UN
United Nations Peacekeeping
9 Mar
2009
DRC Press Review
*Original in French
Today's press is full of comments on the rumour circulating in Kinshasa Tuesday that President Joseph Kabila had been shot, which sent a wave a panic across the capital.
Today's press is full of comments on the rumour circulating in Kinshasa Tuesday that President Joseph Kabila had been shot, which sent a wave a panic across the capital.
'The transition poisoned by rumours of J. Kabila's assassination,' L'AVENIR titles. Recounting the origin of this rumour, the paper writes: 'It all began on the evening of Monday, January 05, when a rumour, circulating in the western part of the capital'and spreading afterwards to areas near the airport where people, seized with panic and with their sandals in their hands, would not want hear a different story.' 'Yet the head of State was at the Palais de la Nation, chairing the meeting of High Council of Defence', notes the paper, which deplores 'the paralysed cities and the panic stampede,' which it says, 'are part of a psychological war'. In its editorial titled 'Kinshasa under the reign of fear', L'AVENIR says 'this rumour was used as a test of public opinion to see of Kinshasa residents were going to jump with joy. Indeed, there are lots of politicians who think their dreams are realities. But, as they found out, what people in Kinshasa need is to have elections, not the assassination of their head of State.'
On a similar line, LE POTENTIEL writes: 'On Tuesday, Kinshasa's residents were going about their business not suspecting anything was up, when suddenly, around midday, they became seized with panic. This was caused by a rumour that a shooting had broken out at the presidency compound, putting the President's life in danger. Even more worrying was another story that said the President, hurt by a bullet, had been evacuated to a foreign country.'
L'OBSERVATEUR quotes the Kinshasa governor, Jean Kimbunda, who, in a message, 'called on residents of the capital to stay calm, and denounced an intoxication campaign by the enemies of peace who are among us'. In a comment, the paper brands 'these enemies of peace as arsonists who, in fact, do not want free, democratic and transparent elections to take place.'
In a piece titled 'Panic in Kinshasa', LE PHARE suggests that 'Our leaders need to develop the culture of informing the public speedily enough so everyone knows what is going around them and around those in power. After all, they react quickly whenever general strikes are announced.'
On the High Council of Defence's Tuesday meeting, LE PHARE notes that 'the agenda was composed of the questions of the army and the intelligence services.' 'Together with members of this body,' the paper explains, 'the President of the Republic discussed the burning issues facing the transition'Regular consultations are indeed needed if issues regarding the country's security are to be settled speedily.'
'Kinshasa seized with crazy panic yesterday', titles LA TEMPETE DES TROPIQUES, describing the capital's mood on Tuesday. And with a bit of humour, the paper adds that the international N'djili airport in particular was 'temporarily transformed into something of an Olympic racing track, while markets, stores, hospitals, schools and universities were deserted.'
On a similar line, LE POTENTIEL writes: 'On Tuesday, Kinshasa's residents were going about their business not suspecting anything was up, when suddenly, around midday, they became seized with panic. This was caused by a rumour that a shooting had broken out at the presidency compound, putting the President's life in danger. Even more worrying was another story that said the President, hurt by a bullet, had been evacuated to a foreign country.'
L'OBSERVATEUR quotes the Kinshasa governor, Jean Kimbunda, who, in a message, 'called on residents of the capital to stay calm, and denounced an intoxication campaign by the enemies of peace who are among us'. In a comment, the paper brands 'these enemies of peace as arsonists who, in fact, do not want free, democratic and transparent elections to take place.'
In a piece titled 'Panic in Kinshasa', LE PHARE suggests that 'Our leaders need to develop the culture of informing the public speedily enough so everyone knows what is going around them and around those in power. After all, they react quickly whenever general strikes are announced.'
On the High Council of Defence's Tuesday meeting, LE PHARE notes that 'the agenda was composed of the questions of the army and the intelligence services.' 'Together with members of this body,' the paper explains, 'the President of the Republic discussed the burning issues facing the transition'Regular consultations are indeed needed if issues regarding the country's security are to be settled speedily.'
'Kinshasa seized with crazy panic yesterday', titles LA TEMPETE DES TROPIQUES, describing the capital's mood on Tuesday. And with a bit of humour, the paper adds that the international N'djili airport in particular was 'temporarily transformed into something of an Olympic racing track, while markets, stores, hospitals, schools and universities were deserted.'
