UN
United Nations Peacekeeping
10 Mar
2009
Press Review of 21 October 2005
Proceedings about the draft electoral law by yesterday's cabinet meeting is the major issue in today' s local papers.
Yesterday's cabinet meeting 'reviewed the draft electoral law on the presidential, legislative, provincial, urban, municipal and local elections,' reports Le Potentiel. The draft law was 'filed by the Vice President for political, defence and security affairs with inputs from the Minister of Interior, Decentralisation and Security,' the paper further says. 'The government also scanned the electoral law,' highlights Le Palmarès. It was 'the first time for the government to dissect this important law useful for the rest of the electoral operations,' notes L'Avenir. As expected, 'proceedings were stormy due to the importance of the subject and the highly sensitive nature of the draft law,' reports Le Potentiel. 'As agreed, next cabinet session will continue discussions on the draft law,' informs the paper. Therefore, 'those who have been impatiently expecting the draft electoral law would have to put up with the delay,' says L'Avenir. A delay that should not go on and on; 'considering the international community's advice and remarks through the International Community to Support the Transition which are also contained in the UN Secretary General's recent report, the transition government must speedily deal with this essential law,' says Le Potentiel. MPs' recess 'due to end on 3 October 2005, should by all means be stopped,' says L'Observateur.
In the meantime, the Congolese government has 'denied access to its territory by Ugandan troops,' announces Le Palmarès, responding to 'Ugandan Minister of Foreign Affairs who requested authorisation from its neighbours to deploy [Ugandan troops] in the DRC in order to track down the rebels of the Lord's Resistance Army,' highlights Le Palmarès. Surprising proposal, since 'the rebels who entered the DRC had already left,' the paper wonders, estimating, 'the thorny issue now, is the one related to the Mouvement Révolutionnaire Congolais/Congolese Revolutionary Movement [operating in Ituri]. A movement that has a rear base in Uganda and which continues to operate peacefully in the country.' However, 'insecurity has been losing ground since MONUC and the FARDC started operating in Ituri ('). This does not please DRC neighbours who used to attack it with a view to looting its natural resources and killing its population,' decrypts Le Palmarès.
With respect to the officers of the ex Zairian army, whose return to DRC was scheduled for last Tuesday, 'The cart was put before the horse by launching a media campaign around an issue that constitutes government's concern,' estimates L'Observateur, echoing the Minister of National Defence. Furthermore, 'a commission has been working relentlessly to secure an arrangement for their return to the country,' informs L'Observateur, pro-PPRD since 'military members cannot return to the country as simple civilians,' explains this paper, echoing the statements of the Minister of Defence.
In the meantime, the Congolese government has 'denied access to its territory by Ugandan troops,' announces Le Palmarès, responding to 'Ugandan Minister of Foreign Affairs who requested authorisation from its neighbours to deploy [Ugandan troops] in the DRC in order to track down the rebels of the Lord's Resistance Army,' highlights Le Palmarès. Surprising proposal, since 'the rebels who entered the DRC had already left,' the paper wonders, estimating, 'the thorny issue now, is the one related to the Mouvement Révolutionnaire Congolais/Congolese Revolutionary Movement [operating in Ituri]. A movement that has a rear base in Uganda and which continues to operate peacefully in the country.' However, 'insecurity has been losing ground since MONUC and the FARDC started operating in Ituri ('). This does not please DRC neighbours who used to attack it with a view to looting its natural resources and killing its population,' decrypts Le Palmarès.
With respect to the officers of the ex Zairian army, whose return to DRC was scheduled for last Tuesday, 'The cart was put before the horse by launching a media campaign around an issue that constitutes government's concern,' estimates L'Observateur, echoing the Minister of National Defence. Furthermore, 'a commission has been working relentlessly to secure an arrangement for their return to the country,' informs L'Observateur, pro-PPRD since 'military members cannot return to the country as simple civilians,' explains this paper, echoing the statements of the Minister of Defence.
