UN
United Nations Peacekeeping
5 Mar
2009
Press Review
Today's local papers in Kinshasa discuss yesterday's tensions in Goma, where clashes occurred between the police force and the population demonstrating against ''suspicious'' trucks coming from Rwanda.
Fighting breaks out in Goma, titles L'AVENIR. Everything started when ten trucks with Rwandan license plates were reported in this Eastern DRC town. According to the paper, the vehicles were stopped upon their arrival in DRC by street gasoline vendors who suspected them of transporting weapons and ammunitions to Masisi. The truck drivers reportedly declined to allow the cargo to be checked; they said they were transporting hay intended for the cattle in Masisi, indicates the paper. The refusal to have the vehicles inspected led the population to believe that weapons and ammunitions were hidden under the hay, notes the paper, adding that ''drivers' résistance caused the unrest resulting in the death of a police officer''.
The paper feels that the population's reaction is justified since ''following the Rwandan's threats of new invasion of the DRC territory, they have become very vigilant to the extent of acting in lieu of the police officers''.
LA REFERENCE PLUS refers to chaos and shootings due to the presence of suspicious trucks from Rwanda, and is also of the opinion that ''the population's reaction was justified by the climate of increasing tensions noted during the last few days between the governments of Kigali and the DRC''. The same version from FORUM DES AS notes that ''the natives of the town, already traumatized by successive political wars, are no longer willing to suffer new atrocities following armed violence and stand ready to defend the gains of the national reconciliation''.
Monuc denounces the witch-hunt in Kindu further reports LE PHARE. Quoting the Chief of MONUC Public Information Division, Ms. Patricia Tome, who was speaking at the mission's weekly press conference on Wednesday explained that the two alleged Rwandan nationals recently arrested in Kindu '' were not Rwandans but Congolese'', says the paper. ''Without further details, Ms. Tome highlighted that it was a dangerous witch-hunt since it is the result of manipulation, hatred, and fear'', reports the paper.
Furthermore, at the DRC's initiative, the United Nations Security Council met Tuesday behind closed doors on the ongoing situation in the DRC, indicates LE PHARE, adding that ''this meeting follows from the events in the East of the country and the presence of Rwandan troops on Congolese soil'' as confirmed by Monuc on 21 April'. Even though the Security Council did not make any public statement at the end of the meeting, ''the 15 members of the Security Council expressed serious concerns and apprehension about the recent developments and the negative impact they could have on the peace process in the region'', highlights the paper.
LE PALMARES says that the UN Security Council has not taken any action as provided for in its Charter, ''the Security Council has once more snivelled on the presence of Rwandan troops in the DRC''. For the paper, the fact that the Security Council has contented itself to ''express concerns and apprehension''' constitutes a ''usual shortcut to mask the sanctions provided for in the UN charter in such circumstances''.
Referring to the same subject, the DRC minister of foreign affairs, Antoine Ghonda declares that ''the DRC cacophony did not enable the Security Council to decide'', indicates L'AVENIR. The Minister of Foreign Affairs who is currently in Washington ''regretted that some Congolese authorities, at a time when they should above all defend the DRC territory and forget about their differences have rather adopted irresponsible attitudes by defending the aggressors' interests'' writes the paper. LE PALMARES points out that ''Antoine Ghonda has accused A. Ruberwa of having influenced the UN Security Council's attitude on the presence of Rwandan troops in the DRC''. The paper feels that ''the polemic between these two men shows a divided government''.
LA TEMPETE DES TROPIQUES announces the holding, this Thursday, of a ''decisive meeting'' between the government and the Ituri belligerents. ''This meeting due to last three days is decisive for the disarmament and reintegration process of the members of the Ituri armed groups'', indicates the paper. LA REFERENCE PLUS notes the presence at this meeting of the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for the DRC, Mr. William Swing. It notes that the chiefs of the Ituri armed groups started arriving in Kinshasa under MONUC sponsorship.
The paper feels that the population's reaction is justified since ''following the Rwandan's threats of new invasion of the DRC territory, they have become very vigilant to the extent of acting in lieu of the police officers''.
LA REFERENCE PLUS refers to chaos and shootings due to the presence of suspicious trucks from Rwanda, and is also of the opinion that ''the population's reaction was justified by the climate of increasing tensions noted during the last few days between the governments of Kigali and the DRC''. The same version from FORUM DES AS notes that ''the natives of the town, already traumatized by successive political wars, are no longer willing to suffer new atrocities following armed violence and stand ready to defend the gains of the national reconciliation''.
Monuc denounces the witch-hunt in Kindu further reports LE PHARE. Quoting the Chief of MONUC Public Information Division, Ms. Patricia Tome, who was speaking at the mission's weekly press conference on Wednesday explained that the two alleged Rwandan nationals recently arrested in Kindu '' were not Rwandans but Congolese'', says the paper. ''Without further details, Ms. Tome highlighted that it was a dangerous witch-hunt since it is the result of manipulation, hatred, and fear'', reports the paper.
Furthermore, at the DRC's initiative, the United Nations Security Council met Tuesday behind closed doors on the ongoing situation in the DRC, indicates LE PHARE, adding that ''this meeting follows from the events in the East of the country and the presence of Rwandan troops on Congolese soil'' as confirmed by Monuc on 21 April'. Even though the Security Council did not make any public statement at the end of the meeting, ''the 15 members of the Security Council expressed serious concerns and apprehension about the recent developments and the negative impact they could have on the peace process in the region'', highlights the paper.
LE PALMARES says that the UN Security Council has not taken any action as provided for in its Charter, ''the Security Council has once more snivelled on the presence of Rwandan troops in the DRC''. For the paper, the fact that the Security Council has contented itself to ''express concerns and apprehension''' constitutes a ''usual shortcut to mask the sanctions provided for in the UN charter in such circumstances''.
Referring to the same subject, the DRC minister of foreign affairs, Antoine Ghonda declares that ''the DRC cacophony did not enable the Security Council to decide'', indicates L'AVENIR. The Minister of Foreign Affairs who is currently in Washington ''regretted that some Congolese authorities, at a time when they should above all defend the DRC territory and forget about their differences have rather adopted irresponsible attitudes by defending the aggressors' interests'' writes the paper. LE PALMARES points out that ''Antoine Ghonda has accused A. Ruberwa of having influenced the UN Security Council's attitude on the presence of Rwandan troops in the DRC''. The paper feels that ''the polemic between these two men shows a divided government''.
LA TEMPETE DES TROPIQUES announces the holding, this Thursday, of a ''decisive meeting'' between the government and the Ituri belligerents. ''This meeting due to last three days is decisive for the disarmament and reintegration process of the members of the Ituri armed groups'', indicates the paper. LA REFERENCE PLUS notes the presence at this meeting of the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for the DRC, Mr. William Swing. It notes that the chiefs of the Ituri armed groups started arriving in Kinshasa under MONUC sponsorship.
