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ORIGIN AF-01
PTQ2927
STATE 202770 251703Z
INFO LOG-00 OASY-00 TEDE-00 ADS-00 ONY-00 SSO-00
DRAFTED BY: AF/C: MBLEONARD
APPROVED BY: AF/C: EESVENDSEN
E6BA8F 251705Z /38
R 251701Z AUG 95
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO AMEMBASSY BUJUMBURA
AMEMBASSY KIGALI
CONFIDENTIALSTATE 202770
E.O. 12356: DECL: 08/25/05
TAGS: AMGT RW BY CG
SUBJECT: OFFICIAL-INFORMAL
1.
RECENT SITREPS ON ZAIRE REFOULEMENT FOLLOW:
2.
AUGUST 24
(C) FORCED REPATRIATIONS WERE HALTED FOR TODAY, BUT WITH
NO ASSURANCES THAT THE SUSPENSION WOULD CONTINUE PENDING
THE ARRIVAL OF HIGH COMMISSIONER OGATA IN ZAIRE TO
DISCUSS A RESOLUTION OF THE REFUGEE PROBLEM. NONE OF
EMBASSY KINSHASA'S CONTACTS WOULD CONFIRM AN OFFICIAL
CHANGE OF GOZ POLICY ON REPATRIATION. THE ONE-DAY
SUSPENSION MAY BE A TEST OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY'S
WILLINGNESS TO PROVIDE ZAIRE ADDITIONAL ASSURANCES OF
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STATE 202770 251703Z
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE
REVIEW AUTHORITY: JOHN L MILLS
DATE/CASE ID: 17 JUL 2007 200103014
UNCLASSIFIED
/001R
UNCLASSIFIED
RAPID AND MEANINGFUL ACTION ON THE REFUGEE ISSUE, AS PM
KENGO REQUESTED OF A/S MOOSE IN THEIR AUGUST 23 TELEPHONE
CONVERSATION.
(C) THE ZAIRIAN AMBASSADOR IN PARIS GOT AHEAD OF HIS
GOVERNMENT, ISSUING A STATEMENT THAT THE REPATRIATIONS
WOULD STOP IN LIGHT OF AN AGREEMENT WITH UNCHR. THE
ZAIRIAN CHARGE IN WASHINGTON PHONED AF/C TO CONFIRM THAT
HIS COUNTERPART IN PARIS HAD SPOKEN OUT OF TURN. REUTER
APPARENTLY PICKED UP THE ERRONEOUS REPORT.
(C) UNHCR DELIVERED A FORMAL PROPOSAL EARLY AUGUST 24
FOR MRS. OGATA (CURRENTLY IN JAPAN) TO MEET WITH PRIME
MINISTER KENGO. THEY HAVE APPARENTLY ARRANGED TO MEET IN
GENEVA ON AUGUST 28. NO INTERIM PHONE CALL FROM MRS.
OGATA IS PLANNED, BUT UNHCR'S CARROL FAUBERT, WHO IS IN
THE REGION, IS REPORTEDLY IN FREQUENT CONTACT WITH
KENGO.
(C) THE FRENCH DEMARCHED KENGO AUGUST 23 ALONG LINES
SIMILAR TO OURS. WHILE THEY CONSIDER MRS. OGATA'S TRIP A
POSITIVE STEP, THEY ALSO BELIEVE THERE SHOULD BE A
REGIONAL CONFERENCE TO CONSIDER STRATEGIES TO ADDRESS THE
REGION'S MANY PROBLEMS. THEY BELIEVE THE REFOULEMENT WAS
SPURRED BY ZAIRE'S PERCEPTION OF INATTENTION TO ITS
NEEDS, AND BY THE LIFTING OF THE ARMS EMBARGO.
