US embassy cable - 98KINSHASA6205

UNCLAS KINSHASA 006205 
 
DEPT FOR S/CT FOR REAP 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PTER 
SUBJECT: KINSHASA: 1998 ANNUAL TERRORISM REPORT 
 
REF: STATE 202128 
 
1.  KINSHASA'S ANNUAL SUBMISSION FOR THE DEPARTMENT'S 
REPORT HAS BEEN CLEARED BY ALL RELEVANT SECTIONS IN 
THE EMBASSY. 
 
2.  AS REQUESTED, THE RESPONSE MIRRORS THE FORMAT 
PROVIDED IN REFTEL. 
 
A)  THERE HAVE BEEN NO ACTS OF INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM 
OR SIGNIFICANT ACTS OF DOMESTIC TERRORISM DURING 1998. 
CONSEQUENTLY, THERE HAVE BEEN NO COURT ACTIONS AND NO 
JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS TO MEASURE THE HOST GOVERNMENT 
ACTIONS IN THIS AREA. 
 
B)  THE GDROC HAS NOT EXTRADITED OR BEEN REQUESTED TO 
EXTRADITE ANY SUSPECTED TERRORISTS DURING THE YEAR NOR 
HAS THE USG REQUESTED ANY SUCH ACTION. 
 
C)  N/A 
 
D)  THE GDROC STRONGLY CONDEMNED THE TERRORIST 
BOMBINGS OF THE US EMBASSIES IN NAIROBI AND DAR ES 
SALAAM.  THE STATEMENTS WERE MADE PUBLICLY BY 
PRESIDENT KABILA IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE BOMBINGS. 
 
E)  N/A 
 
F)  ACCORDING TO OTHER REPORTING THERE MAY BE PASSIVE, 
FINANCIAL SUPPORT GROUPS OF THE HIZBOLLAH IN KINSHASA. 
THERE IS NO EVIDENCE THAT THE GDROC SUPPORTS, KNOWS OF 
OR ASSISTS THIS GROUP IN ANY WAY. 
 
G)  WHILE THE GDROC HAS MADE NO PUBLIC STATEMENTS IN 
SUPPORT OF A TERRORIST-SUPPORTING COUNTRY ON A 
TERRORISM ISSUE, IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT THREE STATE 
SPONSORS OF TERRORISM ARE SUPPORTING THE GDROC IN ITS 
CURRENT WAR.  THE SUPPORTING NATIONS ARE: LIBYA, SUDAN 
AND CUBA. 
 
H)  N/A 
 
I)  N/A 
 
J)  OUTSIDE OF REOUESTING NAME TRACES AND DOCUMENT 
SEARCHES, THERE HAVE BEEN NO SUBSTANTIAL REQUESTS MADE 
OF THE GDROC IN THIS AREA.  THE GDROC HAS ALWAYS BEEN 
COOPERATIVE IN THE AREA OF NAME TRACES AND DOCUMENT 
SEARCHES BUT IS LIMITED IN THE ABILITY TO CONDUCT A 
COMPLETE AND CONVINCING SEARCH. 
 
JI)  N/A 
 
JII) THERE ARE CURRENTLY TWO OPEN CT CASES THAT THE 
RSO IS WORKING WITH THE GDROC.  IN ALL RESPECTS THE 
GDROC HAS EXPRESSED THE DESIRE TO INVESTIGATE AND 
ASSIST BUT IT IS CLEAR THAT PERSONNEL HAVE NO 
EXPERIENCE, ARE ILL-TRAINED AND EQUIPPED AND REQUIRE 
MUCH COACHING IN ANY TERRORIST INVESTIGATION. 
 
K)  THE GDROC IS CURRENTLY COOPERATING BY ALLOWING THE 
US EMBASSY TO SEAL OFF NORMAL VEHICULAR TRAFFIC AROUND 
THE CHANCERY AND CONSULATE (BOTH SIT DIRECTLY ON THE 
STREET).  WHILE THE GDROC HAS VERBALLY INDICATED THAT 
THE STREETS CAN BE CLOSED DOWN IT IS UNCERTAIN IF THE 
GDROC WILL ALLOW THIS TO BE MADE A PERMANENT DETERRENT 
TO TERRORISM. 
 
 
SWING