US embassy cable - 04KINSHASA1311

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KINSHASA 001311 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 1.6X6 
TAGS: PGOV, PINS, PREL, CG 
SUBJECT: RCD TO FIRE EIGHT DISSIDENT PARLIAMENTARIANS 
 
 
Classified By: Poloff Edward Bestic for Reasons 1.5 B and D 
 
1. (C) SUMMARY:  Eight RCD parliamentarians, citing numerous 
government failings including tolerance of ethnic hatred, 
declared they will not participate in parliament.  A senior 
RCD official in Goma sympathized, saying "most people" in the 
Kivus agree with their views.  A top RCD official in 
Kinshasa, however, said that after their declaration the RCD 
leadership decided to replace all eight in parliament, and 
will probably exclude them from the party.  RCD leaders 
appear to think few will join this political "mutiny."  END 
SUMMARY. 
 
 
"We Quit...for Now" 
------------------- 
2. (U) Eight Rassemblement Congolais pour la Democratie (RCD) 
members of parliament, Rwandophones all, announced from Goma 
on July 13 that they are suspending their participation in 
the transitional government.  (Note:  The RCD has 94 seats in 
the National Assembly.  End Note.)  The most prominent of 
these is Bizima Karaha, foreign minister under Laurent Kabila 
and later head of the RCD's internal-security service.  The 
group announced its decision in a 14-page communique, which 
warns that the peace process and transitional government are 
in danger of collapsing, and charges that: 
 
--top GDRC officials are deliberately fostering ethnic hatred 
toward Tutsis, in the Kivus and in Kinshasa;  other 
transitional government figures including President Joseph 
Kabila tolerate this 
 
--in May-June 2004, South Kivu military region commander Gen. 
Mbuza Mabe carried out selective assassinations of Tutsis in 
Bukavu;  elsewhere, Tutsi military personnel are being 
singled out, detained, and in many instances killed because 
of their ethnicity 
 
--"parallel structures" answering to Kabila's personal 
military staff are actively supporting the ex-FAR/Interahamwe 
in the Kivus;  at least 60 percent of the government troops 
being deployed to eastern Congo are ex-FAR/Interahamwe 
 
The authors go on to make a number of demands, including 
withdrawal of the 10,000-strong "expeditionary corps" of 
government troops sent to the east; a "pause" in the 
transition, to take stock and adopt new policies; appointment 
of an apolitical, technocratic administration to run the 
country until elections can be held; physical elimination of 
the ex-FAR/Interahamwe; and changing the revenue-sharing 
formula between Kinshasa and the provinces from 90/10 to 
60/40. 
 
 
RCD South Kivu Official Expresses Sympathy 
------------------------------------------ 
3. (C) South Kivu vice-governor Thomas Nziratimana told 
poloff July 14 that if RCD leaders in Kinshasa "mishandle" 
the situation, they risk splitting the RCD as a party. 
(Note:  He is a Tutsi, reportedly a cousin of RCD president 
Azarias Ruberwa, and the former RCD representative in 
Pretoria.  He is currently in Goma, staying at Karaha's 
house.  End Note.)  "We on the ground" agree with most of the 
group's complaints, he said.  Many are greatly disappointed 
with the process, and "the hatred in Kinshasa is deep." 
People will not hesitate to split with the RCD "if need be," 
he added.  Nziratimana said that one of the grievances listed 
in the communique dealt with his own (biological) younger 
brother.  The brother, Captain Didier Busohoka, was based in 
a remote area, and "when there were problems," left with 
three bodyguards for the town of Salamabila.  Government 
troops arrested him on charges of attempting to seize the 
airfield there, and brought him to Kindu, where he is 
currently being detained under difficult conditions. 
Nziratimana said he had personally spoken with the overall 
Ground Forces Commander, Gen. Sylvain Mbuki, but was unable 
to secure his brother's release or guarantee better 
treatment.  (Comment:  Mbuki was the RCD's top military 
officer when the transtional government started up, but 
Nziratimana and other RCD officials in recent months have 
privately accused Mbuki of selling out to Kabila.  End 
Comment.) 
 
 
Senior RCD Official in Kinshasa:  "They're Out!" 
--------------------------------------------- --- 
4. (C) Senate 1st Vice President Emile Ilunga told poloff 
that senior RCD leaders decided on July 14 to designate new 
parliamentarians to replace Karaha's group, and will probably 
exclude them from the party. The RCD's collective leadership, 
the "College des Fondateurs," had previously decided that 
Karaha and the others were spending too much time in Goma 
rather than at work in Kinshasa, especially with important 
legislation on nationality and amnesty coming up.  The RCD 
asked them to choose, sent an ultimatum demanding that they 
return to Kinshasa, but instead Karaha's group responded by 
communique.  Karaha's group, Ilunga said, has long been 
trying to destabilize the Kivus and undermine RCD leaders in 
Kinshasa.  "They never belonged to the process," he 
explained.  When the RCD was based in Goma, Karaha and his 
entourage were powerful.  They lost this preeminence with the 
advent of the transitional government, and no longer hold 
important positions.  In short, they are "very frustrated" 
and did everything they could to make the process 
fail--including actively support the mutinous Gen. Laurent 
Nkunda. 
 
 
COMMENT 
------- 
5. (C) It is unclear whether or not Karaha will be able to 
recruit many others to his "cause."  RCD leaders appear to 
think not, as their response to this political "mutiny" has 
been firm.  It stands in marked contrast to their 
unwillingness to publicly condemn renegade military officers 
Gen. Laurent Nkunda and Col. Jules Mutebusi.  END COMMENT. 
SCOTT