US embassy cable - 04KINSHASA1545

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KINSHASA 001545 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/31/2014 
TAGS: PHUM, CG, PGOV PREL, MONUC 
SUBJECT: CIAT AND GDRC CONDEMN GATUMBA MASSACRE 
 
REF: A. BUJUMBURA 821 B. MEECE/SANDERSON EMAILS TO 
 
     OPERATIONS CENTER 8/14 AND 8/15 
 
Classified By: Poloff Meghan Moore for Reasons 1.5 B and D 
 
1. (C) Summary: The International Committee Accompanying the 
Transition (CIAT) and the GDRC strongly condemn the August 13 
attack on the Gatumba refugee camp and call for an 
independent international commission to investigate the 
massacre and bring those responsible to justice. Post 
believes such an investigation is necessary to punish the 
perpetrators and prevent this horrible act from derailing the 
fragile peace process.  End summary. 
 
Conflicting Reports 
-------------------- 
2. (SBU) On August 14, UNHCR reported that at least 156 
Congolese refugees, the vast majority of whom were 
Banyamulenge, including large numbers of women and children, 
were killed the night of August 13. The fatalities are 
expected to increase as there are a number of burn victims in 
local hospitals who are not expected to survive. At the 
August 15 special CIAT meeting, SRSG Swing provided a 
read-out of the initial MONUC report. He said that based on 
preliminary evidence, it appears the attack started at about 
2200 local time, was well-organized and planned and strictly 
targeted at the Banyamulenge section of the camp. (Note: The 
Banyamulenge refugees were separated from Burundian IDPs and 
non-Banyamulenge Congolese refugees at the camp. End note.) 
The method of killing the victims, who were hacked, shot, 
burned, and in some cases had their heads bashed in, was 
consistent with the FNL, who claimed responsibility. 
 
3. (SBU) MONUC Bukavu (which conducted the initial 
investigation) reported conflicting stories from survivors, 
including one Banyamulenge man who said he was visiting 
Burundian IDPs in another section of the camp the night of 
August 13 who warned him not to return to his tent because 
something was about to happen. Another survivor said that 
there were 2 bands of attackers who were speaking a medley of 
languages, including Swahili, Kinyarwanda and Lingala. 
 
4. (C) On August 14, MONUC Bukavu Officer told polcouns that 
contrary to some RCD/G statements, MONUC had not received any 
reports that troops crossed from the DRC into Burundi the 
night of August 13. Likewise, the GDRC did not close the 
DRC/Burundi border on August 13 or 14. He said that there 
were rumors that the attack may have been targeted at men 
loyal to Mutebusi and their families, and that UNHCR staff in 
Bukavu has told him that UNHCR was investigating reports that 
there were arms caches at the camp. 
 
----------------- 
Initial Responses 
----------------- 
 
(Note: Full texts to follow septel. End note.) 
 
CIAT 
---- 
 
5. (U) On August 15, the CIAT met and issued a statement 
condemning this 'abominable act,' which was designed to 
deliberately sabotage the peace process in the DRC and 
provoke regional instability. It offers condolences to 
families of the victims, to the transition government and the 
Congolese people, and calls on members of the transitional 
government and countries in the region to conduct themselves 
in a responsible manner consistent with existing accords. The 
CIAT hopes that an independent international commission will 
be established to investigate the massacre and bring those 
responsible to justice. 
 
 
President Kabila and the GDRC 
----------------------------- 
 
6. (C)  On August 14, President Kabila's spokesman issued a 
statement offering condolences to families of the victims, 
strongly condemning the attack, and calling for an 
international commission to investigate the massacre and 
punish those responsible. On August 15, a presidential 
advisor told Ambassador that moderate members of the 
presidency had worked very hard to ensure that this statement 
was issued despite resistance by hardliners. On August 16, 
the MFA will brief Security Council ambassadors (septel). On 
August 14, Pastor Ngoy was arrested in Kinshasa for his 
extreme view on nationality. (Comment: Ngoy, a notorious 
tele-evangelist has incited hatred against Banyamulenge in 
the past. His arrest may have been ordered to send a signal 
that hate speech in the DRC will not be tolerated. End 
comment.) 
 
