UN
United Nations Peacekeeping
9 Mar
2009
DRC Press Review
*Original text in French
Vice-President Jean-Pierre Bemba's statement on the on-going transition in Congo, the current debates in the National Assembly prior to the adoption of the draft Constitution and MONUC's weekly press conference are the main subjects in today's press.
« Responding to Tshisekedi and Ruberwa, Bemba denounces a constitutional coup, » LE POTENTIEL titles. Addressing the conference of the universities of Antwerp, Liège and Kinshasa, Vice-President Jean-Pierre Bemba 'gave his opinion on the on-going transition and electoral processes, ' the paper reports. It quotes him as saying 'There is no question of (anyone) challenging the legal framework for the transition. Any attempt at this would constitute a constitutional coup with all the attendant consequences.' He 'promised to combat by all political means all those supporting such a move. According to him, it's a (constitutional) coup in the works and it will be met with a proportionate response, ' LE POTENTIEL reports.
'The presidential council is divided,' concludes LE POTENTIEL, explaining that 'it has now become clear that Ruberwa and Bemba do not share the same vision of things. The RCD national president thinks the time has come to approach the political opposition, (while) Jean-Pierre Bemba firmly opposes this idea, sticking to the current institutional order.'
Also in relation to the transition, LE PALMARES makes 'revelations about the inter-institutional meeting presided over by Joseph Kabila yesterday'. 'The National Assembly, Senate, and Independent Electoral were asked to present their respective performance report,' says the paper, adding: 'it was a matter of reporting what has been done and what remains to be done in regard to the roadmap. Some shortcomings were found. Vice President Ruberwa was particularly open about it.' According to LE PALMARES, 'The National Assembly, which was represented by its President, Olivier Kamitatu, promised to do its best in order to adopt all the articles of the draft Constitution before April 29. But the head of State asked that they try everything to secure the adoption by April 21.' The head of the Independent Electoral Commission 'Father Malu-Malu said his Commission had already written to the Parliament about the impossibility of holding elections on 30 June 2005,' the paper also notes.
Referring to the current debates in the National Assembly prior to the adoption of the draft Constitution, LA REFERENCE PLUS titles: 'Constitution: The general debate delivers its tendencies.' 'A good number of the lawmakers plead for a decentralised unitary State and a semi-presidential regime,' notes the paper, adding: 'the lawmakers are gathering in their respective components today carrying on discussions on these essential issues .'
Also talking about the parliamentary debates, L'AVENIR in a similar tone announces: 'Constitution: clear options emerge.' According to the paper, 'The lawmakers said the time has come to give a decentralised unitary State a try.'
In the same connection, LA TEMPETE DES TROPIQUES notes that 'the National Assembly is beginning next week to consider and adopt one by one the 220 articles that compose the draft Constitution proposed by the Senate.' 'Constitution: The verdict soon,' the paper concludes.
Reporting on MONUC's weekly press conference held Wednesday, L'OBSERVATEUR writes 'MONUC ready to facilitate the repatriation of the FDLR.' The paper recalls that 'in the past the UN organisation had already presented to the FDLR some proposals for their smooth return home.'
Also concerning UN mission, LE PHARE announces the arrival of 'a new Force Commander of MONUC'. Quoting Lieutenant-General Babacar Gaye, the paper writes: 'We are at a turning point and we must seize every opportunity to steer Congo to peace.'
'MONUC condemns the declarations by the Governor of South Kivu,' LA TEMPETE DES TROPIQUES announces. The paper notes that Mr Kemal Saiki, MONUC's Director of Public Information, ridiculed ' the wild imaginings of the governor who has allowed himself to declare that the United Nations has designs on his province.'
With the funeral of the Pope scheduled for tomorrow, L'AVENIR report that 'Friday is declared a day off in honour to John Paul II.' According to the paper, 'President Joseph Kabila has decided he will personally lead the Congolese delegation to Pope's funeral.'
'The presidential council is divided,' concludes LE POTENTIEL, explaining that 'it has now become clear that Ruberwa and Bemba do not share the same vision of things. The RCD national president thinks the time has come to approach the political opposition, (while) Jean-Pierre Bemba firmly opposes this idea, sticking to the current institutional order.'
Also in relation to the transition, LE PALMARES makes 'revelations about the inter-institutional meeting presided over by Joseph Kabila yesterday'. 'The National Assembly, Senate, and Independent Electoral were asked to present their respective performance report,' says the paper, adding: 'it was a matter of reporting what has been done and what remains to be done in regard to the roadmap. Some shortcomings were found. Vice President Ruberwa was particularly open about it.' According to LE PALMARES, 'The National Assembly, which was represented by its President, Olivier Kamitatu, promised to do its best in order to adopt all the articles of the draft Constitution before April 29. But the head of State asked that they try everything to secure the adoption by April 21.' The head of the Independent Electoral Commission 'Father Malu-Malu said his Commission had already written to the Parliament about the impossibility of holding elections on 30 June 2005,' the paper also notes.
Referring to the current debates in the National Assembly prior to the adoption of the draft Constitution, LA REFERENCE PLUS titles: 'Constitution: The general debate delivers its tendencies.' 'A good number of the lawmakers plead for a decentralised unitary State and a semi-presidential regime,' notes the paper, adding: 'the lawmakers are gathering in their respective components today carrying on discussions on these essential issues .'
Also talking about the parliamentary debates, L'AVENIR in a similar tone announces: 'Constitution: clear options emerge.' According to the paper, 'The lawmakers said the time has come to give a decentralised unitary State a try.'
In the same connection, LA TEMPETE DES TROPIQUES notes that 'the National Assembly is beginning next week to consider and adopt one by one the 220 articles that compose the draft Constitution proposed by the Senate.' 'Constitution: The verdict soon,' the paper concludes.
Reporting on MONUC's weekly press conference held Wednesday, L'OBSERVATEUR writes 'MONUC ready to facilitate the repatriation of the FDLR.' The paper recalls that 'in the past the UN organisation had already presented to the FDLR some proposals for their smooth return home.'
Also concerning UN mission, LE PHARE announces the arrival of 'a new Force Commander of MONUC'. Quoting Lieutenant-General Babacar Gaye, the paper writes: 'We are at a turning point and we must seize every opportunity to steer Congo to peace.'
'MONUC condemns the declarations by the Governor of South Kivu,' LA TEMPETE DES TROPIQUES announces. The paper notes that Mr Kemal Saiki, MONUC's Director of Public Information, ridiculed ' the wild imaginings of the governor who has allowed himself to declare that the United Nations has designs on his province.'
With the funeral of the Pope scheduled for tomorrow, L'AVENIR report that 'Friday is declared a day off in honour to John Paul II.' According to the paper, 'President Joseph Kabila has decided he will personally lead the Congolese delegation to Pope's funeral.'
