UN
United Nations Peacekeeping
4 Mar
2009
Press Review
Today's local papers in Kinshasa devote their headlines to various subjects, amongst others, the arrival of American experts in atomic energy in Kinshasa following the seizure of a large quantity of enriched uranium in DRC.
American specialists have already arrived in Kinshasa for an assessment of the boxes of the uranium seized this month by the DRC security service, reports LA REFERENCE PLUS, adding that the experts' mission is to ''determine how dangerous is the lethal bomb and the possible link with terrorism''. Regarding the quantity of the uranium, the paper just mentions two boxes containing about 50 kilograms of uranium each, on top of which the fifty similar boxes seized for the last four years in the DRC. The paper quotes professor Fortunat Lumu of the International Atomic Energy Agency as explaining that the uranium ''is used for the making of lethal bombs; when radioactive stuff are mixed with conventional bombs likely to contaminate an entire region for several dozens years''.
The same paper further refers to some ''dangerous men'' linked with the boxes of uranium affairs alleged to be ''under MONUC protection'' alluding to a businessman owner of a firm situated behind MONUC premises in Limete district (Kinshasa), who reportedly confirmed that a large quantities of uranium holed up in his office premises was found by the investigators. The paper says that the businessman is held by ''some institutions specialised in dealing with such dossiers''. Regarding the link with MONUC, the paper highlights that the businessman was chosen by ''William Swing to be part of the delegation of the Federation of the Congolese Corporations in the East of the DR Congo to defend the interests of that community to the authorities''. The paper therefore concludes that '' the man benefits from the immunity of MONUC's big man''.
LA REFERENCE PLUS recalls that the first two atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan during the Second World War was made of uranium drawn from the Shinkolobwe mine in Katanga province, South East of the DRC. While the Congolese authorities are arguing that the mine in question was closed, L'OBSERVATEUR echoes a MISNA catholic report indicating that ''6,000 illegal miners are still working in there. The miners are said to be digging out large quantities of material containing copper and platinum''.
William Swing (is) in Bujumbura where a MONUC local representative was expelled, reports LE POTENTIEL echoing a dispatch from Agence France Presse (AFP), explaining that MONUC head of office in Burundi, Ibrahima Dia, was expelled Wednesday by Burundian government, '' his posting was judged by Bujumbura as illegal''. LE PALMARES reports that during his visit to Bujumbura, the head of MONUC is due to discuss with Burundian authorities the repatriation of the Burundian combatants from the DRC and security along the border.
Referring once more on the news conference held by MONUC spokesman Wednesday, LA REFERENCE PLUS recalls that nearly 10,000 combatants and their dependants were repatriated from the DRC by MONUC: 6,185 Rwandans, 2,635 Burundians and 505 Ugandans, adds the paper. Moreover, the paper notes, some 6,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) will shortly leave Bunia to join their homes. They had fled the Fataki, Tchomia and Kasenyi districts, says the paper indicating that ''the return is indicative of good progress in regard to the security situation in Ituri''.
The natives of Ituri have allegedly demanded a provincial status for their district, according to LE POTENTIEL. The paper says that the members of parliament, the senators and members of governments' met in Ituri from 4 to 5 March and addressed some recommendations respectively to the Government, MONUC and the armed groups as follows: ''that the Government should make effective: the implementation of the recommendations issued by the Ituri Pacification Commission (CPI), the creation of a military zone in Ituri and the acceleration of the disarmament programme of the militia and armed groups and declare Ituri a disaster area''... that MONUC should ''provide guarantees to the natives of Ituri in regard to their security against any form of cross-border threat, whether internal or external. That the armed groups should ''put an end to their hostilities, stop the killing of civilians and armed attacks aimed against MONUC and should commit themselves to the cantonment and disarmament process of their troops''.
