UN
United Nations Peacekeeping
9 Mar
2009
Press Review 2 March 2005
Today's local papers focus on two main issues, notably the Tuesday funeral ceremony in tribute to the MONUC peacekeepers killed in Ituri and the upcoming hearing by the International Criminal Court.
« William Swing reiterates Monuc's determination to carry on during the funeral ceremony in tribute to the nine peacekeepers killed in Ituri», LE PHARE writes, indicating, «despite the unfortunate incident, William Swing reiterated Monuc's determination to carry through peacekeeping operations in DRC». He also highlighted « Monuc is ever committed to work for the restoration of peace to Ituri and the rest of the DRC».
LA REFERENCE PLUS further notes, «Monuc's commitment for peace in DRC remains the only way to ensure that the peacekeepers are not dead in vain». The paper quotes William Swing as demanding «Justice» and claiming, «MONUC should work in strict collaboration with the transition's government and members of the International Committee tasked to accompany the DRC transition known as Ciat to hunt down those who perpetrated the killing». For William Swing, «those who masterminded these barbaric acts are enemies of peace and have no respect for human life, whether friends or relatives».
L'OBSERVATEUR refers back to the same issue, and talks of «a bloody reprisals by Monuc in Ituri». The paper reports, «about 100 people were killed yesterday following the shelling on Loga and Dji'Kri». « The districts of Loga and Dji'Kri are home to the militia groups belonging to the 'Front des Nationalistes Intégrationnistes (Fni)' led by Floribert Ndjabu, who is currently provided for in Kinshasa; he is neither arrested nor interrogated». For the paper «Monuc is resolved to use tough methods and consistent means to neutralise the armed militiamen who have been sowing death and desolation in Ituri and thereby flouting it». The paper recalls, «MONUC peacekeepers conducted yesterday morning a punitive operation against armed militia groups».
LA TEMPETE DES TROPIQUES, for its part, reports, «the hunt down of the presumed masterminds is under way». The paper quotes an AFP release relayed by Radio Okapi, which announces, «FNI leader, Floribert Ndjabu, was arrested yesterday in Kinshasa », and «other chiefs of former armed movements in Ituri are reportedly under custody». LA TEMPETE DES TROPIQUES also says that no Government official has confirmed nor denied this piece of information.
LE PALAMARES, for its part, confirms the arrest of six of the most influential members of the FNI led by Floribert Ndugu and of the Upc led by Thomas Lubanga.
For LE POTENTIEL, «the event is an indication of the weaknesses in the approach used up to now for the settlement of the crisis that has been affecting the eastern DRC for five years». The paper recalls that a pacification commission was put in place in Ituri but «has not been able to deal with the cycle of violence because the true reconciliation has not taken place ». «Using hypocritical ways, the killers misled the international community, MONUC and the Government by having their attention focused on Bunia only to the detriment of the rest of the district, where they recruited and trained the militiamen to fight in Bunia».
LE POTENTIEL also announces «the preliminary hearing by the ICC». The paper recalls the visit by Mr. Serge Brammetz, deputy prosecutor of the International Criminal Court to the DRC and the purpose of his mission. The paper says, « the 15 March 2005 hearing is highly expected by all the DRC's political and social components. One of the key warlords in Ituri might be summoned to appear before the court on 15 March 2005 following a warrant of arrest ».
LE PALMARES refers back to the cannibalism issue, indicating, «Jean Pierre Bemba has claimed his innocence ». The paper further says, «Bemba has declared he was not aware of the presence of an ICC commission in the DRC». He also declared, « Accusing someone is one thing and proving his guilt is another».
L'AVENIR refers to the situation in Kanyabayonga and announces, «plundering and violence are proceeding in Eastern DRC». The paper quotes a delegation from Kanyabayonga received by the president of the Senate yesterday as declaring, «insecurity prevailing in eastern DRC is caused by the so called mutineers of the Rcd/Goma ».
LA REFERENCE PLUS further notes, «Monuc's commitment for peace in DRC remains the only way to ensure that the peacekeepers are not dead in vain». The paper quotes William Swing as demanding «Justice» and claiming, «MONUC should work in strict collaboration with the transition's government and members of the International Committee tasked to accompany the DRC transition known as Ciat to hunt down those who perpetrated the killing». For William Swing, «those who masterminded these barbaric acts are enemies of peace and have no respect for human life, whether friends or relatives».
L'OBSERVATEUR refers back to the same issue, and talks of «a bloody reprisals by Monuc in Ituri». The paper reports, «about 100 people were killed yesterday following the shelling on Loga and Dji'Kri». « The districts of Loga and Dji'Kri are home to the militia groups belonging to the 'Front des Nationalistes Intégrationnistes (Fni)' led by Floribert Ndjabu, who is currently provided for in Kinshasa; he is neither arrested nor interrogated». For the paper «Monuc is resolved to use tough methods and consistent means to neutralise the armed militiamen who have been sowing death and desolation in Ituri and thereby flouting it». The paper recalls, «MONUC peacekeepers conducted yesterday morning a punitive operation against armed militia groups».
LA TEMPETE DES TROPIQUES, for its part, reports, «the hunt down of the presumed masterminds is under way». The paper quotes an AFP release relayed by Radio Okapi, which announces, «FNI leader, Floribert Ndjabu, was arrested yesterday in Kinshasa », and «other chiefs of former armed movements in Ituri are reportedly under custody». LA TEMPETE DES TROPIQUES also says that no Government official has confirmed nor denied this piece of information.
LE PALAMARES, for its part, confirms the arrest of six of the most influential members of the FNI led by Floribert Ndugu and of the Upc led by Thomas Lubanga.
For LE POTENTIEL, «the event is an indication of the weaknesses in the approach used up to now for the settlement of the crisis that has been affecting the eastern DRC for five years». The paper recalls that a pacification commission was put in place in Ituri but «has not been able to deal with the cycle of violence because the true reconciliation has not taken place ». «Using hypocritical ways, the killers misled the international community, MONUC and the Government by having their attention focused on Bunia only to the detriment of the rest of the district, where they recruited and trained the militiamen to fight in Bunia».
LE POTENTIEL also announces «the preliminary hearing by the ICC». The paper recalls the visit by Mr. Serge Brammetz, deputy prosecutor of the International Criminal Court to the DRC and the purpose of his mission. The paper says, « the 15 March 2005 hearing is highly expected by all the DRC's political and social components. One of the key warlords in Ituri might be summoned to appear before the court on 15 March 2005 following a warrant of arrest ».
LE PALMARES refers back to the cannibalism issue, indicating, «Jean Pierre Bemba has claimed his innocence ». The paper further says, «Bemba has declared he was not aware of the presence of an ICC commission in the DRC». He also declared, « Accusing someone is one thing and proving his guilt is another».
L'AVENIR refers to the situation in Kanyabayonga and announces, «plundering and violence are proceeding in Eastern DRC». The paper quotes a delegation from Kanyabayonga received by the president of the Senate yesterday as declaring, «insecurity prevailing in eastern DRC is caused by the so called mutineers of the Rcd/Goma ».