(SBU) THE GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTER ISSUED A STATEMENT
AUGUST 23 ASKING THE ZAIRIAN GOVERNMENT TO STOP THE
FORCIBLE REPATRIATION AND COORDINATE WITH RWANDA AND THE
UNHCR TO ORGANIZE THE RETURN OF THE REFUGEES. HE NOTED
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STATE 202770 251703Z
THAT DURING HIS TRIP TO THE REGION IN JULY, HE HAD
EMPHASIZED TO THE GOR THE NEED TO CREATE CONDITIONS
CONDUCIVE TO THE RETURN. HARALD GANNS, A/S MOOSE'S
GERMAN COUNTERPART, IS IN RWANDA TO ADDRESS THE REFUGEE
PROBLEM AND CONDITIONS IN THE PRISONS.
(C) MRS. OGATA AND SYG BOUTROS-GHALI HAVE ASKED THE
GOVERNMENT OF JAPAN FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO ZAIRE TO
REPAIR THE DAMAGE CAUSED BY THE REFUGEE PRESENCE. JAPAN
UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED
IS CANVASSING OTHER DONORS FOR THEIR CONTRIBUTION PLANS,
BUT APPEARS DISPOSED TO PITCH IN FINANCIALLY. ACCORDING
TO THE JAPANESE EMBASSY IN WASHINGTON, NEITHER GERMANY
NOR THE UK INTENDS A NEW CONTRIBUTION TO ZAIRE.
3. AUGUST 23
(C) THE FORCED REPATRIATIONS CONTINUED ON AUGUST 23.
UNHCR REPORTED APPROXIMATELY 14,000 REFUGEES HAD BEEN
RETURNED TO RWANDA AND BURUNDI BY THE EVENING OF AUGUST
22. THEY NOTED THE PACE OF THE REPATRIATION IS SLOWING,
BOTH BECAUSE OF POOR ORGANIZATION/LOGISTIC OBSTACLES
(FUEL SHORTAGES, VEHICLE BREAKDOWNS) AND BECAUSE SOME
REFUGEES ARE FLEEING TO THE HILLS. AN ESTIMATED 130,000
REFUGEES HAVE DONE SO.
(C) THE SECURITY COUNCIL APPROVED A PRESIDENTIAL
STATEMENT ON THE REFUGEE REPATRIATION. ZAIRIAN FOREIGN
MINISTER KAMANDA ISSUED A COMMUNIQUE REGRETTING THAT THIS
STATEMENT DID NOT MORE EXPLICITLY TAKE ZAIRE'S EFFORTS TO
ACCOMMODATE THE REFUGEES INTO ACCOUNT. A/S MOOSE PHONED
PM KENGO, POINTING OUT THAT THE SUBSTANCE OF ZAIRE'S
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CONCERNS (BURDEN IMPOSED ON REFUGEES, NEED FOR MORE
PROACTIVE RWANDAN STANCE TO ENCOURAGE RETURN, ASSISTANCE
TO CARE FOR REFUGEES) WAS IN FACT ADDRESSED IN THE UNSC
STATEMENT. KENGO WAS NOT ENTIRELY MOLLIFIED, BUT
APPEARED TO BE SEEKING FURTHER ASSURANCE THAT WOULD ALLOW
HIM TO DECLARE A SUSPENSION TO THE REPATRIATION. AF/C
WILL EXPLORE WITH PRM AVENUES TO INVOLVE THE UNHCR AND
MRS. OGATA IN THIS REASSURANCE EXERCISE. AS OF TODAY,
HOWEVER, KENGO GAVE NO ASSURANCE OF AN IMMEDIATE HALT TO
THE REFOULEMENT.
(C) BOTH THE BELGIAN EMBASSY AFRICA WATCHER AND AID
KIGALI NOTED THAT SOME OF THE REPATRIATIONS ARE BEING
CALLED VOLUNTARY. WITH THE ZAIRIAN LOGISTIC DISARRAY,
SOME REFUGEES HAVE WALKED HOME, AND COULD HAVE TAKEN THE
OPPORTUNITY TO FLEE TO THE HILLS INSTEAD OF HEADING
EAST. ALSO, WITH THE HUTU MILITIA FLEEING, REFUGEES CAN
MAKE THEIR OWN CHOICE ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT TO RETURN.
UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED
(C) IN KIGALI, THE RWANDAN GOVERNMENT ISSUED A STATEMENT
WHICH WELCOMED THE LIFTING OF THE ARMS EMBARGO,
REGRETTING IT HAD BEEN A TEMPORARY LIFT INSTEAD OF A
TOTAL ONE. THE GOR EXPRESSED SURPRISE AT THE ZAIRIAN
GOVERNMENT'S ANGRY REACTION TO THE LIFTING, AND DEPLORED
CERTAIN "INDIGNITIES" VISITED ON THE REFUGEES AS THEY
RETURNED IN THE GOZ-ORGANIZED REPATRIATION. THE GOR
NOTED THAT THE RETURN OF REFUGEES IS THE PRIMARY ELEMENT
OF ITS POLITICAL PROGRAM. IT LAUNCHED AN APPEAL TO
RWANDAN REFUGEES TO LEARN FROM THE EXPERIENCE OF THE
REFOULEMENT AND TO COME HOME TO THEIR "MOTHER COUNTRY,"
WHERE THEY WOULD BE WELCOMED WITH OPEN ARMS.
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(C) OAU SYG SALIM MAY TRAVEL TO KINSHASA AUGUST 24. THE
ACTING SYG PASCAL GAYAMA HAS CONTACTED THE ZAIRIAN
AMBASSADOR IN ADDIS TO ENCOURAGE THE GOZ TO REFRAIN FROM
ACTS WHICH WOULD WORSEN THE SITUATION. HE FURTHER NOTED
THAT ANY ACTION WITH REGARD TO REFUGEES SHOULD BE TAKEN
JOINTLY WITH UNHCR, RWANDA, AND BURUNDI, NOT
UNILATERALLY.
(C) THE EUROPEAN UNION IS CONTEMPLATING A STATEMENT AND
DEMARCHES CONDEMNING ZAIRE'S ACTION, ACCOMPANIED BY AN
OFFER OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO THE POPULATION IN THE
AFFECTED AREAS IN ZAIRE. BELGIUM ANNOUNCED AN EMERGENCY
AID PACKAGE FOR RWANDAN REFUGEES. THE USD 1.6 MILLION
WILL BE DIVIDED EQUALLY BETWEEN ASSISTANCE TO RETURNEES
TO RWANDA AND PUBLIC HEALTH AND SANITATION STRUCTURES IN
ZAIRE.
4. AUGUST 22
(C) THE GOVERNMENT OF ZAIRE CONTINUED TO FORCIBLY
REPATRIATE REFUGEES ON AUGUST 22, EXPELLING SOME 5,000
ACCORDING TO UNHCR INFORMATION GIVEN IN THE UNSC. THIS
IS ABOVE THE 2,000-3,000 FIGURE REPORTEDLY TARGETED BY
THE ZAIRIAN MILITARY AS A DAILY GOAL. THE FOREIGN
MINISTRY ISSUED A COMMUNIQUE DEFENDING THE ZAIRIAN
DECISION TO EXPEL THE REFUGEES. EMBASSY KINSHASA REPORTS
UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED
ITS VARIOUS DEMARCHES CONTINUED TO MEET SHRILL RESPONSE
WITH GOZ OFFICIALS. CHARGE YATES MET WITH THE ACTING
INTERIOR MINISTER, WHO DISPLAYED NO HINT OF GOZ
WILLINGNESS TO CEASE THE EXPULSIONS. YATES SEES PM KENGO
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WEDNESDAY MORNING, WHERE HE EXPECTS TO HEAR THAT ZAIRIANS
WANT FIRM COMMITMENTS FROM THE UN AND TALK INSTEAD OF
THREATS FROM RWANDA.
