UN
United Nations Peacekeeping
9 Mar
2009
Press Review 12 May 2005
Today's local papers focus on the Katanga events and the ongoing proceedings over the draft constitution.
The headlines in Le Potentiel reads: 'DRC Government breaks its silence on the secession attempt in Katanga.' The paper says, ' DRC Minister of Defence, Demobilisation and Ex-Combatants, Adolphe Onusumba confirmed the unrest in Katanga implicating some politicians and military officers in the province.' He refers to it as a 'nascent movement named Movement for the Independence of Katanga (MIK).'
Le Potentiel describes the Minister's reaction as 'untimely' and calls on 'justice to conduct safe and transparent investigations in order to establish the whole truth about this umpteenth putsch.'
Le Phare, in turn, reports on its front page, 'the Union des Libéraux pour la Démocratie (ULD) resents the accusations against its leader which it refers to as damaging imputations.' The paper also writes, 'ULD is surprised to note the coincidence between this dreadful blow and its increase in popularity and especially the nationalism and realistic stand by its leader over the alternative on the changeover of political power on 30 June 2005,' citing an excerpt of ULD declaration in respect of the Katanga events.
'President's mandate: once renewable,' writes L'Observateur on its front page, alluding to the ongoing proceedings in the National Assembly. 'Article 71, formerly 70 relating to the mode of the president's vote and his mandate fuelled heated debates prior to its adoption. Some MPs hold that the mandate must be once renewable whilst others maintain it should be twice,' the paper reports.
Le Potentiel goes further, indicating, 'Of the 338 MPs who voted, 165 were more than once renewable mandate. This view was rejected by 173 MPs who maintained that the mandate must be once renewable.'
Le Phare focuses on the political transition and headlines: 'Thabo Mbeki is due to arrive in Kinshasa next Monday.' The paper discloses, 'President Dos Santos of Angola is rather pessimistic,' and indicates, 'South African Head of State will do its utmost to bring together all the transition's stakeholders to secure a consensus around the 30 June 2005 in order to prevent any chaos.'
La Référence Plus as far as it is concerned declares, 'Tshisekedi will take up Prime Minister's Office,' alluding to 'a new nascent political arrangement for the prolongation of the transition.' The paper reveals, 'Jean Pierre Bemba and Azarias Ruberwa would retain their offices whilst Abdoulaye Ndombasi will be removed and lead the president's party.'
In another development, L'Observateur, announces, 'More than 12,000 ex-combatants disarmed' in Ituri. Echoing MONUC Military Spokesman, Lieutenant-Colonel Dominique Demange's statement, the paper highlights, 'the UN mission remains cautious and continues reinforcing its troops in Eastern DRC knowing that there are still 3,000 militia members wandering in the open air and constitute a permanent danger against the population.'
Le Potentiel describes the Minister's reaction as 'untimely' and calls on 'justice to conduct safe and transparent investigations in order to establish the whole truth about this umpteenth putsch.'
Le Phare, in turn, reports on its front page, 'the Union des Libéraux pour la Démocratie (ULD) resents the accusations against its leader which it refers to as damaging imputations.' The paper also writes, 'ULD is surprised to note the coincidence between this dreadful blow and its increase in popularity and especially the nationalism and realistic stand by its leader over the alternative on the changeover of political power on 30 June 2005,' citing an excerpt of ULD declaration in respect of the Katanga events.
'President's mandate: once renewable,' writes L'Observateur on its front page, alluding to the ongoing proceedings in the National Assembly. 'Article 71, formerly 70 relating to the mode of the president's vote and his mandate fuelled heated debates prior to its adoption. Some MPs hold that the mandate must be once renewable whilst others maintain it should be twice,' the paper reports.
Le Potentiel goes further, indicating, 'Of the 338 MPs who voted, 165 were more than once renewable mandate. This view was rejected by 173 MPs who maintained that the mandate must be once renewable.'
Le Phare focuses on the political transition and headlines: 'Thabo Mbeki is due to arrive in Kinshasa next Monday.' The paper discloses, 'President Dos Santos of Angola is rather pessimistic,' and indicates, 'South African Head of State will do its utmost to bring together all the transition's stakeholders to secure a consensus around the 30 June 2005 in order to prevent any chaos.'
La Référence Plus as far as it is concerned declares, 'Tshisekedi will take up Prime Minister's Office,' alluding to 'a new nascent political arrangement for the prolongation of the transition.' The paper reveals, 'Jean Pierre Bemba and Azarias Ruberwa would retain their offices whilst Abdoulaye Ndombasi will be removed and lead the president's party.'
In another development, L'Observateur, announces, 'More than 12,000 ex-combatants disarmed' in Ituri. Echoing MONUC Military Spokesman, Lieutenant-Colonel Dominique Demange's statement, the paper highlights, 'the UN mission remains cautious and continues reinforcing its troops in Eastern DRC knowing that there are still 3,000 militia members wandering in the open air and constitute a permanent danger against the population.'
