Résumé
In a February 4 meeting with AF DAS
Bushnell, RPF chairman Kanyarengwe blamed President
Habyarimana for the current impasse over formation of the
Transition Government. Kanyarengwe reported that the
parties have set a new deadline of February 15 for
formation of the government. He claimed that Habyarimana
engineered the split in the PL party and is trying to
forge an alliance with the PL to obtain a blocking
minority in the Transition Government. The RPF believes
the Transition Assembly should seat the PL deputies
chosen in September, but will accept a compromise list if
the compromise is acceptable to the PL factions
themselves. DAS Bushnell told the RPF that the Peace
Accords must be implemented and the Government formed as
soon as possible. She said the Rwandans risked a great
deal if they failed to honor the commitments made at
Arusha. She urged the RPF to be flexible and compromise
on forming the Government, but cautioned the RPF against
interfering in the internal politics of other parties.
Citation
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2080
DRAFTED BY: AF/C: KCAISTON
APPROVED BY: AF/FO: PXBUSHNELL
AF/C: AXRENDER
23A19F 091425Z /38
P R 091420Z FEB 94
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO AMEMBASSY KIGALI PRIORITY
INFO AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS
AMEMBASSY BUJUMBURA
AMEMBASSY DAR ES SALAAM
AMEMBASSY KAMPALA
AMEMBASSY KINSHASA
AMEMBASSY NAIROBI
AMEMBASSY PARIS
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
AMEMBASSY YAOUNDE
CONFIDENTIALSTATE 034617
E.O. 12356: DECL: OADR
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TAGS: PREL PGOV BY
SUBJECT: KANYARENGWE BLAMES IMPASSE ON ... (SURPRISE) HABYARIMANA
1.
CONFIDENTIAL - ENTIRE TEXT.
2. SUMMARY. IN A FEBRUARY 4 MEETING WITH AF DAS
BUSHNELL, RPF CHAIRMAN KANYARENGWE BLAMED PRESIDENT
HABYARIMANA FOR THE CURRENT IMPASSE OVER FORMATION OF THE
TRANSITION GOVERNMENT. KANYARENGWE REPORTED THAT THE
PARTIES HAVE SET A NEW DEADLINE OF FEBRUARY 15 FOR
FORMATION OF THE GOVERNMENT. HE CLAIMED THAT HABYARIMANA
ENGINEERED THE SPLIT IN THE PL PARTY AND IS TRYING TO
FORGE AN ALLIANCE WITH THE PL TO OBTAIN A BLOCKING
MINORITY IN THE TRANSITION GOVERNMENT. THE RPF BELIEVES
THE TRANSITION ASSEMBLY SHOULD SEAT THE PL DEPUTIES
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE
REVIEW AUTHORITY: CHARLES L PARIS
DATE/CASE ID: 22 MAR 2006 200103014
F4
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UNCLASSIFIED
CHOSEN IN SEPTEMBER, BUT WILL ACCEPT A COMPROMISE LIST IF
THE COMPROMISE IS ACCEPTABLE TO THE PL FACTIONS
THEMSELVES. DAS BUSHNELL TOLD THE RPF THAT THE PEACE
ACCORDS MUST BE IMPLEMENTED AND THE GOVERNMENT FORMED AS
SOON AS POSSIBLE. SHE SAID THE RWANDANS RISKED A GREAT
DEAL IF THEY FAILED TO HONOR THE COMMITMENTS MADE AT
ARUSHA. SHE URGED THE RPF TO BE FLEXIBLE AND COMPROMISE
ON FORMING THE GOVERNMENT, BUT CAUTIONED THE RPF AGAINST
INTERFERING IN THE INTERNAL POLITICS OF OTHER PARTIES.
END SUMMARY.
3. RPF CHAIRMAN ALEXIS KANYARENGWE CAME TO WASHINGTON
LAST WEEK FOR THE CONGRESSIONAL PRAYER BREAKFAST. HE MET
WITH AF DAS BUSHNELL ON FEBRUARY 4 TO DISCUSS THE CURRENT
IMPASSE OVER FORMATION OF THE BROAD-BASED TRANSITION
GOVERNMENT. ACCOMPANYING KANYARENGWE WERE SETH
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SENDASHONGA, NAMED BY THE RPF TO BE MINISTER OF YOUTH IN
THE NEXT GOVERNMENT, LOCAL RPF REP CHARLES MURIGANDE, AND
KANYARENGWE'S PERSONAL PHYSICIAN, DR. RICHARD MASOZERA.
