UN
United Nations Peacekeeping
10 Mar
2009
Press Review of 15 August 2005
Today's local papers devote their headlines to the pursuit of voter registration operations in different DRC's provinces.
The headlines in L'Observateur read: 'A one-week extension for Bas Congo and Orientale provinces.' Referring to the extension, the pro-PPRD paper, President Kabila's party, explains, 'it is caused by the interest shown by a high number for the voter registration operations,' in Bas-Congo and Oriental provinces respectively numbering '438,770 potential voters for 509 centres and 475,072 voters for 475 centres.' There are '26 million more people to register,' says Le Phare, a pro-UDPS paper. Echoing the President of the CEI, L'Observateur reports, 'there are still logistic problems in deploying the electoral kits.' In this respect, La Référence Plus, a neutral paper says, 'To make up the lost time, CEI is working conjointly with UNDP/APEC and MONUC notably in the training of the staff in using effectively the computer and in the deployment of the electoral kits.'
Besides 'the organisation-related difficulties,' Le Potentiel (pro-UDPS) describes the CEI's silent attitude over 'its deployment in the localities occupied by FDLR and Maï Maï' as 'suicidal heroism.' Echoing the President of the Independent Electoral Commission, L'Observateur responds, 'It is not CEI's responsibility to secure the electoral process; its security is to be assured by the Government through the Ministry of Interior.'
L'Avenir (pro PPRD) headlines, 'CIAT issues Warning to those seeking to undermine Voter Registration operations in Mbuji Mayi.' The paper says the warning is particularly issued to 'those who refused to participate in the Transition and would not throw in their hands.' It therefore appears necessary for the CEI to offer some guarantees such as equitable treatment for all the political parties. 'They must all have the same rights and responsibilities,' Le Phare recalls. When referring to the PPRD and UDPS, the paper highlights, 'the two core parties did not sign the code of conduct for the political parties.' However, Le Phare reports, 'Father Malu Malu pledged to get UDPS and PPRD to sign the document as officially done by other parties on 18 June.'
Also referring to the ongoing electoral process, Le Potentiel reports, 'MONUC needs a lot more money for successful pre-electoral operations.' Evoking 'money problem' the pro-UDPS paper says, 'France has submitted a draft resolution that may pave the way for the disbursement of the funds needed.' Le Potentiel further gives an additional major reason, 'the text also authorises that 841 additional police officers be contributed to MONUC, which needs approval by American congress before the UN Security Council could proceed; But because of congressmen recess; No vote could be expected from the US congressmen until 6 September 2005.'
'MONUC's military preparations for the upcoming elections risk being handicapped,' says Le Palmarès. According to the pro-UDPS paper, 'Americans are fed up with the DRC's dossier with the UN.'
Under the headline, 'overwhelming truths revealed by Mbusa Nyamwisi, Minister of Regional Cooperation to the paper in an interview,' Le Potentiel says, 'we held fruitful talks with President Museveni and secured guarantees from him that the militia leaders of the new Mouvement Révolutionnaire Congolais, MRC would be declared personna non grata in Uganda'as far as our delegation was concerned, we pledged to be more offensive towards Ugandan rebel movement ADF,' quoting the Minister. The paper highlights, 'it is time to denounce in the strongest terms the weak effort thus far made in attempting to restore security to the Eastern part of the country,' and wonders, 'how could not even a single Rwandan lay down weapons and be repatriated after a year of arduous discussions with the FDLR. I think it is due to lack of willingness' even from Kigali. After all who bear the brunt of those troops' presence in DRC,' ' of course the Congolese answers Le Potentiel.
Besides 'the organisation-related difficulties,' Le Potentiel (pro-UDPS) describes the CEI's silent attitude over 'its deployment in the localities occupied by FDLR and Maï Maï' as 'suicidal heroism.' Echoing the President of the Independent Electoral Commission, L'Observateur responds, 'It is not CEI's responsibility to secure the electoral process; its security is to be assured by the Government through the Ministry of Interior.'
L'Avenir (pro PPRD) headlines, 'CIAT issues Warning to those seeking to undermine Voter Registration operations in Mbuji Mayi.' The paper says the warning is particularly issued to 'those who refused to participate in the Transition and would not throw in their hands.' It therefore appears necessary for the CEI to offer some guarantees such as equitable treatment for all the political parties. 'They must all have the same rights and responsibilities,' Le Phare recalls. When referring to the PPRD and UDPS, the paper highlights, 'the two core parties did not sign the code of conduct for the political parties.' However, Le Phare reports, 'Father Malu Malu pledged to get UDPS and PPRD to sign the document as officially done by other parties on 18 June.'
Also referring to the ongoing electoral process, Le Potentiel reports, 'MONUC needs a lot more money for successful pre-electoral operations.' Evoking 'money problem' the pro-UDPS paper says, 'France has submitted a draft resolution that may pave the way for the disbursement of the funds needed.' Le Potentiel further gives an additional major reason, 'the text also authorises that 841 additional police officers be contributed to MONUC, which needs approval by American congress before the UN Security Council could proceed; But because of congressmen recess; No vote could be expected from the US congressmen until 6 September 2005.'
'MONUC's military preparations for the upcoming elections risk being handicapped,' says Le Palmarès. According to the pro-UDPS paper, 'Americans are fed up with the DRC's dossier with the UN.'
Under the headline, 'overwhelming truths revealed by Mbusa Nyamwisi, Minister of Regional Cooperation to the paper in an interview,' Le Potentiel says, 'we held fruitful talks with President Museveni and secured guarantees from him that the militia leaders of the new Mouvement Révolutionnaire Congolais, MRC would be declared personna non grata in Uganda'as far as our delegation was concerned, we pledged to be more offensive towards Ugandan rebel movement ADF,' quoting the Minister. The paper highlights, 'it is time to denounce in the strongest terms the weak effort thus far made in attempting to restore security to the Eastern part of the country,' and wonders, 'how could not even a single Rwandan lay down weapons and be repatriated after a year of arduous discussions with the FDLR. I think it is due to lack of willingness' even from Kigali. After all who bear the brunt of those troops' presence in DRC,' ' of course the Congolese answers Le Potentiel.
