US embassy cable - 05KINSHASA634

C O N F I D E N T I A L KINSHASA 000634 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/14/2015 
TAGS: PGOV, PINS, PREL, ASEC, CG 
SUBJECT: "NON-VIOLENT" OPPOSITION THREATENS UNREST IF LEFT 
OUT OF POWER 
 
 
Classified By: Poloff Edward Bestic for Reasons 1.4 B and D 
 
1. (C) SUMMARY:  Political opposition figure Etienne 
Tshisekedi and his supporters are continuing to preach fiery 
 
SIPDIS 
anti-transitional government rhetoric, and demand that the 
political agreement underpinning the transitional government 
be reopened to give them a share of power.  Top Tshisekedi 
aides claim their party is non-violent, but their overall 
message to the population appears expressly designed to 
incite widespread civil unrest.  END SUMMARY. 
 
A "Non-Violent" Movement? 
------------------------- 
2. (C) Jean-Joseph Mukendi and Aka Mantsia, top aides to 
political opposition figure Etienne Tshisekedi, met April 14 
with the Ambassador, polcouns and poloff.  Mukendi emphasized 
that Tshisekedi's political party, the UDPS, was 
self-professedly non-violent and did not at all want to see 
an outbreak of widespread civil unrest in the Congo over the 
issue of when national elections will occur.  Those in power, 
who control the army and the police, are the real villains, 
he said;  they were simultaneously playing on the 
international community's fears of widespread civil unrest 
and blaming it on the UDPS.  The Ambassador and polcouns 
reminded the two that Tshisekedi's message--that the 
transition ends on June 30, 2005--had the effect of 
heightening rather than lessening tensions, and noted that 
civil unrest could quickly become uncontrollable.  This, in 
turn, could lead to unnecessary deaths and perhaps even delay 
or derail national elections, the centerpiece of the 
transition. 
 
Help Us Get a Seat at the Table 
------------------------------- 
3. (C) Mukendi said the population had lost all confidence in 
the transitional government, and explained that the UDPS 
merely wanted to open a "dialogue" with the transitional 
government, to make it more inclusive and more representative 
before it became too late.  The Ambassador responded that the 
international community believes it would be folly to reopen 
the painstakingly-negotiated All-Inclusive Agreement, and 
said it was unacceptable for any individual or faction to 
unilaterally declare parts of the constitution null and void. 
 (Note:  On April 2, Tshisekedi did exactly that, declaring 
in a speech that the transitional constitution article which 
allows the transitional government two six-month 
extensions--to June 2006--was "null and void" because the 
people wanted it so.  End Note.)  Mukendi in turn declared 
that the UDPS was "not an NGO," and could not simply back 
down from its public stance without getting something in 
return. 
 
UDPS Issues Threats, Demands End to Transitional Govt. 
--------------------------------------------- --------- 
4. (U) Meanwhile, a UDPS flyer obtained by post April 14, 
explaining the party's aims and membership conditions, 
prominently featured a quote from party secretary-general 
Remy Masamba that reads "On June 30, elections or not, 
everything stops."  Also, a memo from the UDPS' youth wing, 
dated April 11 and addressed to the U.S. and other diplomatic 
missions, declared that "at midnight on June 30, 2005, the 
transitional government and its leaders will cease 
functioning," and warned that if their demands were not 
"immediately and unconditionally satisfied, UDPS youths 
reserved the right to use any means" to protect themselves, 
Tshisekedi, and all Congolese, and also to react 
 
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"proportionally and vigorously against any and all attacks, 
regardless of origin." 
 
COMMENT 
------- 
5. (C) Tshisekedi and company appear loathe to abandon their 
strategy of heightening public anger in the hopes of gaining 
power, and we can expect them to continue to do everything 
they can to repeat and amplify their anti-transition message. 
 Although the UDPS certainly cannot claim to represent the 
majority of Congolese, they are the largest and best-known 
political group to have boycotted the transitional 
government, and are making the most of popular ignorance 
about the All-Inclusive Agreement and general frustration 
that the transition has not brought an improvement in 
people's daily lives.  END COMMENT. 
MEECE