DAS BUSHNELL WAS JOINED BY AF/C DIRECTOR RENDER AND
RWANDA DESKOFF AISTON (NOTETAKER).
HABYARIMANA BLAMED FOR IMPASSE; FEB. 15 DEADLINE SET
4. THE RPF PLACED THE BLAME FOR THE CURRENT IMPASSE
SQUARELY ON HABYARIMANA. KANYARENGWE SAID THAT
HABYARIMANA AND THE MRND ARE NOT HAPPY WITH THE BALANCE
OF POWER BETWEEN THE PARTIES, AS SET FORTH IN THE ARUSHA
ACCORDS. HE CLAIMED THAT HABYARIMANA IS TRYING TO
REBALANCE THE POLITICAL FORCES AND FORGE AN ALLIANCE WITH
THE LIBERAL PARTY (PL) IN ORDER TO OBTAIN A BLOCKING
MINORITY IN BOTH THE GOVERNMENT AND TRANSITION ASSEMBLY.
ACCORDING TO KANYARENGWE, HABYARIMANA WAS BEHIND THE
PARTY SPLITS WHICH HAVE LED TO COMPETING PARLIAMENTARY
AND MINISTERIAL LISTS. THE RPF FEARS THAT HABYARIMANA'S
EFFORTS COULD UNDERMINE THE POWERSHARING ARRANGEMENT IN
THE ARUSHA ACCORD, WHICH WAS DESIGNED TO ENSURE THAT
NEITHER THE MRND NOR THE RPF WOULD HAVE THE BALANCE OF
POWER.
5. KANYARENGWE SAID THAT THE RPF HAS HELD A SERIES OF
MEETINGS WITH OTHER PARTIES (INCLUDING THE MRND), THE UN
SPECIAL ENVOY, AND THE DIPLOMATIC CORPS IN AN EFFORT TO
RESOLVE THE IMPASSE. HE ADDED THAT THE PARTIES HAVE SET
A DEADLINE OF FEBRUARY 15 FOR INSTALLATION OF THE
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UNCLASSIFIED
ASSEMBLY AND APPARENTLY PLAN TO HAVE THE CONSTITUTIONAL
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COURT SWEAR IN THE DEPUTIES WITHOUT HABYARIMANA IF HE
DOESN'T MOVE TO END THE IMPASSE BEFORE THEN.
RPF FEARS VIOLENCE; SEES POSSIBLE ECONOMIC RUIN, FAMINE
6. KANYARENGWE NOTED THAT HABYARIMANA STILL CONTROLS THE
SECURITY APPARATUS. HE SAID THE RPF FEARED THERE MAY BE
VIOLENCE IF THE OTHER PARTIES PROCEED TO SWEAR IN THE
ASSEMBLY WITHOUT HABYARIMANA. HOWEVER, HE ADDED THAT
VIOLENCE IS ALREADY A PROBLEM AND POINTED TO THE
ACTIVITIES OF THE MRND MILITIA AND THE SPORADIC BOMBINGS,
SUGGESTING THAT THE RPF CONSIDERED THE POSSIBILITY OF
FURTHER VIOLENCE FROM PROCEEDING WITHOUT HABYARIMANA TO
BE WORTH THE RISK.
7. THE RPF CHAIRMAN CLAIMED THAT HABYARIMANA IS ARMING
THE POPULATION AND ORDERING MORE WEAPONS FROM EGYPT AND
SOUTH AFRICA, WHICH RAISED QUESTIONS ABOUT HIS COMMITMENT
TO THE PEACE PROCESS. KANYARENGWE SAID THE RPF WAS VERY
CONCERNED THAT THE CONTINUING IMPASSE AND REPEATED
INCIDENTS OF VIOLENCE COULD LEAD TO RENEWED ETHNIC
MASSACRES. HE ADDED THAT RWANDA WAS APPROACHING ECONOMIC
RUIN. HE LAMENTED THE PLIGHT OF THE DISPLACED AND
REFUGEE POPULATIONS AND SAID THE CURRENT DROUGHT AND
ADDED DEMANDS PLACED ON THE COUNTRY BY "OUTSIDE" (I.E.,
BURUNDI) REFUGEES THREATENED THE POPULATION WITH FAMINE.
B. HAVING OUTLINED THE SITUATION AS THE RPF SEES IT,
KANYARENGWE URGED THE U.S. TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE
PEACE PROCESS AND TO PUT PRESSURE ON HABYARIMANA TO FORM
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THE GOVERNMENT. HE POINTED TO OUR CRUCIAL ROLE IN
ASSISTING THE ARUSHA NEGOTIATIONS AND SAID THAT IT WOULD
BE CHEAPER TO APPLY PRESSURE NOW THAN TO TRY TO CLEAN UP
THE MESS IF HOSTILITIES WERE TO RESUME.
