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CONFIDENTIAL
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ACTION AF-01
KIGALI 04973 01 OF 03 021522Z
INFO LOG-00 AID-01 CIAE-00 C-01
DODE-00 DS-00
EB-01
EUR-01 HA-09
H-01
INRE-00 INR-01
10-19
LAB-04
L-03
ADS-00 NSAE-00 NSCE-00 01C-02 OMB-01 PA-01
PM-02
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SCT-03 SIL-00 SNP-00 SP-00
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/072W
810862 021526Z /38
P 021516Z DEC 92
FM AMEMBASSY KIGALI
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2405
INFO AMEMBASSY BUJUMBURA
AMEMBASSY KAMPALA
AMEMBASSY NAIROBI
AMEMBASSY PARIS
AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS
AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA
AMEMBASSY DAR ES SALAAM
CONFIDENTIALSECTION 01 OF 03 KIGALI 04973
E.O. 12356: DECL:OADR
TAGS: PINS, PHUM, PGOV, ASEC, RW
SUBJECT: CANADIAN MISSIONARY KILLED
REF: (A) KIGALI 4902, (B) KIGALI 4704,
(C) KIGALI 4681
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1. (C) SUMMARY. THE MURDER OF A CANADIAN
MISSIONARY AT HIS HOME OUTSIDE KIGALI AND NEW ETHNIC
VIOLENCE IN CYANGUGU PREFECTURE DURING THE PAST
WEEKEND HAVE HEIGHTENED INTERNAL TENSIONS AND
INSECURITY. THE PERPETRATORS IN EACH CASE ARE
UNIDENTIFIED. CIRCUMSTANCES AROUND THE CANADIAN'S
DEATH SUGGEST ROBBERY, POLITICS, OR VENGANCE AS
POSSIBLE MOTIVES WITHOUT CLEARLY IMPLICATING ANY ONE
SIDE. TUTSIS WERE THE VICTIMS IN CYANGUGU AND
COMMUNE OUTSIDERS ARE SUSPECT. THE CANADIANS AND THE
FRENCH VIEW THE CANADIAN'S DEATH AS A SPECIAL CASE
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE
REVIEW AUTHORITY: CHARLES L DARIS
DATE/CASE ID: 01 OCT 2008 200103014
UNCLASSIFIED
Y CFIED
THAT IS NOT AFFECTING THEIR SECURIT ASSESSMENT.
AMERICAN MISSIONARIES AND VOLUNTEERS IN CYANGUGU
PREFECTURE ARE SAFE. THE DEATH OF THE CANADIAN MAY
HAVE PROMPTED THE PRESIDENT TO SPEAK OUT ON SECURITY
IN A SPEECH TO THE NATION DECEMBER 1 (REPORTED
SEPTEL). END SUMMARY.
CANADIAN MISSIONARY KILLED
2. (U) A CANADIAN MISSIONARY, FRANCOIS CARDINAL,
50, WHO HAS BEEN A TEACHER AND DEVELOPMENT WORKER IN
RWANDA FOR THE PAST 23 YEARS, WAS KILLED OUTSIDE HIS
HOME THE EVENING OF NOVEMBER 29 BY ARMED MEN WEARING
MILITARY UNIFORMS. SOURCES CLOSE TO THE
INVESTIGATION SAY HE WAS SHOT SIX TIMES AT CLOSE
RANGE WITH LARGE CALIBER RIFLES. HE HAD APPARENTLY
STEPPED OUTSIDE CARRYING A GUN AFTER SHOTS BROKE HIS
WINDOWS AND WAS CAUGHT IN A CROSSFIRE. CARDINAL, A
MEMBER OF THE ORDER OF BROTHERS OF CHRISTIAN
INSTRUCTION, WAS A POPULAR MISSIONARY WHO WORKED
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KIGALI 04973 01 OF 03 021522Z
CLOSELY WITH YOUTH AT A DEVELOPMENT CENTER NOT FAR
FROM KIGALI. HE WAS WELL-KNOWN IN THE DIPLOMATIC
COMMUNITY FOR THE FARM PRODUCE HE DELIVERED WEEKLY
FROM THE PROJECT. NO MOTIVE HAS BEEN CONFIRMED AND
NO SUSPECTS HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED IN THIS CRIME.
