UN
United Nations Peacekeeping
5 Mar
2009
Press Review
A lot of ink continues being spilled over the eight RCD MPs who pulled out of Parliament; most of today's local papers comment is devoted to this issue.
RCD (Congolese Rally for Democracy) is boiling, Forum des As says, referring to ''a pernicious atmosphere prevailing within this party that may lead it to a break-up''. The paper adds ''that after the reformist wing attributed to the fabulously rich Katebe Katoto, RCD is now facing Bizima Karaha and seven MPs' dissension which is apparently giving sleepless night to Azarias Ruberwa''. The paper recalls that the MPs from ''the Kinyarwanda speaking community, suspended their participation in the Transition's Parliament last weekend, declaring that the ongoing transition is doomed to failure''.
The eight RCD's MPs also demanded that ''the truth be established about the massacres of Banyamulenge which led Mutebutsi and Nkunda to fight General Mbuja Mabe and capture of the town of Bukavu'', L'Avenir reports, indicating that RCD through its spokesman Lola Kisanga, has already reacted to Bizima's decision to withdraw to Goma by describing this attitude as ''political cowardice''. Mr. Kisanga reportedly announced that a five-day ultimatum was given to Bizima's wing to return to Kinshasa and join the Parliament. ''Failing to comply within the deadline period, they will be expelled from DRC and replaced by other members in the Parliament'', he said.
L'Avenir is indignant about Bizima Karaha's use of ''the Banyamulenge's protection by the International Community'' for the sake of ''playing a dirty trick on the Congolese people on whom the thesis of the minority has been imposed''. The paper considers that having played on Banyamulenge feeling, ''Bizima Karaha used a wrong statement, a wrong target and even a wrong time'', for, it indicates, ''Congolese will not accept to live in a Republic of the Banyamulenge, the Ngbandi, the Baluba or the Babembe''. Another RCD senior member, Crispin Kabasele, quoted by L'Observateur as declaring that this is no more time to use the Kinyarwanda-speaking community as an alibi, apparently shares this analysis. For Mr. Kabasele, the fact that the dissident MPs have chosen to get close to Rwanda proves that ''they are completely out of step with the process'', for ''today, the context is no longer the same and Rwanda must not continue supporting armed groups in our country''.
Furthermore, Le Phare mentions a ''new clash'' between Kabila and Ruberwa over the amnesty law. The paper says that the bill on amnesty signed by President Kabila ''excludes any person implicated in the assassination of late president Laurent Désiré Kabila''. The paper indicates that this detail stirred up ''a strong reaction'' from Azarias Ruberwa, who wrote to the Parliament ''to express his surprise that the disputed text had not been debated by the Government''. The paper underscores that RCD leader blames the President's initiative for not taking into consideration the former rebellion's officials named during the trial on Laurent Désiré Kabila's assassination.
It is an open secret that MONUC's mandate will expire on 31 July 2004, Le Phare recalls, noting that in this regard, ''the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for the DRC, William Swing, is due to fly to New York today to hold consultations on MONUC's new mandate''. The Special Representative and his interlocutors will explore the possibility of additional resources for MONUC, the paper highlights. On the same issue, La Tempête des Tropiques says that ''Monuc's mandate will certainly be renewed'', but the problem lies on the ''additional resources to avail to Monuc; this will depend much more on the justifications to be provided by Mr. William Swing and his different diplomatic contacts while in New York''. Monuc spokesman is quoted by the paper as declaring that in New York, ''William Swing, Kofi Annan and other personalities concerned by the DRC dossier will try to harmonize their views by reconciling both Monuc needs and the available means to be contributed by UN member countries''.
