US embassy cable - 05KINSHASA355

UNCLAS KINSHASA 000355 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV, KPKO, PHUM, PREL, MARR, CG 
SUBJECT: MONUC PURSUES MILITIA INVOLVED IN PEACEKEEPERS' 
KILLINGS 
 
REF: KINSHASA 337 
 
1. (SBU) According to MONUC sources, a contingent of 242 
Pakistani special peacekeeping forces on March 1 conducted a 
military operation against the Front for National Integration 
(FNI) in Djugu territory, Ituri. These sources said that 
MONUC engaged over 100 militia and inflicted "heavy 
casualties" on their camp, although at this point there are 
no specific figures. The operation involved the use of attack 
helicopters and armored personnel carriers. Two peacekeepers 
were injured during the engagement and have been evacuated to 
South Africa for medical treatment. Both are expected to 
recover. Reports have linked the FNI and Patriotic Force of 
Resistance in Ituri (FRPI) militias to the brutal killings of 
nine Bangladeshi peacekeepers on February 25 in the outskirts 
of Kafe, Ituri (reftel). 
 
2. (SBU) MONUC sources also report that on March 1st, 
peacekeepers arrested FNI military commander Etienne Lona. 
Other FNI leaders arrested in Kinshasa in the past few days 
include the group's president, Floribert Njabu, and commander 
Goda Sopka. The commander of the FRPI, Germain Katanga, a 
close ally of the Lendu FNI, is also in government custody. 
 
3. (U) MONUC held a memorial service for the nine slain 
Bangladeshi peacekeepers at its Kinshasa headquarters March 
1st. All four Congolese Vice-Presidents (Jean Pierre Bemba, 
Azarias Ruberwa, Arthur Zahidi Ngoma, and Abdulaye Yerodia) 
as well as the Ministers of Interior, Justice, Foreign 
Affairs, and Information, attended the service. CIAT members, 
including the Ambassador, and representatives of 
troop-contributing countries were also present. SRSG William 
Swing and other MONUC speakers eulogized the peacekeepers and 
emphasized the mission's unshaken commitment to the cause of 
peace in the DRC. 
 
4. (U) Bujujmbura minimized considered. 
MEECE