UN
United Nations Peacekeeping
9 Mar
2009
Press Review 8 February 2005
Neither consensus nor unanimity has been reached on the basic options for the future constitution and the new electoral calendar, write the majority of today's local press that also echo various reactions by political components and civil society to the resolutions issued by the inter-institutional workshop held by the Parliament on 2-4 February.
On its front page, LA REFERENCE PLUS echoes the declaration of the Congolese Rally for Democracy known as RCD «dismissing the workshop's resolutions which it refers to as biased» therefore « urging the national Assembly, the Senate and the population to disengage from such pirate recommendations».
The inter-institutional workshop ended on 4 February. Participants, amongst others, appealed to the presidential circle and the heads of all the transition's institutions'to consider the elections as top government's priority for the year 2005 and to organise them within the constitutional time frame' They suggested the instauration of a two-turn direct universal suffrage for the presidential election; the instauration of a one-turn direct universal suffrage for the national Assembly and an indirect suffrage for the Senate. RCD is of the opinion that « No consensus nor unanimity has been reached yet on these resolutions», the paper says: « The pro-Rwandan ex-rebellion' considers that the workshop's recommendations on the electoral process are encouraging for having set the timing with respect to the preconditions to be achieved for the elections take place. On the contrary, the resolutions on the constitution's basic options should not bind the National Assembly nor the Senate, even less the Congolese Rally for Democracy. »
LE PHARE gives the same version of the story indicating, « DRC bishops demands concrete actions». They said in their 5 February 2005 statement to the Government, ''Congo belongs to us'' calling for « concrete actions and political goodwill from the latter with respect to the elections. » The Permanent Committee's declaration constitutes an appeal to the DRC Parliament «to frame a typically-Congolese Constitution that should draw its inspiration from our own history and through consensual means, meet the people's aspirations. »
Along the lines of the voiced concerns, L'AVENIR writes, « for the political opposition, the inter-institutional workshop had no serious objective' » and highlights on its front page, « UDPS has declared war on the CIAT » because « the latter not only took an active part in the inter-institutional workshop, but also backed their relevant resolutions.» The paper goes on to conclude: « In some people's opinion, all this is intended to put pressure on the CIAT, but for what purpose. CIAT knows that it cannot ask the Congolese to organise the elections by 30 (June 2005) as long as some of the preconditions depending on its implications are not met yet' »
We are most likely heading towards «the postponement of the elections», LA TEMPETE DES TROPIQUES says. According to the paper, « the inter-institutional workshop that ended on Friday 4 February was not at all successful with respect to the issue on the organisation of the elections ». «Joseph Kabila (is) called upon to clarify his position», the paper writes, recalling that the head of State had vowed to resign if the elections were not held by 30 June 2005.
Le Potentiel is rather optimistic about the electoral process and titles « increased crucial consultations» between the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Kingdom of Belgium. « Three Belgian ministers taking turns in the DRC; after the visits of Ms. Marie-Dominique Simonet and Mr. Armand De Decker's, respectively Belgian minister for International Relations and French community, and of development cooperation, another Belgian minister, of foreign affairs, Karel de Gush, is expected in Kinshasa on 16 February. Congolese witness a real Belgian diplomatic offensive to DR Congo around the transition's process, notably the holding of the elections», the paper writes.
In other news, L'AVENIR finally reports on the meeting held by new Director of MONUC Public Information, Kamal Saïki and the local press at the Mission's headquarters on Saturday. « The new director, having taken over from Patricia Tomé, initiated the meeting with the Congolese press to familiarise with them for an effective collaboration», the paper says, hailing « his long field experience in Africa, the last post of assignment being Sierra Leone. »
The inter-institutional workshop ended on 4 February. Participants, amongst others, appealed to the presidential circle and the heads of all the transition's institutions'to consider the elections as top government's priority for the year 2005 and to organise them within the constitutional time frame' They suggested the instauration of a two-turn direct universal suffrage for the presidential election; the instauration of a one-turn direct universal suffrage for the national Assembly and an indirect suffrage for the Senate. RCD is of the opinion that « No consensus nor unanimity has been reached yet on these resolutions», the paper says: « The pro-Rwandan ex-rebellion' considers that the workshop's recommendations on the electoral process are encouraging for having set the timing with respect to the preconditions to be achieved for the elections take place. On the contrary, the resolutions on the constitution's basic options should not bind the National Assembly nor the Senate, even less the Congolese Rally for Democracy. »
LE PHARE gives the same version of the story indicating, « DRC bishops demands concrete actions». They said in their 5 February 2005 statement to the Government, ''Congo belongs to us'' calling for « concrete actions and political goodwill from the latter with respect to the elections. » The Permanent Committee's declaration constitutes an appeal to the DRC Parliament «to frame a typically-Congolese Constitution that should draw its inspiration from our own history and through consensual means, meet the people's aspirations. »
Along the lines of the voiced concerns, L'AVENIR writes, « for the political opposition, the inter-institutional workshop had no serious objective' » and highlights on its front page, « UDPS has declared war on the CIAT » because « the latter not only took an active part in the inter-institutional workshop, but also backed their relevant resolutions.» The paper goes on to conclude: « In some people's opinion, all this is intended to put pressure on the CIAT, but for what purpose. CIAT knows that it cannot ask the Congolese to organise the elections by 30 (June 2005) as long as some of the preconditions depending on its implications are not met yet' »
We are most likely heading towards «the postponement of the elections», LA TEMPETE DES TROPIQUES says. According to the paper, « the inter-institutional workshop that ended on Friday 4 February was not at all successful with respect to the issue on the organisation of the elections ». «Joseph Kabila (is) called upon to clarify his position», the paper writes, recalling that the head of State had vowed to resign if the elections were not held by 30 June 2005.
Le Potentiel is rather optimistic about the electoral process and titles « increased crucial consultations» between the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Kingdom of Belgium. « Three Belgian ministers taking turns in the DRC; after the visits of Ms. Marie-Dominique Simonet and Mr. Armand De Decker's, respectively Belgian minister for International Relations and French community, and of development cooperation, another Belgian minister, of foreign affairs, Karel de Gush, is expected in Kinshasa on 16 February. Congolese witness a real Belgian diplomatic offensive to DR Congo around the transition's process, notably the holding of the elections», the paper writes.
In other news, L'AVENIR finally reports on the meeting held by new Director of MONUC Public Information, Kamal Saïki and the local press at the Mission's headquarters on Saturday. « The new director, having taken over from Patricia Tomé, initiated the meeting with the Congolese press to familiarise with them for an effective collaboration», the paper says, hailing « his long field experience in Africa, the last post of assignment being Sierra Leone. »