LE PHARE reports fear in the town of Bukavu, a few days away from the arrival of the Head of State, ''whose visit is aimed to mobilise the people and increase awareness of the peace and democratisation process''. According to the paper, ''tensions have increased in that part of the country due to the many misunderstandings between the heads of the armed forces based in that martyr province'' the root cause of which, notes LE PHARE, is the notification to colonel Mutebuci of his suspension by general Mbuza Mabe, new Interim commander of the 10th military region. '' The latter refused to comply with the decision describing it as illegal and irregular'', indicates the paper adding that another cause for the surge of tension in Bukavu is ''the rumour fuelled by the Banyamulenge according to which a massacre is being organised against members of their community''.
The same paper further refers to some ''dangerous men'' linked with the boxes of uranium affairs alleged to be ''under MONUC protection'' alluding to a businessman owner of a firm situated behind MONUC premises in Limete district (Kinshasa), who reportedly confirmed that a large quantities of uranium holed up in his office premises was found by the investigators. The paper says that the businessman is held by ''some institutions specialised in dealing with such dossiers''. Regarding the link with MONUC, the paper highlights that the businessman was chosen by ''William Swing to be part of the delegation of the Federation of the Congolese Corporations in the East of the DR Congo to defend the interests of that community to the authorities''. The paper therefore concludes that '' the man benefits from the immunity of MONUC's big man''.
LA REFERENCE PLUS recalls that the first two atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan during the Second World War was made of uranium drawn from the Shinkolobwe mine in Katanga province, South East of the DRC. While the Congolese authorities are arguing that the mine in question was closed, L'OBSERVATEUR echoes a MISNA catholic report indicating that ''6,000 illegal miners are still working in there. The miners are said to be digging out large quantities of material containing copper and platinum''.
William Swing (is) in Bujumbura where a MONUC local representative was expelled, reports LE POTENTIEL echoing a dispatch from Agence France Presse (AFP), explaining that MONUC head of office in Burundi, Ibrahima Dia, was expelled Wednesday by Burundian government, '' his posting was judged by Bujumbura as illegal''. LE PALMARES reports that during his visit to Bujumbura, the head of MONUC is due to discuss with Burundian authorities the repatriation of the Burundian combatants from the DRC and security along the border.
Referring once more on the news conference held by MONUC spokesman Wednesday, LA REFERENCE PLUS recalls that nearly 10,000 combatants and their dependants were repatriated from the DRC by MONUC: 6,185 Rwandans, 2,635 Burundians and 505 Ugandans, adds the paper. Moreover, the paper notes, some 6,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) will shortly leave Bunia to join their homes. They had fled the Fataki, Tchomia and Kasenyi districts, says the paper indicating that ''the return is indicative of good progress in regard to the security situation in Ituri''.
The natives of Ituri have allegedly demanded a provincial status for their district, according to LE POTENTIEL. The paper says that the members of parliament, the senators and members of governments' met in Ituri from 4 to 5 March and addressed some recommendations respectively to the Government, MONUC and the armed groups as follows: ''that the Government should make effective: the implementation of the recommendations issued by the Ituri Pacification Commission (CPI), the creation of a military zone in Ituri and the acceleration of the disarmament programme of the militia and armed groups and declare Ituri a disaster area''... that MONUC should ''provide guarantees to the natives of Ituri in regard to their security against any form of cross-border threat, whether internal or external. That the armed groups should ''put an end to their hostilities, stop the killing of civilians and armed attacks aimed against MONUC and should commit themselves to the cantonment and disarmament process of their troops''.
LE PHARE reports fear in the town of Bukavu, a few days away from the arrival of the Head of State, ''whose visit is aimed to mobilise the people and increase awareness of the peace and democratisation process''. According to the paper, ''tensions have increased in that part of the country due to the many misunderstandings between the heads of the armed forces based in that martyr province'' the root cause of which, notes LE PHARE, is the notification to colonel Mutebuci of his suspension by general Mbuza Mabe, new Interim commander of the 10th military region. '' The latter refused to comply with the decision describing it as illegal and irregular'', indicates the paper adding that another cause for the surge of tension in Bukavu is ''the rumour fuelled by the Banyamulenge according to which a massacre is being organised against members of their community''.
