US embassy cable - 01KINSHASA2795

C O N F I D E N T I A L KINSHASA 002795 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/17/2010 
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, PHUM, CG 
SUBJECT: KABILA ADDRESSES NATION, ANNOUNCES REFORMS 
 
CLASSIFIED BY AMBASSADOR WILLIAM LACY SWING FOR REASONS 
1.5(B)(D) 
 
 
1. (C) PRESIDENT JOSEPH KABILA ADDRESSED THE NATION AT THE 
KIMBANGUIST CENTER MAY 17 ON THE FOURTH ANNIVERSARY OF 
MOBUTU'S OVERTHROW.  IN THIS, HIS FIRST PUBLIC ADDRESS HERE 
SINCE HIS INAUGURATION ON JANUARY 26, KABILA ANNOUNCED THE 
FOLLOWING MEASURES IN A BRIEF, LOW-KEY ADDRESS WHICH OFFERED 
FEW DETAILS. 
 
-- REPLACEMENT OF CONTROVERSIAL DECREE 194 WITH OTHER 
GUIDELINES FOR POLITICAL PARTY ACTIVITY; 
 
-- AMNESTY FOR ALL THOSE PRISONERS WHO HAVE NOT COMMITTED 
SERIOUS CRIMES SUCH AS MURDER (WE UNDERSTAND THAT ABOUT 340 
DETAINEES IN ALL WILL BE FREED); AND, 
 
-- SOCIO-ECONOMIC MEASURES TO PROVIDE IMMEDIATE RELIEF TO THE 
POPULATION. 
 
2. (C) ALTHOUGH NOT IN HIS REMARKS, SEVERAL MINISTERS 
CONFIRMED TO THE AMBASSADOR ON MAY 17 THE FOLLOWING 
ADDITIONAL POSITIVE DEVELOPMENTS: 
 
-- THE FOUR CHILD-SOLDIERS WHICH HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS 
FEARED HAD BEEN EXECUTED HAVE, IN FACT, BEEN RELEASED THIS 
WEEK (AND HAD NOT BEEN TORTURED); AND, 
 
-- THE NINETEEN "KADOGO" SOLDIERS FROM THE LATE PRESIDENT 
LAURENT KABILA'S PROTECTION UNIT HAVE NOT BEEN EXECUTED (AS 
HAD BEEN RUMORED) AND HUMAN RIGHTS MINISTER NTUMBA, WITH WHOM 
THE AMBASSADOR SPOKE ON MAY 17, HAS BEEN TO MAKALA PRISON 
THIS WEEK TO VISIT THEM. 
 
3. (C) COMMENT:  ALTHOUGH OPINION SEEMS SOMEWHAT DIVIDED ON 
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF PRESIDENT KABILA'S REMARKS, GIVEN THE 
ABSENCE OF DETAIL, THE MORE GENERAL VIEW IS POSITIVE.  BASED 
ON THE AMBASSADOR'S MEETING WITH KABILA ON MAY 14, IT IS 
CLEAR THAT HE IS KEENLY AWARE OF THE URGENT NEED FOR 
POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC REFORMS, AND THIS WOULD APPEAR TO BE A 
PROMISING BEGINNING. 
 
 
SWING