DAS BUSHNELL SAYS ACCORDS MUST BE IMPLEMENTED
9. DAS BUSHNELL REPLIED THAT WE SHARED KANYARENGWE'S
CONCERN OVER THE CONTINUING IMPASSE. SHE EMPHASIZED THE
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OVERRIDING IMPORTANCE OF IMPLEMENTING THE ACCORDS AND
ENCOURAGED KANYARENGWE AND THE RPF TO CONTINUE
NEGOTIATIONS AND BE WILLING TO COMPROMISE AND DO WHAT IS
NECESSARY TO SEE THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS INSTALLED. SHE
REMINDED KANYARENGWE THAT THE WAR WAS OVER AND URGED THE
RPF TO CEASE ITS INFLAMMATORY BROADCASTS OVER CLANDESTINE
RADIO MUHABURA, WHICH WERE COUNTERPRODUCTIVE TO THE PEACE
PROCESS AND COULD INCITE THE POPULATION TO VIOLENCE.
10. DAS BUSHNELL WARNED THAT RWANDANS RISKED A GREAT
DEAL IF THEY FAILED TO REACH A COMPROMISE AND FORM THE
GOVERNMENT. SHE POINTED OUT THAT THE RWANDANS' FAILURE
TO FORM A GOVERNMENT IS A TOPIC OF DISCUSSION IN THE UN
AND THAT OUR CONGRESS AND THE USG ARE LOOKING MORE AND
MORE CRITICALLY AT PEACEKEEPING MISSIONS. IF RWANDANS
WANT TO ENSURE THE CONTINUED SUPPORT OF THE INTERNATIONAL
COMMUNITY, DAS BUSHNELL EMPHASIZED THAT THE RWANDANS MUST
SHOW PROGRESS IN IMPLEMENTING THE PEACE ACCORDS. SHE
URGED COMPROMISE BUT CAUTIONED AGAINST INTERFERING IN
OTHER PARTY'S INTERNAL AFFAIRS. DAS BUSHNELL ADDED THAT
WE ARE SENDING THE SAME MESSAGE TO HABYARIMANA.
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RPF NOT WEDDED TO SEPT. PL LIST
11. THE FOCUS OF THE MEETING THEN TURNED TO THE MAIN
IMPEDIMENT TO FORMATION OF THE GOVERNMENT: THE SPLIT IN
THE PL AND THE RESULTING COMPETING LIST OF ASSEMBLY
DEPUTIES. KANYARENGWE SAID THAT HABYARIMANA IS USING THE
SPLIT IN THE PARTIES AS A PRETEXT FOR CHANGING THE
BALANCE OF POWER AGREED TO IN THE ARUSHA ACCORDS. HE
SAID THE RPF ACCEPTS THE ACCORDS IN THEIR ENTIRETY AND
DOES NOT WANT TO SEE THEM CHANGED.
12. AF/C DIRECTOR RENDER REPLIED THAT IT APPEARED BOTH
HABYARIMANA AND THE RPF WERE TRYING TO DO THE SAME THING,
I.E., TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE SPLIT TO ENSURE THAT THE
FACTION THEY FAVORED WAS SEATED IN THE ASSEMBLY.
KANYARENGWE CLAIMED, HOWEVER, THAT THE RPF'S POSITION WAS
BASED ON PRINCIPLE: IN THE RPF'S VIEW, THE LIST CHOSEN
BY PARTY CAUCUSES IN SEPTEMBER, PRIOR TO THE REAL SPLIT
IN THE PL, WAS THE LEGITIMATE ("BONNE") LIST, NOT THE
LATER LIST NAMED UNILATERALLY BY PL PRESIDENT MUGENZI.
RPF TOLD TO LEAVE PL LIST TO PL
UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED
13. DAS BUSHNELL AND AF/c DIRECTOR RENDER RESPONDED THAT
IT WAS UP TO THE PL ITSELF, NOT THE RPF, TO DECIDE WHICH
LIST WAS THE PROPER ONE AND THAT THE RPF SHOULD NOT
INTERFERE IN THE PL'S PROCESS OF SELECTING DEPUTIES.
