US embassy cable - 05KINSHASA1091

C O N F I D E N T I A L KINSHASA 001091 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/31/2014 
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, CG 
SUBJECT: FDLR STATEMENT 
 
REF: KINSHASA 1078 
 
Classified By: Polcouns Mel Sanderson for Reasons 1.4 B and D 
 
1. (C)  National Security Advisor Samba Kaputo told 
Ambassador and other Tripartite ambassadors June 22 (reftel) 
that the GDRC was preparing an official statement regarding 
FDLR repatriation, which would be followed by the release of 
an FDLR statement indicating willingness to participate in 
unconditional return.  The government statement was never 
released, although an FDLR statement -- reiterating 
conditions -- was.  Ambassador and other Tripartite 
ambassadors will meet again with Kaputo July 6 to press for 
Congolese government action on the FDLR return. 
 
2. (U) Unofficial translation of the June 25 FDLR statement 
follows: 
 
DEMOCRATIC FORCES FOR THE LIBERATION OF RWANDA DECLARATION OF 
COMBATANT FORCES ABACUNGUZI (FOCA) 
 
We, ABACUNGUZI, FOCA combatant forces, 
 
Convinced that the peaceful way is the only alternative for 
resolving the Rwandan conflict, a source of generalized 
instability and insecurity in the Great Lakes region; 
 
Seeing the obstruction of the Rome process by Kigali on the 
one hand, which continues in its bellicose ideas, and on the 
other hand (problems caused) by the current command of FOCA 
which has shown its limitations and inability to avail itself 
of this opportunity and handle this issue; 
 
Activated by the firm willingness to contribute to the 
safeguard of the interest of each of the people in the 
sub-region of the Great Lakes endangered by an endless war 
and to favor the future of the Hutu community in exile in the 
DRC, who long for a peaceful return to Rwanda to live in 
harmony with the other ethnic groups; 
 
Subscribing to the efforts of the facilitator of the Rome 
declaration, Father Matteo ZUPPI of the San'Egidio community 
and of those Democratic Republic of the Congo's government, 
to achieve peace in the Great Lakes region; 
 
Aware of our responsibility before God, History and the 
Rwandan people; 
 
Decide and declare the following: 
 
- The current leadership of the FOCA is released of all of 
its duties and fired as of Friday, June 24, 2005. It is 
provisionally replaced by the military leadership for change 
"CMC FOCA." 
 
- We confirm our total adhesion to the Rome declaration and 
reiterate our determination to restart the peace process as 
soon as possible. We call for the rapid establishment of the 
steering committee. 
 
- We call on the international community to establish all 
security requirements necessary to enable us to go back to 
Rwanda. In the same vein we call on the international 
community to become actively involved in getting President 
KAGAME to renounce his bellicose behavior that has plunged 
the sub-region into mourning for more than a decade and to 
convince him to commit himself to the process and thus 
facilitate its progress. 
 
- We are prepared to discuss these security requirements with 
the DRC government, the international community and the San' 
Egidio community. 
 
- We urge the Congolese government to firmly support this 
process because peace in DRC depends on it. 
 
- Finally, from our perspective, through this declaration, we 
extend our hand to all those who love peace in Rwanda, in DRC 
and elsewhere, to work together and give hope back to the 
people of the region who have suffered the torments of war 
for too long. 
 
Done in Mwenga, on June 24, 2005 
For the CMC FOCA 
Col AMANI Jeribual 
MEECE