US embassy cable - 00KINSHASA8579

C O N F I D E N T I A L KINSHASA 008579 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/27/2010 
TAGS: PHUM, PREL, PGOV, CG 
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR'S DEMARCHE ON MASASU AND THREE OTHER 
POLITICAL PRISONERS 
 
 
REF: KINSHASA 8505 
 
 
CLASSIFIED BY POLOFF KENT C. BROKENSHIRE FOR REASONS 1.5 
(B/D). 
 
 
1. (C)  IN A DECEMBER 27 MEETING WITH FOREIGN MINISTER SHE 
OKITUNDU (SEPTEL), AMBASSADOR SWING REQUESTED INFORMATION ON 
THREE POLITICAL PRISONERS, AS WELL AS "COMMANDANT" ANSELME 
MASASU. THE AMBASSADOR SUGGESTED THAT THEIR RELEASE AS A NEW 
YEAR'S GESTURE, COMING ON THE HEELS OF THE RELEASE OF 
HUNDREDS OF OTHER PRISONERS, WOULD CONTRIBUTE TO A MORE 
POSITIVE ATMOSPHERE FOR LIBREVILLE II TALKS BETWEEN KABILA 
AND OPPOSITION FIGURES, NOW TENTATIVELY SCHEDULED FOR THE 
SECOND HALF OF JANUARY. 
 
 
2. (C) THE THREE INCLUDED: 
 
 
     -- CLEOPHAS KAMITATU, ARRESTED IN NOVEMBER 1999 AFTER 
CRITICIZING THE GOVERNMENT IN AN RFI BROADCAST. HE IS CHARGED 
WITH SELLING CONGOLESE EMBASSY PROPERTY WHILE HE WAS 
AMBASSADOR TO JAPAN. KAMITATU IS AN EX-MOBUTUIST MINISTER AND 
AMBASSADOR, AS WELL AS THE FATHER OF OLIVIER KAMITATU, 
JEAN-PIERRE BEMBA'S DEPUTY. 
 
 
     -- JEANINE MUKANIRWA, AN IV GRANTEE AND HEAD OF A 
WOMAN'S NGO BASED IN GOMA, WHO WAS ARRESTED DECEMBER 12. SHE 
IS A CLOSE CONTACT OF THE EMBASSY'S. HER BROTHER, HOWEVER, 
SERVED AS MASASU'S BODYGUARD AND WAS ARRESTED ALONG WITH HIS 
BOSS. HE MAY BE DEAD; 
 
 
     -- STEVE MBEKAYI, A LEADER OF A UNION KNOWN AS 
"SOLIDARITE," WHO HAS BEEN DETAINED FOR THE PAST TWO MONTHS. 
 
 
3. (C) THE AMBASSADOR THEN RAISED THE QUESTION OF 
"COMMANDANT" ANSELME MASASU WHO WAS ARRESTED FOR ALLEGED COUP 
PLOTTING OCTOBER 31, AND REPORTEDLY EXECUTED NOVEMBER 24 NEAR 
PWETO (REFTEL). THE AMBASSADOR SAID HE HAD RECEIVED SEVERAL 
REPORTS THAT MASASU WAS DEAD, AND ASKED THE FOREIGN MINISTER 
TO CONFIRM WHETHER OR NOT HE WAS ALIVE. 
 
 
4. (C) OKITUNDU SAID HE WOULD MAKE INQUIRIES CONCERNING THE 
THREE POLITICAL PRISONERS, AND WOULD RESPOND AS SOON AS HE 
RECEIVED INFORMATION. ON THE SUBJECT OF MASASU, THE FOREIGN 
MINISTER SAID HE HAD RECEIVED NUMEROUS QUERIES OVER HIS FATE, 
AND WOULD CHECK WITH MILITARY AUTHORITIES. HE GAVE NO FURTHER 
INFORMATION. 
SWING