MONUC Press Review of 20 October 2006

10 Mar 2009

MONUC Press Review of 20 October 2006

A week after its launch, the election campaign for the presidential run-off continues to dominate the news in the DRC's local press.
Le Potentiel says Joseph Kabila and Jean-Pierre Bemba start campaigning from today Friday 20 October 2006. Both candidates, notes the paper, have opted for "canvassing in western DRC, notably Bas-Congo, Bandundu; central DRC and both Kasai provinces," reports the paper, indicating, "With both contestants campaigning, the electoral process definitely takes a critical turn." Given the short time limit, "contestants will not enough time to canvass like in the first round," goes on to say."

The Alliance pour la Majorité Présidentielle, AMP "has criticised the acts of violence perpetrated during the election campaign" reports L'Observateur.

"They should not need things and their opposite," writes Le Potentiel, wondering, "how the very persons promising to bring happiness to the Congolese people are turning a blind eye to extremists' acts aimed at slaughtering the same people after holding them hostage; President Kabila and Vice-President Jean-Pierre Bemba must refrain from any act of violence, otherwise they will be held responsible for a failed electoral process that should pave the road for a new era and bright future; what use would it be to win an overwhelming victory, if marred by bloodshed, ?" asks the paper.

"AMP wishes to see at the end of the elections one elegant winner and one elegant loser," L'Observateur quotes Olivier Kamitatu, spokesperson of the Alliance pour la Majorité Présidentielle as declaring.

Moreover, informs the paper, the Alliance pour la Majorité Présidentielle is for "an establishment of a legal framework on the opposition's status that should not be subjected to any particular negotiation between both candidates...but should be dealt with by the parliament," echoing AMP spokesperson.

Joseph Kabila [has] turned down MONUC's offer on a helicopter, while Jean-Pierre Bemba has accepted, says Le Palmarès, indicating, "Kabila deems the offer ill-timed...since he has a helicopter."

With respect to the presidential run-off, the European Force in the DRC, EUFOR, will be reinforced with "200 more troops," reports La Tempête des Tropiques, quoting Lieutenant-Colonel Thierry Fulsalba, EUFOR's spokesman, referring to it as "a precautionary measure to guard against all eventualities."