UN
United Nations Peacekeeping
5 Mar
2009
Press Review
Today's local papers in Kinshasa comment on various topics relating to the transitional process. They also discuss the commemoration of the 10th anniversary of the Rwandan genocide.
LE POTENTIEL proposes an analysis of the transitional process highlighting that the government is dragging on. The paper draws this conclusion after noting that Tuesday's cabinet meeting ''only addressed minor issues alluding to the 5 items in the agenda''. The cabinet meeting examined the reports on the events of 8 of March 2004 at Palais du Peuple and the events of 28 March. It also "lightly" examined the draft organic law on the territorial and administrative organisation in the DRC. The draft agreement on cooperation in the area of defence between the DRC and South Africa, as well as the additional decree on the organisation and functioning of the national commission for refugees were as well addressed by the cabinet meeting, indicates LE POTENTIEL. The paper feels that ''14 months away from the deadline set for the elections, the Government must avoid dragging on and should give priority to the most important issues''. These priorities are, according to the paper: the Army, Territorial Administration and the Elections.
Referring to the 28 March shoot-out, LE PALMARES reveals that the President of Congo Brazzaville, Denis Sassou Ngouesso, accused of being implicated in the 28 March event, "made fun" of the DRC delegation. The paper recalls that the DRC Government dispatched to Brazzaville a high-level delegation, comprised of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Human Rights and Defence, with a view to defuse the tensions between both countries. The paper reports that when they reached Brazzaville, the members of the DRC Government were given a "very cold reception" and were obliged "to patiently wait until Denis Sassou could find a little time to receive them". "The four members of the DRC Government had to see it to the bitter end before meeting the Human Rights Minister of Congo Brazzaville'', reveals the paper explaining that Brazzaville's attitude was justified since it was a response to the spurious accusation implicating it to DRC incidents.
The Minister of the Interior issued a warrant of arrest against two Congolese implicated in the 28 March event in Kinshasa, reports L'OBSERVATEUR. A reward of 5,000 American dollars is promised to any one who can help in the arrest of two Congolese men: Mr. Gédéon Gerengba and Mr. Alengi Mbangi, both ex-Warrant Officers of the former Special Presidential Division (DSP), adds the paper.
Furthermore, LA REFERENCE PLUS announces that a former colonel of the Zairian armed forces, Sébastien Nzapali, was sentenced to two years and a half imprisonment by the Rotterdam court, for committing the crime of torture in 1996 in the ex-Zaïre. LE PHARE indicates that under Mobutu, colonel Nzapali "was among the dangerous people surrounding the King, who would allow themselves any abuse. He tortured and committed all sorts of abuses on peaceful people and even officials''. The Rotterdam sentence is a minor one, feels the paper, "but a clear sign to other criminals who take it easy, holding a cigar in the corridors of power in Kinshasa''. The paper recalls that in the area of crimes against humanity, there is no immunity due to one's function and the UN Convention provides each State with universal jurisdiction.
LA TEMPETE DES TROPIQUES devotes its Headlines to the commemoration of the 10th anniversary of the Rwandan genocide. "This big ceremony was attended by Rwandan president Paul Kagamé, and six African Heads of State who joined the Rwandan people in commemorating the sad event'', reports the paper, adding that, in order to prevent this from happening again in the future, "Kofi Annan, the United Nations Secretary-General, announced the creation of a post of Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocides, before acknowledging the heavy responsibility of the universal institution which was unable to prevent the tragedy from happening''. The paper says that the DRC can draw some dividends from the theme selected for this commemoration, "Never Again". According to the paper, ''in order to prevent another genocide from happening again in Rwanda, the latter should stop supporting the rebel movements in the DRC or any other country sharing a common border''.
LE POTENTIEL further raises the dismantling operations of arms caches by MONUC and wonders about the resistance faced by the UN mission on the ground. The paper indicates that the political and military groups in Ituri, South Kivu, North Kivu and the Eastern province that oppose resistance to MONUC operations, accuse the latter of largely going beyond the scope of its mandate. It quotes the MONUC Spokesman as explaining that ''the operation dubbed Finding and Dismantling of arms caches is part of MONUC's mandate, which is now under chapter seven of the UN charter''. ''MONUC should use force when faced with resistance''.
