UN
United Nations Peacekeeping
9 Mar
2009
Press Review 20 June 2005
Launching of Identification and Registration operations and Extension of Transition top today's local news.
'There is no more doubt about the holding of the elections since the electoral process is now effectively under way. The Democratic Republic of Congo has indeed embarked upon the electoral process,' L'AVENIR says under the headlines, Electoral process has effectively started today. The identification and registration operation started this morning with the first six districts of Kinshasa, the paper says, indicating, 'uncertainty as to the holding of the elections is now being dispelled with CEI's ongoing concrete achievements.' The paper reports 2,800 digital kits arrived on Friday and the other parts on Saturday and Sunday.
Kofi Annan hails the launching of voters' registration, the paper says. The United Nations Secretary-General welcomed the adoption by the Congolese Parliament of the draft constitution and referendum law as well as the launching of voters registration on 20 June, which he referred to as 'positive sign that the ongoing electoral process is carrying on smoothly and DRC is actually heading towards the elections,' L'OBSERVATEUR writes. The UN boss has, according to the paper, 'called on all the Congolese to support the ongoing electoral process which will lead to free, transparent and democratic elections in the DRC' and reaffirmed extension of MONUC mandate for an additional period of a year, up to 31 March 2006. MONUC will adopt a three-prong approach to contribute to this process, LA REFERENCE PLUS says, echoing the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General, William Lacy Swing: the deployment of MONUC experts in civics education, the production of public service announcements in local languages by the Un Mission's Public Information Division and the broadcasting by Radio Okapi, a MONUC Radio, of a daily two-hour program on the elections.
LA TEMPETE DES TROPIQUES recalls the decision made Friday by both houses of parliament, to extend DRC transition for six months renewable once by the Independent Electoral Commission (CEI)'s recommendation, under the terms of the article 196 of the Transition Constitution. The paper questions the validity of the reasons raised by CEI and states: 'We say no,' pointing an accusing finger at the 'the ex-belligerent leaders,' accusing them of 'not being sincere,' deploring 'lack of political will.' The paper denounces the time taken by the Parliament ' 9 months ' to adopt the law on the organisation and functioning of the CEI 'while the organisation of the elections should be the top priority for the transition.'
Under the headlines, Presidential elections within 9 months, the same paper publishes a forward-looking calendar of combined elections produced by the head of CEI, Father Apollinaire Malu Malu according to which, registration of voters is scheduled to start on 20 June 2005, the referendum on the constitution on 27 November 2005, the first combined voting on 22 March 2006, the second voting of the president and senators on 30 April 2006 and the proclamation of the results of the votes on 30 April 2006. 'Father Malu Malu says the calendar is realistic in regard to the organisation of free, democratic and transparent elections,' reports LA TEMPETE DES TROPIQUES.
For LE PHARE, the elections' 'transparency is already undermined,' denouncing a suspicious exclusion of journalists from the voting offices. MPs decided to 'exclude journalists at a critical stage, that is the vote,' the paper says, wondering 'Does the press represent any danger as the representatives of the political parties, the civil society, NGOs and the International Community could do.'' The paper argues, 'amidst mutual suspicions, media professions' presence would give credibility to the votes.'
The paper accuses the MPs who decided to have the journalists banned from any presence in the voting centers, indicating, they are afraid of 'journalists' and people's 'verdict within the coming months.' Journalists are joining forces in a form of corporation to claim their 'rights;' in this respect, they will present a letter of protest to the Head of State through the High Media Authority. In its editorial entitled Rigging, LE POTENTIEL says, 'for a real triumph of democracy, there is absolute need for media coverage of electoral operations in all transparency; any exclusion would imply a veiled attempt of rigging.'
Moreover, the paper quotes the National Secretary of Etienne Tshisekedi's party in charge of communication, Mr. Bomanza as declaring, UDPS is opposed to any automatic extension of the Transition. He referred to the decision as 'null and void,' indicating, 'the Parliament has overlooked the interests of the Congolese people,' the paper reports.