3. (C) CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE, CIRCULATING IN THE
DIPLOMATIC COMMUNITY AND AMONG HUMAN RIGHTS GROUPS,
SUGGEST THE MISSIONARY MAY HAVE BEEN TARGETED FOR
DEATH BY PERSONS CLOSE TO THE PRESIDENT. HE HAD
REPORTED THREATS ON HIS LIFE TO THE CANADIAN EMBASSY
AD TO OTHER DIPLOMATS IN RECENT WEEKS. YOUTH FROM
HIS PROJECT MADE A DEPOSITION TO THE CANADIAN EMBASSY
SAYING THEY HAD BEEN APPROACHED AND ASKED TO KILL HIM
BY SOMEONE CONNECTED WITH SAGATWA, THE PRESIDENT'S
PRESONAL SECRETARY, AND A PERSON OFTEN NAMED AS
BEHIND SIMILAR SCURULOUS EVENTS. CARDINAL HAD ALSO
HAD A PUBLIC ARGUMENT RECENTLY WITH COL. SEREBUGA,
RETIRED HEAD OF THE ARMY WHO IS A MEMBER OF THE
MISSIONARY'S PROJECT COMMITTEE. SPECULATION SUGGESTS
CARDINAL CROSSED THESE POWERFUL MEN IN SOME
UNSPECIFIED WAY, RESULTING IN HIS DEATH.
4.
(C) THE NONCE AND CANADIAN AND FRENCH EMBASSY
UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASIFIED
S
SOURCES BELIEVE THE CIRCUMSTANCES ARE "TOO NEAT" IN
IMPLICATING THE PRESIDENT'S SIDE. THEY WONDER
WHETHER THE OPPOSITION OR EVEN THE RPF MIGHT HAVE SET
UP THE EVENT TO IMPLICATE THE PRESIDENT AND HIS PARTY.
5. (LOU) ROBBERY MAY HAVE BEEN THE MOTIVE, AS MONEY
WAS REPORTEDLY STOLEN FROM HIS HOUSE DURING THE
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KIGALI 04973 01 OF 03 0215222
ATTACK AND HE WAS KNOWN TO HAVE HAD THE PROJECT
PAYROLL THERE. HUMAM RIGHTS GROUPS REPORT THERE HAS
BEEN AN UPSURGE IN VIOLENT BANDITRY IN THIS AREA
SINCE EARLY NOVEMBER.
6. (U) DCM ATTENDED THE FUNERAL MASS DURING WHICH
BOTH THE CHURCH, REPRESENTED BY THE NONCE, AND THE
GOVERNMENT, REGYHEBMOSTO
IAN), CALLED FOR AN END TO THE VIOLENCE THAT IS
TEARING THIS COUNTRY APART. THE MINISTER, A TUTSI
AND A MEMBER OF THE LIBERAL PARTY, COMMITTED THE
GOVERNMENT TO SEEK AND BRING TO JUSTICE THE
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ACTION AF-01
KIGALI 04973 02 OF 03 021524Z
INFO LOG-00 AID-01 CIAE-00 C-01
DODE-00 DS-00
EB-01
EUR-01 HA-09
H-01
INRE-00 INR-01 10-19
LAB-04
L-03
ADS-00 NSAE-00 NSCE-00 01C-02 OMB-01 PA-01
PM-02
PRS-01 P-01
SCT-03 SIL-00
SNP-00 SP-00
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STR-17 TRSE-00 T-01
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RPE-00
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/072W
810BA6 021526Z /38
P 021516Z DEC 92
FM AMEMBASSY KIGALI
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2406
INFO AMEMBASSY BUJUMBURA
AMEMBASSY KAMPALA
AMEMBASSY NAIROBI
AMEMBASSY PARIS
AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS
AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA
AMEMBASSY DAR ES SALAAM
CONFIDENTIALSECTION 02 OF 03 KIGALI 04973
E.O. 12356: DECL:OADR
TAGS: PINS, PHUM, PGOV, ASEC, RW
SUBJECT: CANADIAN MISSIONARY KILLED
PERPETRATORS OF THESE CRIMES.
7.
