UN
United Nations Peacekeeping
9 Mar
2009
DRC Press Review
*Original text in French
The controversy over whether or not, in legal terms, June 30 would mark the end of the political transition in the DRC, and the current parliamentary debate on the Initial Draft of the Future Constitution of the country are the main subjects in today's press.
The controversy over whether or not, in legal terms, June 30 would mark the end of the political transition in the DRC, and the current parliamentary debate on the Initial Draft of the Future Constitution of the country are the main subjects in today's press.
'Those who were left out of the transition' are planning a confrontation on June 30, LA REFERENCE PLUS announces. The paper sees in the 'invectives we are witnessing' political tactics used by those 'excluded (from the transition) to put pressure on those leading the transition to take their demands into consideration.' According to LA REFERENCE PLUS, 'those excluded demand to be allowed on board.'
In the same connection, LE POTENTIEL reports the 'response of PPRD (presidential party) and 'Forces du futur to RCD',' saying 'Vital Kamerhe, secretary-general of the 'Parti du Peuple pour la Reconstruction et le Développement' (PPRD), considers that (such opposition parties as) UDPS and PALU alike should be allowed to participate in the institutions of the transition, not be left out.'
In the current political debate, LE PHARE notes, 'all commentators agree on three points ' that there nobody still believing elections can take place by June 30, although the transition officials are yet to clearly explain the reasons. Secondly, that everybody admits that the delay is not due to problems specifically linked to the organisation of elections.' Finally, that 'they need to give a new impetus to the transition or else face chaos in the country.' However, the head of the Independent Electoral Commission (CEI) has proposed holding a 'forum to dispel the uncertainties about June 30,' points out the paper, describing proposal as 'a disturbance in the camp of the Conservative.'
According to LE PHARE, 'in the face of the uncertainties about June 30, all eyes are turned toward the International Committee In Support of the Transition which will have to carefully analyse the situation, measure the risks and propose refereeing taking into account the aspirations of the Congolese.'
'Fear grows among Kinshasa residents,' titles LA TEMPETE DES TROPIQUES, referring to the growing insecurity in the capital. 'While businessmen have not stop their activities, they have reduced them, with all the resulting consequences at the social level.'
Today's press also reports some progress in the National Assembly's current debate on the draft constitution. According to L'AVENIR, 'consensus has emerged in favour of a unitary State, and in favour universal suffrage' as the method by which to elect the President of the Republic.
In an editorial titled 'No to impunity,' L'AVENIR comments on a press release in which MONUC congratulates the Congolese government on the arrest of the leader of the FPRI militia in Ituri.
L'AVENIR also mentions the incident involving a civilian employee of MONUC who was found in the company of 13 Congolese women at his apartment. (The UN mission has in place a strict code of conduct banning sexual relations with the local population in Congo.)
In the same connection, LE POTENTIEL reports the 'response of PPRD (presidential party) and 'Forces du futur to RCD',' saying 'Vital Kamerhe, secretary-general of the 'Parti du Peuple pour la Reconstruction et le Développement' (PPRD), considers that (such opposition parties as) UDPS and PALU alike should be allowed to participate in the institutions of the transition, not be left out.'
In the current political debate, LE PHARE notes, 'all commentators agree on three points ' that there nobody still believing elections can take place by June 30, although the transition officials are yet to clearly explain the reasons. Secondly, that everybody admits that the delay is not due to problems specifically linked to the organisation of elections.' Finally, that 'they need to give a new impetus to the transition or else face chaos in the country.' However, the head of the Independent Electoral Commission (CEI) has proposed holding a 'forum to dispel the uncertainties about June 30,' points out the paper, describing proposal as 'a disturbance in the camp of the Conservative.'
According to LE PHARE, 'in the face of the uncertainties about June 30, all eyes are turned toward the International Committee In Support of the Transition which will have to carefully analyse the situation, measure the risks and propose refereeing taking into account the aspirations of the Congolese.'
'Fear grows among Kinshasa residents,' titles LA TEMPETE DES TROPIQUES, referring to the growing insecurity in the capital. 'While businessmen have not stop their activities, they have reduced them, with all the resulting consequences at the social level.'
Today's press also reports some progress in the National Assembly's current debate on the draft constitution. According to L'AVENIR, 'consensus has emerged in favour of a unitary State, and in favour universal suffrage' as the method by which to elect the President of the Republic.
In an editorial titled 'No to impunity,' L'AVENIR comments on a press release in which MONUC congratulates the Congolese government on the arrest of the leader of the FPRI militia in Ituri.
L'AVENIR also mentions the incident involving a civilian employee of MONUC who was found in the company of 13 Congolese women at his apartment. (The UN mission has in place a strict code of conduct banning sexual relations with the local population in Congo.)