'June 30, 2005 represents the end of the Transition,' for UDPS, says LE PALMARES, echoing the latter's communiqué. The paper headlines, Etienne Tshisekedi has revealed the whole truth over the chaos being masterminded by the power and echoes a press conference held Saturday by another Secretary-General of UDPS, Remy Massamba who officially announced the holding of a peace rally 'by Congolese people to mark the end of a Transition that further plunged them in total destitution and suffering.' Arguing that UDPS is a party advocating non-violence, he accused the power in place of organizing insecurity in the town of Kinshasa (armed robbery, brutal murders with mutilations, arrests, arbitrary detentions,' in anticipation of 30 June 2005. Mr. Massamba also referred to 'the purchase of machetes with tramontina trademark by the transition's authorities to justify their massive order of weapons to suppress the population's demonstrations; they printed a large number of T-shirts with President Tshisekedi's effigy which their supporters will be wearing on 30 June 2005 in anticipation of the looting to take place on the fateful day and a generalised chaos to be blamed on UDPS members.' UDPS communiqué also accuses the International Committee to Support the Transition (CIAT) of backing the government through approval of the automatic extension of the transition and the threat to sanction all Congolese who would attempt to disown the authorities on 30 June 2005. However, the leader of UDPS whose seat is based in Limete, Kinshasa has confirmed the holding of the 30th June peace rally and calls on 'the population' to foil the masquerade of identification and registration operations launched on 20 June. 'UDPS will hold CIAT responsible for complicity and non assistance to the Congolese people in danger in the face of the genocide being prepared,' the document further says.
The headlines in LE POTENTIEL read: They have all agreed to negotiate, alluding to the 30 June psychosis. The paper echoes a declaration issued by the director of Etienne Tshisekedi's campaign on a local television channel: 'UDPS maintains that transition must stop on 30 June but remains opened to a round table negotiation to be attended by few personalities of all political trends.' Other members of the political platform also expressed the same concerns. The paper further reports that Etienne Tshisekedi will make a declaration this week, wondering what he will say, predicting that 'those who know him and are appreciative of his constancy think the will just confirm his decision for a peace rally on 30 June'and the possibility for negotiations.'
Kofi Annan hails the launching of voters' registration, the paper says. The United Nations Secretary-General welcomed the adoption by the Congolese Parliament of the draft constitution and referendum law as well as the launching of voters registration on 20 June, which he referred to as 'positive sign that the ongoing electoral process is carrying on smoothly and DRC is actually heading towards the elections,' L'OBSERVATEUR writes. The UN boss has, according to the paper, 'called on all the Congolese to support the ongoing electoral process which will lead to free, transparent and democratic elections in the DRC' and reaffirmed extension of MONUC mandate for an additional period of a year, up to 31 March 2006. MONUC will adopt a three-prong approach to contribute to this process, LA REFERENCE PLUS says, echoing the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General, William Lacy Swing: the deployment of MONUC experts in civics education, the production of public service announcements in local languages by the Un Mission's Public Information Division and the broadcasting by Radio Okapi, a MONUC Radio, of a daily two-hour program on the elections.
LA TEMPETE DES TROPIQUES recalls the decision made Friday by both houses of parliament, to extend DRC transition for six months renewable once by the Independent Electoral Commission (CEI)'s recommendation, under the terms of the article 196 of the Transition Constitution. The paper questions the validity of the reasons raised by CEI and states: 'We say no,' pointing an accusing finger at the 'the ex-belligerent leaders,' accusing them of 'not being sincere,' deploring 'lack of political will.' The paper denounces the time taken by the Parliament ' 9 months ' to adopt the law on the organisation and functioning of the CEI 'while the organisation of the elections should be the top priority for the transition.'
