UN
United Nations Peacekeeping
9 Mar
2009
Press Review 24 March 2005
Today's local press largely echoes MONUC weekly press conference of last Wednesday, more particularly its concern about the well being of the men in uniform.
«MONUC interpellates DRC Government on the military's wages», La Tempête des Tropiques titles on its front page and quotes Mr. Kemal Saiki, the head of MONUC Public Information as declaring « the UN mission recalls the need to urgently look into this issue and sort it out definitely». For the paper, « the ball is now in the government's court on which lies the heavy responsibility of guaranteeing national security and peace through its armed forces and police». La Tempête des Tropiques wonders « whether a country be better-off without a professional and motivated army or police». It further answers: « such a country should be an easy prey for even small states having well trained and paid troops. Moralising sessions are useful but not enough. It is difficult for hungry people to obey, as the saying goes». Le Phare, in turn, writes, «MONUC laments the poor condition to which Congolese troops are subjected», further indicating « it is not the first time for MONUC to interpellate Government decision makers on the demotivation of the troops cantoned in Eastern DRC and more particularly in Ituri». The paper echoes Ross Mountain, MONUC's Deputy Special Representative's wishes « to see the transition Government urgently address this issue in order to reduce exactions in several DRC's districts, notably in the East where the population are the direct victims of non-payment of the military's wages».
In the same development but with a new approach, Le Potentiel writes on its front page, « Army: strong presumptions of 8 million dollar-embezzlement per month», and says, «MONUC is concerned by the situation of the FARDC military». Echoing Mr. Mamadou Bah, MONUC spokesman, the paper writes «MONUC is aware that DRC Congolese Government officially disburses 8 million dollars every month to pay the troops. Unfortunately, the fund apparently does not reach the troops».
With respect to the above issue, Le Potentiel says, «Budget Minister did not contradict MONUC's statement when he declared that 6 million dollars are monthly disbursed for the payment of troops' wages and 2 million dollars incidental relating fees. Until recently, the FARDC headquarters was in charge of paying the troops. But not as of recently, the Congolese Central Bank was instructed to remit funds through the various military circumscriptions disseminated across the provinces. Wages should be paid after the FARDC specialised services have established payrolls. Maybe the problem lies in this stage where the wages should be taken to the troops, with all the communications troubles involved».
In other news, Le Phare says, «MONUC has failed», alluding to « revelations » made by the London paper, Financial Times of 23 March that «MONUC is the most costly peacekeeping operations, which is unfortunately the most criticised due to its ineffectiveness to protect civilians and the sex scandals in which its staff are involved». In this respect, it refers to « Swing's planned departure».
L'Observateur, as far as it is concerned, refers to the situation in Ituri. In its editiorial, the paper says, « Anything can happen in Ituri», citing « every cloud has a sliver lining: the heinous assassination of nine Bangladeshi peacekeepers was the detonator, which, Thanks to God, heralds the end of the entertainment».
Le Palmarès focuses on the draft constitution submitted by the Senate to the National Assembly and De Gucht ' Condoleeza meeting. With respect to the first subject, the paper says, «MPs vowed to prune the text». Concerning the second, the paper says the Washington meeting has been postponed, explaining « Bush wants first to sell USA image to Asia before dealing with the DRC's dossier».
In the same development but with a new approach, Le Potentiel writes on its front page, « Army: strong presumptions of 8 million dollar-embezzlement per month», and says, «MONUC is concerned by the situation of the FARDC military». Echoing Mr. Mamadou Bah, MONUC spokesman, the paper writes «MONUC is aware that DRC Congolese Government officially disburses 8 million dollars every month to pay the troops. Unfortunately, the fund apparently does not reach the troops».
With respect to the above issue, Le Potentiel says, «Budget Minister did not contradict MONUC's statement when he declared that 6 million dollars are monthly disbursed for the payment of troops' wages and 2 million dollars incidental relating fees. Until recently, the FARDC headquarters was in charge of paying the troops. But not as of recently, the Congolese Central Bank was instructed to remit funds through the various military circumscriptions disseminated across the provinces. Wages should be paid after the FARDC specialised services have established payrolls. Maybe the problem lies in this stage where the wages should be taken to the troops, with all the communications troubles involved».
In other news, Le Phare says, «MONUC has failed», alluding to « revelations » made by the London paper, Financial Times of 23 March that «MONUC is the most costly peacekeeping operations, which is unfortunately the most criticised due to its ineffectiveness to protect civilians and the sex scandals in which its staff are involved». In this respect, it refers to « Swing's planned departure».
L'Observateur, as far as it is concerned, refers to the situation in Ituri. In its editiorial, the paper says, « Anything can happen in Ituri», citing « every cloud has a sliver lining: the heinous assassination of nine Bangladeshi peacekeepers was the detonator, which, Thanks to God, heralds the end of the entertainment».
Le Palmarès focuses on the draft constitution submitted by the Senate to the National Assembly and De Gucht ' Condoleeza meeting. With respect to the first subject, the paper says, «MPs vowed to prune the text». Concerning the second, the paper says the Washington meeting has been postponed, explaining « Bush wants first to sell USA image to Asia before dealing with the DRC's dossier».
