US embassy cable - 05KINSHASA339

UNCLAS KINSHASA 000339 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV, KPKO, PHUM, PREL, MOPS, CG, CIAT 
SUBJECT: CIAT STATEMENT ON ITURI KILLINGS 
 
1. (U) Ambassadors comprising the International Committee to 
Accompany the Transition (CIAT) issued a public statement 
February 28 strongly condemning the killing of nine 
Bangladeshi peacekeepers in Ituri by militiamen on February 
25. Copies of the communique were given to President Kabila 
and the four vice-presidents during a meeting with CIAT 
ambassadors the same day. It appears that about half of those 
named in the CIAT statement may have already been arrested by 
the GDRC. The following is an unofficial translation of the 
CIAT statement: 
 
(Begin Text) 
 
Press Release by the International Committee to Accompany the 
Transition (CIAT) 
 
1) The CIAT strongly condemns the premeditated assassination 
of one Bangladeshi officer and eight soldiers by Ituri 
militia. This attack occurred on February 25 near the 
locality of Kafe, where MONUC soldiers were protecting 8,000 
people displaced by the militia. It was a brutal attack 
against UN troops whose sole objective is to ensure the 
security of civilians. It occurred while a CIAT delegation 
was in the region to evaluate the causes behind the 
resumption of violence in Ituri. 
 
2) The CIAT is seriously concerned about the illegal and 
criminal activities of the Ituri militias and their political 
and military leaders, including those who were recently 
integrated into the FARDC and who are in Kinshasa. The CIAT 
refers specifically to Floribert Njabu, president of the FNI, 
Goda Sukpa, former military commander of the FNI, and Etienne 
Lona, current military commander of the FNI. It also refers 
to Thomas Lubanga, president of the UPC and Bosco Ntaganda, 
military commander of the UPC whose militia wounded several 
MONUC troops in recent weeks. It also refers to Germain 
Katanga, leader of the FRPI who is also responsible for the 
resumption of violence in Ituri and who is also obstructing 
implementation of justice. 
 
3) The CIAT calls for the immediate bringing to justice of 
those responsible for the planning and execution of this 
heinous act. Additionally, the CIAT calls on the transitional 
government to strengthen its support to local authorities and 
to the community disarmament and reintegration program in 
Ituri. It calls on militia members to enroll in this program, 
which will guarantee their return to normal civilian life. 
The CIAT warns their respective leaders against any sabotage 
of this program, which is one of the pacification measures 
taken within the framework of electoral preparations for the 
DRC. 
 
4) (The CIAT is composed of the five permanent members of the 
Security Council (China, The United States, France, Great 
Britain,  and Russia), Belgium, Canada, South Africa, Angola, 
Gabon, Zambia, The European Union (Commission and 
Presidency), the African Union (Commission and Presidency) 
and MONUC.) 
 
Done in Kinshasa, February 28 2005 
 
(End Text) 
 
 2. (U) Bujumbura minimized considered. 
MEECE