Cablegate: (Democratic Republic of Congo): 2000 Annual

R 291430Z NOV 00
FM AMEMBASSY KINSHASA
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 8343

UNCLAS KINSHASA 008008

S/CT FOR REAP

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PTER PGOV PREL CG
SUBJECT: (DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO): 2000 ANNUAL
TERRORISM REPORT

REF: STATE 217248

THE FOLLOWING RESPONSES ARE KEYED TO QUESTIONS IN PARA 3 OF
REFTEL:

A. DURING 2000, THE EMBASSY IS UNAWARE OF ANY ACTS OF
TERRORISM THAT OCCURRED IN THE GOVERNMENT-CONTROLLED AREA OF
THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO (DRC). IN BUKAVU, SOUTH
KIVU, THERE WAS A GRENADE ATTACK AT A CROWDED FESTIVAL
DOWNTOWN THAT KILLED SEVEN PEOPLE AND WOUNDED OVER 100 ON
AUGUST 26. THE RCD-GOMA REBEL GROUP -- WHICH IS SUPPORTED BY
RWANDA -- IMMEDIATELY BLAMED THE INTERAHAMWE FOR THE ATTACK.
THERE WERE RUMORS IN BUKAVU THAT THE RWANDAN MILITARY WAS
RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ATTACK. IT IS UNKNOWN WHETHER THE
RCD-GOMA AUTHORITIES CONDUCTED A CONCLUSIVE INVESTIGATION;
EMBASSY IS UNAWARE OF ARRESTS OR PROSECUTIONS IN THIS CASE.

B. THE GOVERNMENT NEITHER EXTRADITED NOR REQUESTED THE
EXTRADITION OF KNOWN TERRORISTS.

C. THE RULE OF LAW IS ABSENT THROUGHOUT CONGO AND THE
JUSTICE SYSTEM FUNCTIONS ARBITRARILY, IF AT ALL. THE ALREADY
DECIMATED LEGAL INFRASTRUCTURE HAS BEEN REDUCED TO ALMOST
NOTHING DURING THE WAR WHICH BEGAN IN 1998. THE MILITARY
COURT CONTINUES TO TRY CIVIL CASES.

D. THE GDRC MADE NO STATEMENTS IN 2000 REGARDING TERRORIST
INCIDENTS.

E. THE GDRC MADE NO MAJOR COUNTER-TERRORISM EFFORTS IN 2000.

F. THE GDRC DOES NOT SUPPORT INTERNATIONAL TERRORIST GROUPS.

G. THE GDRC HAS NOT MADE PUBLIC STATEMENTS IN SUPPORT OF
TERRORIST-SUPPORTING COUNTRIES ON THE SUBJECT OF TERRORISM.
THE GDRC DOES HAVE DIPLOMATIC TIES TO CUBA, IRAN, LIBYA,
NORTH KOREA AND SUDAN.

H. THERE HAS BEEN NO CHANGE IN THE GDRC'S ATTITUDE TOWARD
TERRORISM.

I. N/A

J. N/A

K. SINCE THE 1998 BOMBINGS IN NAIROBI AND DAR ES SALAAM, THE
EMBASSY HAS ASKED PERMISSION FROM THE GDRC TO CLOSE THE ROAD
IN FRONT OF THE CHANCERY TO INCREASE OUR SETBACK. WHILE THE
GDRC HAS AGREED IN PRINCIPLE, WE HAVE THUS FAR BEEN UNABLE TO
OBTAIN OFFICIAL AUTHORIZATION TO DIVERT AND CLOSE THE ROAD.

SWING

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