MONUC Press Review - 8 December 2005
It is nevertheless a fact that "whoever knows Jean-Pierre Bemba closely, knows that this is an affront he will not tolerate," Le Phare warns. However the MLC president may respond, "things will never be the same between Jean-Pierre Bemba and Olivier Kamitatu (...) The Congolese Liberation Movement will never again be like it was before. And neither will its unity [be fully restored]," Le Potentiel predicts.
While a crisis looms large inside the MLC, President "Joseph Kabila, [for his part], addresses the nation [today] through the press," Le Palmarès announces. Essential issues he is expected to discuss include " the amnesty law, the Olivier Kamitatu case, the current preparations for the [upcoming constitutional] referendum, the exclusion of some politicians from the electoral process, the CIAT [International Committee In Support of the Transition]'s criticism, the payment of soldiers, the ministerial reshuffle (...)," according to L'Avenir. Similarly, Le Palmarès announces that, speaking to the press, the President of the Republic will address "all burning issues relating to Congolese national life."
Referring to the upcoming referendum vote, save a last-minute change, it will take place on the set date. "Malu Malu [head of the Independent Electoral Commission] confirms that constitutional referendum will be held on 18 December," Le Phare reports. For this reason, "the necessary steps are being taken for [the vote operation] to take place in good conditions," Le Phare says. It adds that "as of Tuesday 6 December, registration figures reached a total of 24300000 registered voters" nationwide.
In the run-up to the 18 December poll, "the CIAT is trying to find a way of getting [UDPS leader] Etienne [Tshisekedi] into the electoral process – [Tshisekedi] who, [for his part], wishes for a new transitional structure to be set up and lead the country to elections," Le Palmarès reveals. It is in this context that the International Committee in Support of the Transition has initiated "meetings at MONUC headquarters between the UDPS, RCD and MLC, [during which meetings] the UDPS has demonstrated openness," Le Palmarès adds.
In Ituri, meanwhile, "Justin Ngole Dalo, also known as Koliba, [who is] presented as the leader of the Nationalist and Integrationist Front (FNI)'s militia, has been arrested," L'Observateur reports. This militia leader is accused "of being directly involved in the organisation of the ambush that cost nine Bangladeshi blue helmets their lives on 25 February 2005, near Kafé, a locality of Ituri," La Tempête des Tropiques elaborates.