US embassy cable - 00KINSHASA8416

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GDRC RELEASES MORE PRISONERS FROM MAKALA

Identifier: 00KINSHASA8416
Wikileaks: View 00KINSHASA8416 at Wikileaks.org
Origin: Embassy Kinshasa
Created: 2000-12-19 14:35:00
Classification: UNCLASSIFIED
Tags: PGOV PHUM PREL CG
Redacted: This cable was not redacted by Wikileaks.
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

UNCLAS KINSHASA 008416 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV, PHUM, PREL, CG 
SUBJECT: GDRC RELEASES MORE PRISONERS FROM MAKALA 
 
 
REF: A. KINSHASA 8108 
     B. KINSHASA 8224 
 
 
1. PROSECUTOR GENERAL LUHONGE KABINDA RELEASED 170 PRISONERS 
FROM MAKALA CENTRAL PRISON ON SATURDAY, DECEMBER 16. 
ALTHOUGH SOME WERE CIVILIANS, MOST OF THOSE RELEASED WERE 
REPORTEDLY POLICEMEN WHO HAD BEEN ARRESTED FOR VARIOUS TYPES 
OF MALFEASANCE.  LUHONGE PROMISED THE RELEASE, LATER THIS 
WEEK, OF SOME SOLDIERS WHO REMAIN BEHIND BARS.  HOWEVER, HE 
SAID THAT FIRST THE MILITARY AUTHORITIES WOULD HAVE TO 
IDENTIFY AN APPROPRIATE LOCATION FOR THEIR "RE-INTEGRATION." 
 
 
2. THESE LATEST 170 FOLLOW CLOSELY ON THE 509 PRISONERS FREED 
EARLIER THIS MONTH (REF A), AND THE POLITICAL PRISONERS 
LIBERATED A FEW DAYS LATER (REF B).  ALTHOUGH AUTHORITIES 
HAVE PROVIDED NO OFFICIAL EXPLANATION FOR THIS LATEST 
RELEASE, MOST KINSHASA RESIDENTS CHALK IT UP TO "PRESIDENTIAL 
BENEVOLENCE" DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON.  THE PROSECUTOR 
GENERAL CLAIMED TO HAVE RELEASED THE 509 PRISONERS IN 
COMMEMORATION OF KABILA'S BIRTHDAY. 
SWING 

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