UN
United Nations Peacekeeping
10 Mar
2009
Press Review of 13 October 2005
Today's local papers focus on the various issues raised by MONUC weekly news conference, notably the military actions to be envisaged against the FDLR Rwandan hutu rebels. The papers also focus on the statement made by the catholic archbishop, cardinal Etsou over the teachers' strike.
L'Avenir quotes MONUC as declaring, 'During the night of Sunday to Monday, 15 people were killed with knives and 12 seriously injured by a group of about 25 Rwandan hutu rebels in the locality of Buba, 60 km south west of Bukavu.' In this regard, 'MONUC estimates that it is time for the members of the Tripartite Commission to implement its decision to enforce the serious consequences against Rwandan hutu rebels,' reports Le Phare. It should be recalled that 'the ultimatum of the Congolese, Rwandan and Ugandan governments ultimatum to the Rwandan hutu rebels operating in DRC, giving them up to end of September 2005 to implement their decision to lay down weapons and to return to Rwanda,' writes L'Avenir. As a result, 'MONUC calls on DRC, Rwanda and Uganda to disarm the FDLR,' says La Tempête des Tropiques. In concrete terms, 'FARDC must take actions against the Rwandan hutu rebels operating in North and South of Kivu,' adds Le Phare, echoing MONUC Spokesperson, Mr. Kemal Saïki. To put it plainly, 'MONUC is urging the DRC government to take actions against the Rwandan hutu rebels,' estimates Le Phare. Otherwise, 'the Congolese population [will continue] to pay a heavy price for this lethargy,' argues L'Observateur, [pro PPRD], by being 'killed by Rwandans of the FDLR.'
'Total silence' on government's side,' highlights Le Phare, a pro-UDPS paper, indicating, 'neither condemnation nor wide scale action envisaged against the Rwandan hutu rebels.' Yet, 'if Uganda and Rwanda delight in speeches, DRC ought to refrain from adopting an inoffensive attitude towards the FDLR,' says L'Observateur. 'MONUC is willing to support any forcible disarmament initiated by the Congolese army,' underscores L'Observateur. In light of such a willingness, 'it would be ridiculous to believe that MONUC can assist the FARDC with logistic support for a forcible disarmament of the illegal armed groups on its territory and, at the same time, back the FDLR,' notes La Référence Plus, an independent paper, echoing the Director of MONUC public information in DRC. 'Unless the DRC army makes a substantial contribution, MONUC will not be able to achieve anything,' warns L'Observateur.
On the issue related to the mass graves uncovered in Rutshuru, La Tempête des Tropiques echoes MONUC news briefing, indicating, 'MONUC has seen human skulls and bones in several mass graves in Rutshuru.' 'Even if the persons interviewed claimed that they knew many other mass graves locations ('), a forensic investigation is however needed and must be complemented by witnesses' testimonies,' to establish the whole truth about the mass graves, adds Le Phare.
In Kinshasa, cardinal Etsou, pronounced himself on the teachers' strike. He 'sent back to back the government, the parents and the teachers without pronouncing in favour of either,' reports Le Palmarès, pro-opposition paper. He 'asked the government and the teachers to be open-minded (') and united around the well-being of children who are the future of the Church and the nation,' notes L'Observateur. He also 'urged the government to allocate a substantial budget to education,' mentions L'Avenir.
Awaiting the government to fulfil the prelate's wishes, the National Assembly has given 'eight days to the government to reply to the strikers.' 'MPs and the Congolese people are expecting explanations from the Ministers of primary and secondary education; budget; finance, and civil service, including, if need be, Vice-President Arthur Z'ahidi Ngoma, father of the much talked about Mbudi agreement on which the teachers built their claims],' says La Tempête des Tropiques.
'Total silence' on government's side,' highlights Le Phare, a pro-UDPS paper, indicating, 'neither condemnation nor wide scale action envisaged against the Rwandan hutu rebels.' Yet, 'if Uganda and Rwanda delight in speeches, DRC ought to refrain from adopting an inoffensive attitude towards the FDLR,' says L'Observateur. 'MONUC is willing to support any forcible disarmament initiated by the Congolese army,' underscores L'Observateur. In light of such a willingness, 'it would be ridiculous to believe that MONUC can assist the FARDC with logistic support for a forcible disarmament of the illegal armed groups on its territory and, at the same time, back the FDLR,' notes La Référence Plus, an independent paper, echoing the Director of MONUC public information in DRC. 'Unless the DRC army makes a substantial contribution, MONUC will not be able to achieve anything,' warns L'Observateur.
On the issue related to the mass graves uncovered in Rutshuru, La Tempête des Tropiques echoes MONUC news briefing, indicating, 'MONUC has seen human skulls and bones in several mass graves in Rutshuru.' 'Even if the persons interviewed claimed that they knew many other mass graves locations ('), a forensic investigation is however needed and must be complemented by witnesses' testimonies,' to establish the whole truth about the mass graves, adds Le Phare.
In Kinshasa, cardinal Etsou, pronounced himself on the teachers' strike. He 'sent back to back the government, the parents and the teachers without pronouncing in favour of either,' reports Le Palmarès, pro-opposition paper. He 'asked the government and the teachers to be open-minded (') and united around the well-being of children who are the future of the Church and the nation,' notes L'Observateur. He also 'urged the government to allocate a substantial budget to education,' mentions L'Avenir.
Awaiting the government to fulfil the prelate's wishes, the National Assembly has given 'eight days to the government to reply to the strikers.' 'MPs and the Congolese people are expecting explanations from the Ministers of primary and secondary education; budget; finance, and civil service, including, if need be, Vice-President Arthur Z'ahidi Ngoma, father of the much talked about Mbudi agreement on which the teachers built their claims],' says La Tempête des Tropiques.