''MONUC and DRC authorities paid a final tribute yesterday to six South African peacekeepers who perished Tuesday, 6 April 2004, in Lake Kivu, when returning from a patrol'', indicates LA TEMPETE DES TROPIQUES. "The Congolese Government was represented by Antoine Ghonda, Minister of Foreign Affairs and MONUC was represented by the SRSG, Mr. William Swing'', adds the paper.
Referring to the 28 March shoot-out, LE PALMARES reveals that the President of Congo Brazzaville, Denis Sassou Ngouesso, accused of being implicated in the 28 March event, "made fun" of the DRC delegation. The paper recalls that the DRC Government dispatched to Brazzaville a high-level delegation, comprised of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Human Rights and Defence, with a view to defuse the tensions between both countries. The paper reports that when they reached Brazzaville, the members of the DRC Government were given a "very cold reception" and were obliged "to patiently wait until Denis Sassou could find a little time to receive them". "The four members of the DRC Government had to see it to the bitter end before meeting the Human Rights Minister of Congo Brazzaville'', reveals the paper explaining that Brazzaville's attitude was justified since it was a response to the spurious accusation implicating it to DRC incidents.
The Minister of the Interior issued a warrant of arrest against two Congolese implicated in the 28 March event in Kinshasa, reports L'OBSERVATEUR. A reward of 5,000 American dollars is promised to any one who can help in the arrest of two Congolese men: Mr. Gédéon Gerengba and Mr. Alengi Mbangi, both ex-Warrant Officers of the former Special Presidential Division (DSP), adds the paper.
Furthermore, LA REFERENCE PLUS announces that a former colonel of the Zairian armed forces, Sébastien Nzapali, was sentenced to two years and a half imprisonment by the Rotterdam court, for committing the crime of torture in 1996 in the ex-Zaïre. LE PHARE indicates that under Mobutu, colonel Nzapali "was among the dangerous people surrounding the King, who would allow themselves any abuse. He tortured and committed all sorts of abuses on peaceful people and even officials''. The Rotterdam sentence is a minor one, feels the paper, "but a clear sign to other criminals who take it easy, holding a cigar in the corridors of power in Kinshasa''. The paper recalls that in the area of crimes against humanity, there is no immunity due to one's function and the UN Convention provides each State with universal jurisdiction.
LA TEMPETE DES TROPIQUES devotes its Headlines to the commemoration of the 10th anniversary of the Rwandan genocide. "This big ceremony was attended by Rwandan president Paul Kagamé, and six African Heads of State who joined the Rwandan people in commemorating the sad event'', reports the paper, adding that, in order to prevent this from happening again in the future, "Kofi Annan, the United Nations Secretary-General, announced the creation of a post of Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocides, before acknowledging the heavy responsibility of the universal institution which was unable to prevent the tragedy from happening''. The paper says that the DRC can draw some dividends from the theme selected for this commemoration, "Never Again". According to the paper, ''in order to prevent another genocide from happening again in Rwanda, the latter should stop supporting the rebel movements in the DRC or any other country sharing a common border''.
LE POTENTIEL further raises the dismantling operations of arms caches by MONUC and wonders about the resistance faced by the UN mission on the ground. The paper indicates that the political and military groups in Ituri, South Kivu, North Kivu and the Eastern province that oppose resistance to MONUC operations, accuse the latter of largely going beyond the scope of its mandate. It quotes the MONUC Spokesman as explaining that ''the operation dubbed Finding and Dismantling of arms caches is part of MONUC's mandate, which is now under chapter seven of the UN charter''. ''MONUC should use force when faced with resistance''.
''MONUC and DRC authorities paid a final tribute yesterday to six South African peacekeepers who perished Tuesday, 6 April 2004, in Lake Kivu, when returning from a patrol'', indicates LA TEMPETE DES TROPIQUES. "The Congolese Government was represented by Antoine Ghonda, Minister of Foreign Affairs and MONUC was represented by the SRSG, Mr. William Swing'', adds the paper.
