UN
United Nations Peacekeeping
4 Mar
2009
Press Review
Today's local press in Kinshasa has broadly commented on President Joseph Kabila's message to the National Assembly yesterday.
Le Potentiel has summarized the Head of State's message indicating Joseph Kabila has accused'the National Assembly of dragging heels on drafting the basic laws for a peaceful transition and blocking the transition by giving more importance to the questioning of ministers as well as their own missions abroad'', thereby giving the impression that ''they are afraid of the democratization''. The Congolese Head of State appealed to the Parliament to take into consideration the deadline set by the Constitution and improve the working method used to date in order to accelerate the drafting of the remaining laws, the paper says.
According to La Référence Plus, President Kabila has reminded the members of parliament ''their prime and urgent obligations'', alluding to the ''current tensions between the Parliament and the Government due to the difficulties noted in the functioning of the legislative institution''. The same paper which describes the message as a ''final warning'' to the members of the parliament also points out the ''unusual style and tone used by the Head of State in conveying his bitterness in a thinly veiled anger''.
In its today's editorial, L'Observateur notes that ''president Kabila's concerns are shared by the Congolese people who also insist that the transitional period be respected and the elections take place within the 24-month given''.
President Kabila's message to the members of parliament through an envoy reportedly came as a bombshell in the hemicycle of the Palais du Peuple, reports Le Palmarès. '' The speech which made the members of parliament furious, was often interrupted by sustained booing'', declares the paper, admitting that the message had a major failing, which is a virulence alien to Joseph Kabila. The paper notes that under the article 110 of the constitution, the proceedings did not take place and ''the members of parliaments gave vent to their anger out of the Parliament's hemicycle''.
La Tempête des Tropiques echoes the reactions of some members of parliament some of whom doubting the source of the message and requesting '' proof that the message indeed came from the Head of State''. Others describe this as a '' pill that shows how confused the transitional period will be'' while others think that ''as the first citizen of the 60 millions, the president should set the example by using an appropriate language while addressing institutions such as the Parliament''.
MONUC is determined to bring to fruition the disarmament and deployment in Ituri, despite the armed militias' attacks, announces La Tempête des Tropiques, alluding to MONUC Wednesday news conference. The paper recalls that a few days ago, Ituri-based MONUC troops came under a series of attacks perpetrated by hostile militia armed groups in the region. The paper quotes MONUC spokesman as declaring that the mission shall continue working for the safety of the population.
Monuc will use robust means to put an end to armed groups operations in Eastern DRC, says L'Observateur, indicating that ''some militiamen were captured as Thomas Lubanga was being blamed by William Swing''. Le Potentiel confirms that MONUC head summoned UPC leader Wednesday ''to apprise him of MONUC indignation at the numerous attacks against its troops''.
Le Potentiel also echoes the briefing by MONUC Quick Impact Projects (Quips) manager during Wednesday news conference ''Quips' aim is to bring relief to the population and to support the restoration of peace in DRC at the grassroots level'', says the paper, further adding that two million Congolese people have, to date, benefited from the quick impact projects.
Monuc is accused of attacking civilians in Ituri, reports L'Avenir, based on ''corroborating testimonies from the local populations''. The paper quotes the Catholic Misna agency as declaring that UN peacekeepers exchanged fire with ''young people'' after its helicopter has landed on a football playground between Drodro and Largu. '' These young people are said to be UPC militiamen'', writes the paper stressing that accounts from eyewitnesses accuse MONUC of opening fire in Iga Barrière while apparently there was no shooting incident.
According to La Référence Plus, President Kabila has reminded the members of parliament ''their prime and urgent obligations'', alluding to the ''current tensions between the Parliament and the Government due to the difficulties noted in the functioning of the legislative institution''. The same paper which describes the message as a ''final warning'' to the members of the parliament also points out the ''unusual style and tone used by the Head of State in conveying his bitterness in a thinly veiled anger''.
In its today's editorial, L'Observateur notes that ''president Kabila's concerns are shared by the Congolese people who also insist that the transitional period be respected and the elections take place within the 24-month given''.
President Kabila's message to the members of parliament through an envoy reportedly came as a bombshell in the hemicycle of the Palais du Peuple, reports Le Palmarès. '' The speech which made the members of parliament furious, was often interrupted by sustained booing'', declares the paper, admitting that the message had a major failing, which is a virulence alien to Joseph Kabila. The paper notes that under the article 110 of the constitution, the proceedings did not take place and ''the members of parliaments gave vent to their anger out of the Parliament's hemicycle''.
La Tempête des Tropiques echoes the reactions of some members of parliament some of whom doubting the source of the message and requesting '' proof that the message indeed came from the Head of State''. Others describe this as a '' pill that shows how confused the transitional period will be'' while others think that ''as the first citizen of the 60 millions, the president should set the example by using an appropriate language while addressing institutions such as the Parliament''.
MONUC is determined to bring to fruition the disarmament and deployment in Ituri, despite the armed militias' attacks, announces La Tempête des Tropiques, alluding to MONUC Wednesday news conference. The paper recalls that a few days ago, Ituri-based MONUC troops came under a series of attacks perpetrated by hostile militia armed groups in the region. The paper quotes MONUC spokesman as declaring that the mission shall continue working for the safety of the population.
Monuc will use robust means to put an end to armed groups operations in Eastern DRC, says L'Observateur, indicating that ''some militiamen were captured as Thomas Lubanga was being blamed by William Swing''. Le Potentiel confirms that MONUC head summoned UPC leader Wednesday ''to apprise him of MONUC indignation at the numerous attacks against its troops''.
Le Potentiel also echoes the briefing by MONUC Quick Impact Projects (Quips) manager during Wednesday news conference ''Quips' aim is to bring relief to the population and to support the restoration of peace in DRC at the grassroots level'', says the paper, further adding that two million Congolese people have, to date, benefited from the quick impact projects.
Monuc is accused of attacking civilians in Ituri, reports L'Avenir, based on ''corroborating testimonies from the local populations''. The paper quotes the Catholic Misna agency as declaring that UN peacekeepers exchanged fire with ''young people'' after its helicopter has landed on a football playground between Drodro and Largu. '' These young people are said to be UPC militiamen'', writes the paper stressing that accounts from eyewitnesses accuse MONUC of opening fire in Iga Barrière while apparently there was no shooting incident.