(C) NEITHER THE CAMADIANS NOR THE FRENCH BELIEVE
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KIGALI 04973 02 OF 03 021524Z
THAT THIS EVENT, TRAGIC AS IT IS, WARRAWT
REEVALUATION OF SECURITY MEASURES FOR THEIR
COMMUNITIES. BOTH REGARD THE CASE AS PARTICULAR TO
THE PERSON IN QUESTION WITH NO BROADER IMPLICATIONS
FOR FOREIGNERS, EITHER DIPLOMATS OR MISSIONARIES.
ETHNIC VIOLENCE IN CYANGUGU PREFECTURE
8. (LOU) TWO BRUTAL KILLINGS, WHICH OCCURRED THE
NIGHT OF NOVEMBER 27 IN KIRAMBO COMMUNE, CYANGUGU
PREFECTURE, HAVE CREATED AN ATMOSPHERE OF HATE AND
TERROR IN THE AREA. THE KILLINGS WERE COMMITTED BY A
BAND OF ABOUT 50 YOUTH WHO SURROUNDED THE VICTIMS'
HOUSE WHILE TWO MEN ENTERED TO COMMIT THE CRIME. THE
FIRST VICTIM, A YOUNG TUTSI, WAS HACKED TO DEATH IN
HIS BED. THE OTHER, A HUTU WITH TIES TO THE LIBERAL
PARTY, WAS BEATEN TO DEATH WHILE TRYING TO ESCAPE.
TWO OTHER HOMES WERE RANSACKED THE SAME NIGHT BY THE
SAME GROUP, BUT THE VICTIMS ESCAPED ALIVE. NEARLY
200 PERSONS, MOSTLY TUTSI WOMEN AND CHILDREN, HAVE
SOUGHT REFUGE SINCE THESE EVENTS AT THE AMERICAN-RUN
UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED
METHODIST HOSPITAL IN THE AREA.
9. (U) THE PREFET OF CYANGUGU (WHO WAS PREFET OF
KIGALI WHEN ETHNIC VIOLENCE ERUPTED IN BUGESERA LAST
MARCH) ACCOMPANIED BY THE BOURGEMESTRES OF THE
AFFECTED AND A NEIGHBORING COMMUNE, HELD A PUBLIC
MEETING DECEMBER 1 IN AN EFFORT TO RESTORE ORDER AND
CONVINCE THE DISPLACED TO RETURN TO THEIR HOMES. THE
AUTHORITIES PROMISED TO INVESTIGATE THE KILLINGS AND
LOOTING AND SAID THEY WOULD INCLUDE REPRESENTATIVES
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KIGALI 04973 02 OF 03 021524Z
OF ALL POLITICAL PARTIES AND ETHNIC GROUPS ON THE
INVESTIGATION TEAM. THEY ALSO AGREED TO ESTABLISH
PATROLS IN THE AREA COMPOSED OF GENDARMES, ETHNIC
GROUP REPRESENTATIVES, AND POLITICAL PARTY
REPRESENTATIVES.
10 (LOU) MISSIONARIES TOLD EMBOFF THAT THESE
PROPOSALS WERE RECEIVED WITH SKEPTICISM. THE
POPULATION APPEARS TO HAVE NO CONFIDENCE IN THE
AUTHORITIES, ESPECIALLY ONE OF THE BOURGMESTRES WHO
HAD BEEN OPENLY CRITICIZED BY THE MURDER VICTIMS.
11. (LOU) THE MINISTER OF DEFENSE PLANS TO VISIT
THE AREA DECEMBER 2 TO TRY TO CALM THE AREA. HE HAS.
LIVED IN THE AREA WHEN HIS WIFE WORKED AS A NURSE AT
THE MISSION HOSPITAL.
12. (LOU) ALTHOUGH THE CYANGUGU PREFECTURE HAS BEEN
THE SCENE OF POLITICAL PARTY CLASHES IN RECENT
MONTHS, THERE IS NO CLEAR EVIDENCE OF PARTY
INVOLVEMENT IN THIS ETHNIC VIOLENCE. NEVERTHELESS,
THE COMMUNITY REPORTEDLY BELIEVES THE PRESIDENT'S
PARTY, THE MRND, TO BE BEHIND THE TROUBLES. THE MOB
THAT COMMITTED THE HEINOUS CRIMES IS ALLEGED TO HAVE
COME FROM OUTSIDE THE COMMUNE.
