PROGRESS. 
DEMOCRACY AND HUMAN RIGHTS NGOS CONTINUE TO SENSITIZE THE 
POPULATION TO THESE ISSUES AND TO PUSH FOR PEACE, 
RECONCILIATION, AND GOOD GOVERNANCE.  AS IN THE PAST, OUR 
FY2001 DHRF REQUEST PUTS A SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON PROGRAMS FOR 
WOMEN AND CHILDREN OF CONGO. 
 
 
2. DHRF PROJECTS ARE ESSENTIAL TO THE WORK OF THE EMBASSY AND 
OUR MISSION OBJECTIVES IN THE CONGO.  GIVEN THE TENUOUS 
POLITICAL AND HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION IN CONGO, DHRF PROJECTS 
ARE MORE IMPORTANT NOW THAN EVER BEFORE.  SUPPORTING PEACE 
THROUGH THE LUSAKA PROCESS AND ENCOURAGING A DEMOCRATIC 
TRANSITION THROUGH THE NATIONAL DIALOGUE ARE KEY TO THE 
MISSION GOALS OF PROMOTING REGIONAL STABILITY AND DEMOCRACY. 
MOREOVER, CONGO HAS EXPERIENCED SERIOUS AND EXTENSIVE HUMAN 
RIGHTS VIOLATIONS DURING THE LAST FEW YEARS, VIOLATIONS WHICH 
CONTINUE TODAY.  EMBASSY RELIES ON THE MANY HUMAN RIGHTS 
ACTIVISTS TO DOCUMENT THESE VIOLATIONS AND WORK TOWARD 
IMPROVING RESPECT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE CONGO.  THERE IS 
ALSO A SERIOUS NEED FOR PROJECTS THAT EDUCATE THE POPULATION 
WITH REGARD TO DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPLES.  DESPITE THE MANY 
RECENT CHALLENGES TO ADMINISTERING DHRF PROJECTS IN CONGO 
(REPORTED SEPTEL) WE REQUEST THAT THE DEPARTMENT GIVE EVERY 
CONSIDERATION TO FUNDING 2001 PROJECTS, AS THE RECIPIENTS 
PERFORM FUNCTIONS THAT ARE ESSENTIAL TO THE WORK OF THE 
EMBASSY AND OUR MISSION OBJECTIVES IN THE COUNTRY. 
 
 
3. PROPOSED DHRF ACTIVITIES FOR FY 2001 COMPLEMENT OTHER USG 
ACTIVITIES IN THE COUNTRY, INCLUDING USAID-MANAGED GREAT 
LAKES JUSTICE INITIATIVE (GLJI) FUNDS IMPLEMENTED BY IFES 
(INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF ELECTION SYSTEMS) AND THE LAW 
GROUP. 
 
 
4. FY 2001 PROJECT PROPOSALS: 
 
 
A. CENTRE D'ETUDES ET DE RECHERCHES SCIENTIFIQUES (CERES); 
PRESIDENT - FLAVIEN MUPEPE.  REQUEST: USD 5,000.  DESCRIPTION 
OF PROJECT: ORGANIZING A SEMINAR ON HUMAN RIGHTS AND CIVIC 
EDUCATION AND LIBERTIES TO MAKE PEOPLE AVOID VIOLENCE.  DHR 
OBJECTIVE: AROUSING AWARENESS OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND THE NEED TO 
RESIST VIOLENCE. 
 
 
B. COMITE "DROITS DE L'HOMME, MAINTENANT", CNONGD, CRONGD, 
CALCC, AGIR POUR LA PAIX, MEDIAS POUR LA PAIX, RECIC, 
ASSEMBLEES DES ABBES; PRESIDENT - ME MARIE-ANDRE MUILA 
KAYEMBE.  REQUEST: USD 10,000.  DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT: A 
WORKSHOP FOR DEMOCRACY AND HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS ON WAYS OUT 
OF THE CURRENT DEADLOCK OF THE INTERCONGOLESE DIALOGUE.  DHR 
OBJECTIVE:  PRODUCING RESOLUTIONS AND SUGGESTIONS FOR A 
PEACEFUL SOLUTION TO THE CURRENT SITUATION. 
 
 
C. LIGUE NATIONALE POUR LES ELECTIONS LIBRES ET TRANSPARENTES 
(LINELIT); PRESIDENT - JEROME BONSO. REQUEST: USD 25,000. 
DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT: CIVIC EDUCATION SEMINARS.  DHR 
OBJECTIVE: PROMOTING SOCIAL AWARENESS OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS 
SITUATION. 
 
 
D. COMITE DES OBSERVATEURS DES DROITS DE L'HOMME; PRESIDENT 
-- N'SII LUANDA SHANDO.  REQUEST: USD 16,100.  DESCRIPTION OF 
PROJECT: TRAINING 14,000 VOLUNTEERS TO DEFEND DEMOCRACY AND 
HUMAN RIGHTS IN KINSHASA (VODDHO).  DHR OBJECTIVE: RAISING 
THE NUMBER OF HUMAN RIGHTS-AWARE PEOPLE AMONG THE POPULATION, 
AND TO TRAIN A CADRE OF REPORTERS ON HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES. 
 
 
E. LIGUE DES FEMMES POUR UN DEVELOPPEMENT ENDOGENE DURABLE 
(LFDED).  REQUEST: USD 25,000.  DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT: 
REGIONAL CONFERENCES IN FIVE CITIES THROUGHOUT THE CONGO, TO 
SENSITIZE RURAL COMMUNITIES TO THE RIGHTS OF WOMEN AND 
CHILDREN.  DHR OBJECTIVE: CIVIC EDUCATION. 
 
 
F. ASSOCIATION CONGOLAISE POUR LA PROTECTION DES ENFANTS, 
ORPHELINS ET ABANDONNES (ACPEOA).  REQUEST: USD 25,000. 
DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT: SEMINARS IN KINSHASA TO TRAIN 
ACTIVISTS IN THE PROTECTION AND RIGHTS OF ORPHANS AND 
ABANDONED CHILDREN.  DHR OBJECTIVE: CREATING AWARENESS OF THE 
RIGHTS OF CHILDREN, CIVIC EDUCATION. 
 
 
G. CAMPAGNE DE LA SOCIETE CIVILE POUR LA CULTURE DE LA PAIX 
(CCPD); PRESIDENTS -- ME BONDO TSHIMBOMBO AND N'SII LUANDA 
SHANDO.  REQUEST: USD 25,000.  DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT: 
CAMPAIGN FOR SENSITIZING THE POPULATION ON THE ROLE OF MONUC 
IN ORDER TO END THE WAR IN THE DRC.  DHR OBJECTIVE: CAMPAIGN 
FOR SENSITIZATION AND CIVIC EDUCATION. 
 
 
5. EMBASSY DOES NOT REQUEST ANY FUNDING FOR PROJECTS OVER 
$25,000. 
6. EMBASSY REQUESTS AN ADDITIONAL $15,000 FOR UNIDENTIFIED 
PROJECTS.  THIS WILL PROVIDE MUCH NEEDED FLEXIBILITY IN 
CHOOSING ADDITIONAL PROJECTS. 
SWING