10 Mar 2009

MONUC Press Review - 29 November

"Due yesterday, the National Assembly's plenary session was suspended by the President of the lower chamber of Parliament, Olivier Kamitatu," La Tempête des Tropiques reports. He adjourned the meeting after "MPs from [pro-President Joseph Kabila] parliamentary groups walked out of the Assembly in the middle of discussions on the draft amnesty law," La Référence Plus explains. Their reason for walking out is that "[t]he killers of former President Laurent Désiré Kabila must not remain unpunished," according to La Référence Plus. "Beneficiaries of the amnesty must not include those convicted in the trial of Laurent Désiré Kabila's assassination," reports Le Phare, citing those who walked out. But other components and entities stand opposed to that view, arguing that "the killing of Laurent D. Kabila [was] a political act and, therefore, falls within the definition adopted by the

Sun City
Inter Congolese Dialogue," Le Phare notes.

The Global and Inclusive Agreement, "especially in its article 8, provides that in seeking to achieve national reconciliation, an amnesty shall be granted for acts of war, political and opinion infractions with the exception of war crimes and the crime of genocide...," La Référence Plus explains. However, is not "covered by the present amnesty law, an assassination attempt on a head of state, in accordance with universal principles and international law as provided for by the Global and All Inclusive Agreement and the Transitional Constitution," notes La Référence Plus, quoting the interpolated clause contained in article 2 of the said law. So "should the killers of [former President] Laurent Désiré Kabila be prosecuted or amnestied?" wonders La Référence Plus. That question could find an answer "today at 14 hours, [during parliamentary] debates that promise to be heated," hopes L'Observateur.

Should that issue remain unresolved, then "this [draft] amnesty law, [which is considered] a high sensitive issue, would have to be referred to the future legislature (..) A duly elected Parliament would have the necessary legitimacy to decide on such a matter," believes Le Potentiel, echoing "a widely spread opinion."

Meanwhile, Le Palmarès notes, "Cardinal Etsou takes a stand for [granting amnesty to] those under sentence of death, namely Eddy Kapend, Yav, Georges Leta (...) by requesting in a letter that members of Parliament decide in favour of the assassins of Laurent Désiré Kabila." But in so doing, "the Archbishop of

Kinshasa
attempts to manipulate the MPs by misusing his position as bishop," according to L'Avenir. "Why [only now] is the Cardinal speaking out (...)?" wonders L'Avenir, adding that "the Parliament has passed several essential laws without [Bishop Etsou] intervening."

Whatever is done, there is no question of the DRC "going back" to the past, writes Le Potentiel, citing William Swing, Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for the DRC. That is especially true when one considers that "this is the first time since its independence in 1960 that the is preparing for credible, democratic elections," Le Potentiel recalls.

Press Reviews 2005