Under the headlines, Presidential elections within 9 months, the same paper publishes a forward-looking calendar of combined elections produced by the head of CEI, Father Apollinaire Malu Malu according to which, registration of voters is scheduled to start on 20 June 2005, the referendum on the constitution on 27 November 2005, the first combined voting on 22 March 2006, the second voting of the president and senators on 30 April 2006 and the proclamation of the results of the votes on 30 April 2006. 'Father Malu Malu says the calendar is realistic in regard to the organisation of free, democratic and transparent elections,' reports LA TEMPETE DES TROPIQUES.
For LE PHARE, the elections' 'transparency is already undermined,' denouncing a suspicious exclusion of journalists from the voting offices. MPs decided to 'exclude journalists at a critical stage, that is the vote,' the paper says, wondering 'Does the press represent any danger as the representatives of the political parties, the civil society, NGOs and the International Community could do.'' The paper argues, 'amidst mutual suspicions, media professions' presence would give credibility to the votes.'
The paper accuses the MPs who decided to have the journalists banned from any presence in the voting centers, indicating, they are afraid of 'journalists' and people's 'verdict within the coming months.' Journalists are joining forces in a form of corporation to claim their 'rights;' in this respect, they will present a letter of protest to the Head of State through the High Media Authority. In its editorial entitled Rigging, LE POTENTIEL says, 'for a real triumph of democracy, there is absolute need for media coverage of electoral operations in all transparency; any exclusion would imply a veiled attempt of rigging.'
Moreover, the paper quotes the National Secretary of Etienne Tshisekedi's party in charge of communication, Mr. Bomanza as declaring, UDPS is opposed to any automatic extension of the Transition. He referred to the decision as 'null and void,' indicating, 'the Parliament has overlooked the interests of the Congolese people,' the paper reports.
'June 30, 2005 represents the end of the Transition,' for UDPS, says LE PALMARES, echoing the latter's communiqué. The paper headlines, Etienne Tshisekedi has revealed the whole truth over the chaos being masterminded by the power and echoes a press conference held Saturday by another Secretary-General of UDPS, Remy Massamba who officially announced the holding of a peace rally 'by Congolese people to mark the end of a Transition that further plunged them in total destitution and suffering.' Arguing that UDPS is a party advocating non-violence, he accused the power in place of organizing insecurity in the town of Kinshasa (armed robbery, brutal murders with mutilations, arrests, arbitrary detentions,' in anticipation of 30 June 2005. Mr. Massamba also referred to 'the purchase of machetes with tramontina trademark by the transition's authorities to justify their massive order of weapons to suppress the population's demonstrations; they printed a large number of T-shirts with President Tshisekedi's effigy which their supporters will be wearing on 30 June 2005 in anticipation of the looting to take place on the fateful day and a generalised chaos to be blamed on UDPS members.' UDPS communiqué also accuses the International Committee to Support the Transition (CIAT) of backing the government through approval of the automatic extension of the transition and the threat to sanction all Congolese who would attempt to disown the authorities on 30 June 2005. However, the leader of UDPS whose seat is based in Limete, Kinshasa has confirmed the holding of the 30th June peace rally and calls on 'the population' to foil the masquerade of identification and registration operations launched on 20 June. 'UDPS will hold CIAT responsible for complicity and non assistance to the Congolese people in danger in the face of the genocide being prepared,' the document further says.
The headlines in LE POTENTIEL read: They have all agreed to negotiate, alluding to the 30 June psychosis. The paper echoes a declaration issued by the director of Etienne Tshisekedi's campaign on a local television channel: 'UDPS maintains that transition must stop on 30 June but remains opened to a round table negotiation to be attended by few personalities of all political trends.' Other members of the political platform also expressed the same concerns. The paper further reports that Etienne Tshisekedi will make a declaration this week, wondering what he will say, predicting that 'those who know him and are appreciative of his constancy think the will just confirm his decision for a peace rally on 30 June'and the possibility for negotiations.'