SPURRED TO ACTION?
13. (C) THE PRESIDENT'S SPEECH TO THE NATION
DECEMBER 1 ON INTERNAL SECURITY (REPORTED SEPTEL),
MAY HAVE BEEN PROMPTED AT LEAST IN PART BY THE MURDER
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KIGALI 04973 02 OF 03 021524Z
OF THE CANADIAN MISSIONARY. THE SPEECH EMPHASIZES
THE IMPORTANCE OF THE FOREIGN MISSIONARY COMMUNITY TO
RWADA AND TO ITS ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT.
WE HAVE LEARNED THAT THE PRESIDENT MET DECEMBER 2
WITH MRND PARTY OFFICIALS AND WAS
INSISTENT THAT THE PARTY YOUTH GROUP, THE
INTERAHAMWE, THOUGHT BY MANY TO INCLUDE TRAINED
MILITARY, BE CONTROLLED.
LOOSE ENDS
14. (LOU) MEANWHILE, THE 42 HUTU WHO SOUGHT REFUGE
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ACTION AF-01
KIGALI 04973 03 OF 03 021525Z
INFO LOG-00
EUR-01
L-03
PM-02
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AID-01 CIAE-00
HA-09
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/072W
C-01
INRE-00
NSCE-00
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TRSE-00
DODE-00 DS-00
EB-01
INR-01 10-19
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01C-02 OMB-01 PA-01
SIL-00
SNP-00
SP-00
T-01
USIE-00 ASDS-01
810BC5 021527Z /38
P 0215162 DEC 92
FM AMEMBASSY KIGALI
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2407
INFO AMEMBASSY BUJUMBURA
AMEMBASSY KAMPALA
AMEMBASSY NAIROBI
AMEMBASSY PARIS
AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS
AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA
UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED
AMEMBASSY DAR ES SALAAM
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 03 OF 03 KIGALI 04973
E.O. 12356: DECL:OADR
TAGS: PINS, PHUM, PGOV, ASEC, RW
SUBJECT: CANADIAN MISSIONARY KILLED
LAST WEEK AT THE BURUNDI EMBASSY IN KIGALI (REF A)
EMBASSY DEPARTED DECEMBER 1.
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KIGALI 04973 03 OF 03 0215252
15. (LOU) ALTHOUGH THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE ISSUED A
WARRANT FOR THE ARREST OF MRND OFFICIAL LEON
MUGESERA, WHO GAVE AN EXTREMELY INCITEFUL, RACIST
SPEECH AT A RALLY LAST WEEK IN GISENYI PROVINCE (REF
A), HE IS STILL AT LIBERTY. SOURCES SAY THAT THOSE
RESPONSIBLE FOR PICKING HIM UP ARE SYMPATHETIC TO THE
HUTU EXTREMIST PARTY, THE CDR.
COMMENT
16. (C) IF THE PRESIDENT AND HIS PARTY FOLLOW
THROUGH ON HIS DECISION TO DISCIPLINE THE
INTERAHAMWE, WE MIGHT SEE REAL PROGRESS ON THE
SBCURITY SCENE. NEVERTHELESS, THE ATTACKS ON THE
CANADIAN MISSIONARY AND IN CYANGUGU HAVE HEIGHTENED
TENSIONS AND INCREASED FEARS AMONG RWANDANS THAT NO
ONE IS SAFE ANYWHERE ANYMORE. THE AMBASSADOR WILL
DISCUSS THE CURRENT SECURITY SITUATION WITH THE
OFFICIAL AMERICAN COMMUNITY AT A REGULAR BI-WEEKLY
TOWN MEETING DECEMBER 4. THE MISSION'S EMERGENCY
ACTION COMMITTEE WILL MEET TO REVIEW THE IMPLICATIONS
OF THE DETERIORATING SECURITY SITUATION IN LIGHT OF
THE STALEMATE AT THE ARUSHA PEACE TALKS. ALL
AMERICANS ARE CURRENTLY SAFE.
FLATEN
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