Moreover, Le Palmarès announces Swing speeds things up alluding to MONUC ''strong-worded warning'' against Laurent Nkunda. The paper quotes MONUC military spokesman, as declaring that ''Monuc will fight anyone attempting to take Bukavu militarily''. He further briefed on a meeting between the Kivu brigade and Laurent Nkunda,
''The dissident General of the Congolese armed Forces, Laurent Nkunda, told MONUC patrol that he had not the slightest bellicose inclination and is as of now at the disposal of the government'', La Référence Plus indicates. Monuc quotes Nkunda as stating that ''He has no hidden agenda and he is just willing to return home to live with his family'', the paper says.
The eight RCD's MPs also demanded that ''the truth be established about the massacres of Banyamulenge which led Mutebutsi and Nkunda to fight General Mbuja Mabe and capture of the town of Bukavu'', L'Avenir reports, indicating that RCD through its spokesman Lola Kisanga, has already reacted to Bizima's decision to withdraw to Goma by describing this attitude as ''political cowardice''. Mr. Kisanga reportedly announced that a five-day ultimatum was given to Bizima's wing to return to Kinshasa and join the Parliament. ''Failing to comply within the deadline period, they will be expelled from DRC and replaced by other members in the Parliament'', he said.
L'Avenir is indignant about Bizima Karaha's use of ''the Banyamulenge's protection by the International Community'' for the sake of ''playing a dirty trick on the Congolese people on whom the thesis of the minority has been imposed''. The paper considers that having played on Banyamulenge feeling, ''Bizima Karaha used a wrong statement, a wrong target and even a wrong time'', for, it indicates, ''Congolese will not accept to live in a Republic of the Banyamulenge, the Ngbandi, the Baluba or the Babembe''. Another RCD senior member, Crispin Kabasele, quoted by L'Observateur as declaring that this is no more time to use the Kinyarwanda-speaking community as an alibi, apparently shares this analysis. For Mr. Kabasele, the fact that the dissident MPs have chosen to get close to Rwanda proves that ''they are completely out of step with the process'', for ''today, the context is no longer the same and Rwanda must not continue supporting armed groups in our country''.
Furthermore, Le Phare mentions a ''new clash'' between Kabila and Ruberwa over the amnesty law. The paper says that the bill on amnesty signed by President Kabila ''excludes any person implicated in the assassination of late president Laurent Désiré Kabila''. The paper indicates that this detail stirred up ''a strong reaction'' from Azarias Ruberwa, who wrote to the Parliament ''to express his surprise that the disputed text had not been debated by the Government''. The paper underscores that RCD leader blames the President's initiative for not taking into consideration the former rebellion's officials named during the trial on Laurent Désiré Kabila's assassination.
It is an open secret that MONUC's mandate will expire on 31 July 2004, Le Phare recalls, noting that in this regard, ''the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for the DRC, William Swing, is due to fly to New York today to hold consultations on MONUC's new mandate''. The Special Representative and his interlocutors will explore the possibility of additional resources for MONUC, the paper highlights. On the same issue, La Tempête des Tropiques says that ''Monuc's mandate will certainly be renewed'', but the problem lies on the ''additional resources to avail to Monuc; this will depend much more on the justifications to be provided by Mr. William Swing and his different diplomatic contacts while in New York''. Monuc spokesman is quoted by the paper as declaring that in New York, ''William Swing, Kofi Annan and other personalities concerned by the DRC dossier will try to harmonize their views by reconciling both Monuc needs and the available means to be contributed by UN member countries''.
Moreover, Le Palmarès announces Swing speeds things up alluding to MONUC ''strong-worded warning'' against Laurent Nkunda. The paper quotes MONUC military spokesman, as declaring that ''Monuc will fight anyone attempting to take Bukavu militarily''. He further briefed on a meeting between the Kivu brigade and Laurent Nkunda,
''The dissident General of the Congolese armed Forces, Laurent Nkunda, told MONUC patrol that he had not the slightest bellicose inclination and is as of now at the disposal of the government'', La Référence Plus indicates. Monuc quotes Nkunda as stating that ''He has no hidden agenda and he is just willing to return home to live with his family'', the paper says.