7. (C) A number of international and national delegations to 
Burundi appear to be in the planning stages. On August 16, 
SRSG reported that MONUC had sent a 3-person delegation to 
Burundi earlier that morning and that he is working with the 
UN High Commission for Human Rights in Geneva who plans to 
send a mission as well. Unfortunately, internal GDRC 
responses thus far have been poorly coordinated. On August 
16, Ministry of Human Rights dircab told poloff that he had 
heard there would be an official delegation sent to Burundi, 
but he did not know if his Ministry would be represented. He 
suggested poloff speak to the Ministry of Interior who he 
thought was leading the delegation. Ministry of Interior 
dircab told poloff that he thought the GDRC might send a 
delegation tomorrow, but had no details about its composition 
or mission. On August 16, MONUC poloff told poloff that MONUC 
was aware that the GDRC wished to send delegations to 
Burundi, but MONUC was very concerned about poor coordination 
between different elements of the GDRC. 
 
VP Ruberwa and the RCD/G 
------------------------ 
 
8. (U) On August 14, VP Ruberwa, who is responsible for 
security issues, made a statement on Radio Okapi condemning 
the massacre, which he qualified as genocide, and claimed 
that the Mai Mai were involved. In an interview recorded on 
August 14 that was broadcast on August 15, Ruberwa called for 
an international investigation and said that the attackers 
were Congolese, Interahamwe and FNL.  On August 15, he 
returned to Gatumba with a number of hard-line Banyamulenge 
leaders, including Benoit Kadage (Note: Ruberwa had also 
visited the camp the day before the attack. End note.). 
 
9. (U) On August 14, RCD/G Secretary General Francis Bedi 
issued a statement accusing two companies of the FARDC from 
Uvira commanded by a Major Ekofo, allegedly Col. Nakabaka's 
deputy, of participating in the massacre with the FNL. They 
allege the massacre was planned in Walungu during the course 
of a secret meeting with General Mabe. In addition to calling 
on the national government to condemn this act of genocide 
targeting a well-defined ethnic group, they called for 
investigations of the massacre, the immediate unconditional 
disarming of all genocidal negative forces allied with 
certain Congolese groups, notably the Mai Mai, and 
accelerating the integration of the FARDC. S. Kivu 
Banyamulenge Vice-Governer, Thomas Nzaratimana, spent the 
nights of August 14 and 15 at Gatumba. 
 
Mai Mai 
------- 
 
10. (U) On August 14, a Mai Mai political leader in Kinshasa 
issued a statement saying that the Mai Mai were not 
responsible for the Gatumba massacre, because since July 23 
various S. Kivu Banyamulenge and Mai Mai have been involved 
in a truth and reconciliation mission. On August 14 or 15, a 
spokesman for Col. Nakabaka, a Mai Mai commander based in 
Uvira, condemned the attack on Radio Okapi, said that 
allegations against the Mai Mai were not founded, and 
regretted that Ruberwa and the President of Burundi both 
blamed the Mai Mai. He said that the Mai Mai have never been 
involved in missions outside the DRC, did not cross the 
border into Burundi, and live in peace with the Banyamulenge. 
He opined that if politicians are trying to encourage hate in 
the region to provoke another war, they will be responsible 
for the consequences. 
 
Comment 
------- 
 
11. (C) The confusion regarding an official GDRC delegation 
to Gatumba may stem in part from the absence of President 
Kabila, who has gone to Mauritius for the SADC meetings. An 
international investigation to bring the responsible to 
justice is necessary to both punish the perpetrators and 
prevent this horrible act from derailing the fragile peace 
process. 
MEECE