(C) UN HIGH COMMISIONER FOR REFUGEES OGATA PLANS TO
TRAVEL SOON TO ZAIRE TO MEET WITH PRESIDENT MOBUTU. AT
DAY'S END, UNHCR GENEVA HAD INDICATIONS THAT PM KENGO
WOULD STAND DOWN THE REPATRIATION EFFORT IF THE UN
ARRANGES A TRIPARTITE COMMISSION (RWANDA, ZAIRE, UNHCR)
TO ADDRESS THE REFUGEE SITUATION.
(SBU) THE U.S. ISSUED A STATEMENT ACKNOWLEDGING THE
BURDEN THE REFUGEES IMPOSE ON ZAIRE, ASKING ZAIRE TO HALT
THE REFOULEMENT, AND ASKING ALL PARTIES TO WORK TOWARD
VOLUNTARY REPATRIATION WITH THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY.
THE BELGIANS MADE A SIMILAR STATEMENT; THE SECURITY
COUNCIL WAS CONSIDERING A STATEMENT.
5. AUGUST 21
(C) THE GOVERNMENT OF ZAIRE HAS BEGUN FORCIBLY EXPELLING
RWANDAN AND BURUNDIAN REFUGEES FROM GOMA. IN A FORCED
BUT PEACEFUL ACTION ON AUGUST 19, THE GOZ MILITARY,
ACCOMPANIED BY UNHCR REPRESENTATIVES, ENTERED CAMPS IN
GOMA, BUKUVU, AND UVIRA. SOME 300 REFUGEES WERE RANDOMLY
SELECTED FOR EXPULSION. A FURTHER 180 WERE RETURNED ON
SUNDAY, AND 1,400 FROM THE MUGUNGA CAMP ON AUGUST 21.
SOME FIRING, PANIC, AND BURNING OF TENTS ACCOMPANIED
TODAY'S ACTION, BUT CALM WAS EVENTUALLY RESTORED. THE
RETURNED REFUGEES INCLUDE RWANDANS, BURUNDIANS, SOME
LONG-TIME RWANDAN RESIDENTS OF ZAIRE, AND A SPRINKLING OF
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EX-FAR.
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(C) THE REFUGEES ARE BEING RECEIVED BY UNHCR AND THE
RWANDAN ARMY (RPA) ON THE RWANDAN SIDE OF THE BORDER.
THERE IS CURRENTLY DISCUSSION OF CREATING A TRANSIENT
FACILITY AT GISENYI (IN RWANDA) TO SCREEN THE
"RETURNEES." THE RPA, ACCOMPANIED BY THE RWANDAN
MINISTERS OF DEFENSE AND THE INTERIOR IS SENDING A
MISSION TO THE AREA IN COOPERATION WITH UNHCR AND UNAMIR
COMMANDER KHAN. OTHER IMMEDIATE CONCERNS INCLUDE THE
POSSIBILITY OF FIREFIGHTS BETWEEN GOZ MILITARY AND EX-FAR
FORCES IN THE REFUGEE CAMPS, AS THE EX-FAR HAVE NOW HAD
72 HOURS TO PLAN A RESPONSE.
(C) EMBASSY KINSHASA IS ACTIVELY WORKING TO CONTACT
PRIME MINISTER KENGO AND ANY OTHER SENIOR GOZ REPS THEY
CAN REACH TO GET THEM TO CALL OFF THE MILITARY AND
SUSPEND THE OPERATION. KENGO AND HIS GOVERNMENT,
WHATEVER THEIR FEELINGS OF ANGER, BETRAYAL, OR
ABANDONMENT OVER THE UNSC LIFTING OF THE RWANDAN ARMS
EMBARGO, KNOW THAT THE SYG WOULD NOT HAVE HAD TIME TO
REACT TO THE GOZ'S LETTER ON FINDING AN ALTERNATIVE SITE
FOR THE REFUGEES. A POLITICAL OFFICER FROM EMBASSY
KINSHASA IS EN ROUTE TO GOMA. EMBASSY KIGALI IS SENDING
OFFICERS TO GISENYI AND BUKAVU.
TALBOTT
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