SENDASHONGA, WHO TOOK OVER MUCH OF THE CONVERSATION AT
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THIS POINT, REPLIED THAT IF THE RPF HAD WANTED TO
INTERFERE IN THE SELECTION OF THE PL LIST, THEY WOULD NOT
HAVE COME TO KIGALI IN LATE DECEMBER WITHOUT SOME
GUARANTEES ON THAT SUBJECT. IN FACT, SENDASHONGA SAID,
THE RPF ARRIVED EXPECTING THE GOVERNMENT TO FORM THE NEXT
DAY AND ONLY FOUND OUT LATER THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM
WITH THE PL LIST.
14. WHEN PRESSED, SENDASHONGA CONCEDED THAT THE RPF
WOULD ACCEPT WHATEVER LIST THE PL ITSELF FINALLY
COMPROMISES ON, EVEN IF IT'S NOT THE SEPTEMBER LIST,
PROVIDED THAT THERE IS A CONSENSUS ON THE LIST WITHIN THE
PL ITSELF. HOWEVER, AS LONG AS THE SPLIT REMAINS, THE
RPF THINKS THE SEPTEMBER LIST IS THE MORE LEGITIMATE ONE.
RPF REMINDED THAT IT'S JUST A TRANSITION
15. URGING THE RPF TO BE FLEXIBLE, AF/C DIRECTOR RENDER
REMINDED THE RPF THAT THIS IS JUST A TRANSITION PERIOD
AND THAT THE COMPOSITION OF THE GOVERNMENT WILL
ULTIMATELY BE DECIDED BY ELECTIONS AT THE END OF THE
TRANSITION PERIOD. SENDASHONGA OBJECTED TO THIS LINE OF
ARGUMENT, SAYING THAT THE TRANSITION WAS MORE THAN JUST A
PRELUDE TO ELECTIONS. RATHER, THE POWERSHARING
ARRANGEMENT AGREED TO AT ARUSHA WAS INTENDED TO PAVE THE
WAY FOR PROFOUND REFORMS OF THE RWANDAN SOCIETY. IF THE
MRND MANAGES, THROUGH MANIPULATION OF THE CURRENT PARTY
SPLITS, TO GET A BLOCKING MINORITY THAT WAS NOT AGREED
UPON AT ARUSHA, REFORMS COULD BE BLOCKED, UNDERMINING THE
PURPOSE OF THE ARUSHA AGREEMENTS, AS THE RPF SEES IT.
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16. DAS BUSHNELL AND AF/C DIRECTOR RENDER AGREED THAT
REFORM IS ALSO AT STAKE, BUT THEY EMPHASIZED THAT THE
PARTIES HAVE TO LEARN TO ACCEPT THE RESPONSIBILITY AND
AUTONOMY OF THE OTHER POLITICAL PARTIES INVOLVED.
UNCLASSIFIED
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ALLIANCES OF SOME SORT ARE INEVITABLE IN POLITICS AND
DEMOCRACY. DAS BUSHNELL REITERATED THAT EACH SIDE MUST
RESPECT THE OTHER POLITICAL FORMATIONS AND THAT THE RPF
SHOULD EXAMINE HOW IT AS A PARTY CAN HELP UNBLOCK THE
IMPASSE, RATHER THAN FOCUSING ON WHAT OTHER PARTIES ARE
OR ARE NOT DOING.
17. COMMENT: THE MEETING DID NOT SEEM TO MOVE THE RPF
OFF ITS CURRENT POSITION THAT HABYARIMANA IS TO BLAME FOR
EVERYTHING. WE HAD THE IMPRESSION THAT THE RPF WAS
CONCERNED THAT WE DID NOT IMMEDIATELY AGREE WITH THE
LOGIC OF THEIR ARGUMENT AND JOIN THEM IN FINGERING
HABYARIMANA AS THE VILLAIN. THEY REFUSED TO ENTERTAIN
THE IDEA THAT THE THEY THEMSELVES MIGHT SOMEHOW BE PARTLY
RESPONSIBLE FOR THE IMPASSE AND FAILED TO EVEN RESPOND
WHEN DAS BUSHNELL CHIDED THE RPF FOR USING RADIO MUHABURA
TO RAISE TENSIONS AND INFLAME PASSIONS. HOWEVER, SOME
PROGRESS WAS MADE WHEN THE RPF CONCEDED THAT THEY WOULD
ACCEPT A COMPROMISE PL DEPUTIES LIST, IF THE LIST IS
ACCEPTABLE TO THE PL FACTIONS THEMSELVES. END COMMENT
CHRISTOPHER
CONFIDENTIAL
<< END OF DOCUMENT >>
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