US embassy cable - 05KINSHASA271

UNCLAS KINSHASA 000271 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL, KPKO, PHUM, CG 
SUBJECT: MOROCCO ACTS AGAINST PEACEKEEPERS ACCUSED OF 
SEXUAL ABUSE 
 
 
1.(U) Morocco announced February 12 that it had arrested six 
Moroccan troops who had been deployed as a part of MONUC 
peacekeeping forces in the Democratic Republic of the Congo 
as a part of continuing investigations into allegations of 
sexual abuse.  In a press release circulated by the Moroccan 
Embassy in Kinshasa, the Moroccan government also reported 
that it had dispatched a team of Army officers in June 2004 
to begin to assemble information related to the allegations. 
Seventeen troops were reportedly convoked by the Moroccan 
investigative team related to two separate allegations, and 
the six arrests arose from those investigations. 
 
2.(U) The Moroccan government also reported that the 
Commander and Deputy Commander of the 805-strong Moroccan 
MONUC contingent had been relieved of their duties.  The 
Moroccan press release reaffirmed Morocco,s continuing 
support of the UN,s "zero tolerance" policy, and the 
Moroccan government,s strong commitment to fundamental 
principles of the UN Charter, and specifically to ensure 
correct standards of behavior of all its troops. 
 
3.(SBU) Separately UN SRSG Bill Swing told the Ambassador 
that, in initial meetings, the Pakistani General assigned to 
command the new Pakistani brigade now being formed in South 
Kivu affirmed in very strong terms his intention that the 
brigade would not provide new cases of misconduct.  The 
General reportedly indicated that he was well aware of the 
allegations of sexual misconduct that have arisen from MONUC 
troop conduct and was determined that the Pakistani South 
Kivu brigade would set a very high standard of correct 
behavior. 
 
4.(SBU) Comment: The Moroccan action is a welcome sign of 
commitment from a troop-contributing country to address the 
serious allegations of MONUC troop sexual misconduct.  While 
hardly a definitive resolution of the problem, combined with 
prosecution of offenders in France and South Africa, it does 
help create movement toward effective action against 
offenders, and thus a substantially higher deterrence level 
against future misconduct.  MONUC has very limited capacity 
for disciplinary action absent active cooperation from 
troop-contributing country governments, and at least these 
initial signs from several of the major players are 
encouraging signs that effective corrective action regarding 
this serious issue is being initiated.  End comment. 
 
5.(U) Bujumbura minimize considered. 
MEECE