US embassy cable - 00KINSHASA8382

C O N F I D E N T I A L KINSHASA 008382 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/11/2010 
TAGS: PGOV, PHUM, PREL, CG 
SUBJECT: OPPOSITION SAYS IT WON'T GO TO LIBREVILLE 
 
 
CLASSIFIED BY POLOFF JONATHAN PRATT FOR REASONS 1.5 (B/D). 
 
 
1. (C) MOST MAJOR OPPOSITION LEADERS HAVE SAID THAT THEY 
WON'T GO TO LIBREVILLE TO MEET WITH PRESIDENT KABILA ON 
DECEMBER 21, AND CONTINUE TO INSIST THAT ALL INITIATIVES FOR 
THE INTER-CONGOLESE DIALOGUE SHOULD BE PURSUED WITHIN THE 
FRAMEWORK OF THE LUSAKA ACCORDS. 
 
 
2. (C) DURING A MEETING WITH POLOFF DECEMBER 18, THOMAS 
OTSHUDI, LEGAL ADVISOR TO FONUS (NEW FORCES FOR UNION AND 
SOLIDARITY) PRESIDENT JOSEPH OLENGHANKOY, REPORTED THAT NO 
ONE FROM FONUS WOULD ATTEND THE PROPOSED SUMMIT.  HE CLAIMED 
THAT THE KABILA GOVERNMENT HADN'T EVEN CALLED WITH AN 
INVITATION, DESPITE THE FACT THAT THE MEETING WAS ONLY THREE 
DAYS AWAY, AND ACCUSED KABILA OF ATTEMPTING TO CREATE THE 
ILLUSION THAT HE IS REACHING OUT TO THE OPPOSITION.  (NOTE: 
OLENGHANKOY IS ONE OF THE FEW OPPOSITION LEADERS WHO REMAIN 
IN KINSHASA, SINCE MOST OF THE OTHER MAJOR FIGURES HAVE FLED. 
END NOTE.)  OTSHUDI REPORTED THAT OLENGHANKOY WAS ADAMANT 
THAT ONLY DIALOGUE FACILITATOR MASIRE COULD CALL SUCH A 
MEETING, NOT PRESIDENT KABILA.  OLENGHANKOY'S LEGAL ADVISOR 
ALSO OFFERED HIS VIEW THAT KABILA'S PARLIAMENTARY COMMISSION 
ON THE INTER-CONGOLESE DIALOGUE HAD NO AUTHORITY UNDER THE 
LUSAKA ACCORDS TO BRING PARTIES TOGETHER OR EVEN PARTICIPATE 
IN THE DIALOGUE, SINCE THE CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY HAD BEEN 
NAMED BY KABILA HIMSELF. 
 
 
3. (U) OTHER OPPOSITION LEADERS HAVE MADE THEIR POSITIONS 
PLAIN IN THE PRESS.  CHRISTOPHE LUTUNDULA OF MSDD (SOLIDARITY 
MOVEMENT FOR DEMOCRACY AND DEVELOPMENT) IS QUOTED IN "LE 
POTENTIEL" AS STATING THAT ALL INITIATIVES FOR A NATIONAL 
DIALOGUE MUST COME FROM WITHIN THE LUSAKA ACCORDS.  THE 
DEMOCRATIC AND SOCIAL CHRISTIAN PARTY (PDSC) ECHOED THIS 
BELIEF IN A PRESS RELEASE.  ARMED OPPOSITION LEADER 
JEAN-PIERRE BEMBA HAS STATED PUBLICLY FOR SOME TIME THAT HE 
WON'T PARTICIPATE IN ANY DIALOGUE WITHOUT THE PARTICIPATION 
OF FACILITATOR KETUMILE MASIRE. 
SWING