UN
United Nations Peacekeeping
6 Mar
2009
Press Review 10 January 2005
All the local papers published this Monday focus on the fierce debates around the prolongation of the transition, against the backdrop of the head of the Independent Electoral Commission (CEI)'s declaration that the general elections would be held by October 2005. After the key local papers were put to bed, bloody demonstrations were organised early morning in several districts of Kinshasa by students.
« Malu Malu incurs people's anger», LA TEMPETE DES TROPIQUES titles, alluding to « Father Malu Malu, the CEI chief's statement that elections could be postponed». « The idea was strongly rejected», the paper says, indicating « the CEI chief's declaration on Radio France Internationale on Thursday 6 January continues fuelling debates in several across the city of Kinshasa. » Moreover, the paper highlights, « by unilaterally envisaging to postpone the elections until October whilst they were scheduled for (') June, Father Malu Malu was not expecting such a wave of protests against him across the country. » LA TEMPETE DES TROPIQUES says, «UDPS (Union for pour la Démocratie et le Progrès social) led by Etienne Tshisekedi, did not approve of Father Malu Malu's move...and PALU 'Parti Lumumbiste Unifié' led by Antoine Gizenga wonders whether Malu Malu is not attempting through such a move to save Joseph Kabila who has already declared himself resigning along with his government if the elections were not held by 30th June 2005. » The paper concludes: « CEI Chief has disqualified himself».
« A storm triggered off by Father Malu Malu», Le Phare titles. « Father Apollinaire Malu Malu decided to offer the Congolese such a strange present for the New Year celebrations», the paper says. « Father Malu Malu is blamed for rushing things. Firstly, with respect to the clauses on the constitution, the CEI chief should justify his decision to postpone the elections to the two houses of parliament for approval' », Le Phare therefore estimates: « in any case, that became obvious in light of the accumulated delays in adopting the laws, the ill faith shown by the key stakeholders in integrating the army and the difficulties in releasing the financial package for the CEI; yet the CEI chief surprised everybody with his naïve angelism, as if he was trying to stall the process on the nonchalance of the political operations to prioritise the reasons that have nothing to with the letter nor the spirit of the relevant clauses included in the constitution ».
La Référence Plus, for its part, writes «Father Apollinaire Malu Malu confronted with Tshisekedi and Gizenga' the Head of the Independent Electoral Commission has called for serious debates on the combination of votes and disproves the attitudes of ''rioting demonstrators''. » The paper recalls, « the CEI chief told RFI that elections could not definitely be held by June 2005. In light of the huge task ahead, he said elections could be held in October. He further suggested a combination of votes to cope with the rainy months of November and December. » For the paper, « the outstanding task is so huge that it would be impossible to avoid prolongation».
Le Potentiel writes, responding to various criticisms, «Father Malu Malu says politicians are afraid of the elections. In the same breadth, he discloses what is blocking his institution and is preventing it from being effectively up and running, notably the lack of logistics and the funds promised by the government to its institution. »
Le Palmarès, in turn, quotes President Joseph Kabila as declaring that, « it would be an illusion to believe that elections would be held if there is no peace or stability, particularly in Eastern DRC. »
The Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary General for the DR of Congo, William Swing, echoed by Le Potentiel, is rather confident. « Despite the alarming situation in Eastern DRC, some important progress are being made in the DRC», MONUC chief declared on Friday in New York, indicating that « the extension of Government authority across the national territory as well as the return of refugees and displaced persons remain a priority. »
The situation in Eastern DRC features high in the agenda of the Council of African Union that has convened a summit to be attended by several heads of states this Monday in Libreville, Gabon, L'Observateur says.
« A storm triggered off by Father Malu Malu», Le Phare titles. « Father Apollinaire Malu Malu decided to offer the Congolese such a strange present for the New Year celebrations», the paper says. « Father Malu Malu is blamed for rushing things. Firstly, with respect to the clauses on the constitution, the CEI chief should justify his decision to postpone the elections to the two houses of parliament for approval' », Le Phare therefore estimates: « in any case, that became obvious in light of the accumulated delays in adopting the laws, the ill faith shown by the key stakeholders in integrating the army and the difficulties in releasing the financial package for the CEI; yet the CEI chief surprised everybody with his naïve angelism, as if he was trying to stall the process on the nonchalance of the political operations to prioritise the reasons that have nothing to with the letter nor the spirit of the relevant clauses included in the constitution ».
La Référence Plus, for its part, writes «Father Apollinaire Malu Malu confronted with Tshisekedi and Gizenga' the Head of the Independent Electoral Commission has called for serious debates on the combination of votes and disproves the attitudes of ''rioting demonstrators''. » The paper recalls, « the CEI chief told RFI that elections could not definitely be held by June 2005. In light of the huge task ahead, he said elections could be held in October. He further suggested a combination of votes to cope with the rainy months of November and December. » For the paper, « the outstanding task is so huge that it would be impossible to avoid prolongation».
Le Potentiel writes, responding to various criticisms, «Father Malu Malu says politicians are afraid of the elections. In the same breadth, he discloses what is blocking his institution and is preventing it from being effectively up and running, notably the lack of logistics and the funds promised by the government to its institution. »
Le Palmarès, in turn, quotes President Joseph Kabila as declaring that, « it would be an illusion to believe that elections would be held if there is no peace or stability, particularly in Eastern DRC. »
The Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary General for the DR of Congo, William Swing, echoed by Le Potentiel, is rather confident. « Despite the alarming situation in Eastern DRC, some important progress are being made in the DRC», MONUC chief declared on Friday in New York, indicating that « the extension of Government authority across the national territory as well as the return of refugees and displaced persons remain a priority. »
The situation in Eastern DRC features high in the agenda of the Council of African Union that has convened a summit to be attended by several heads of states this Monday in Libreville, Gabon, L'Observateur says.
