Press Review 23 December 2004
In the same development, L'AVENIR says, « the new demarcation line fixes the ''Tutsi land'' borders». According to the paper, « the zone was established to meet the requirement of the International Tutsi Power. »
Le Palmarès is rather optimistic, estimating that « far from being an obstacle to the FARDC's action, the initiative aims to ensure that fights have effectively stopped and humanitarian assistance is brought to the population. » MONUC said the establishment of the buffer zone was decided upon consultations with Congolese authorities, the paper recalls, alluding to the mission led by William Swing to North Kivu, which it quotes as declaring Wednesday that it was not opposed to the redeployment of the FARDC troops to Eastern DRC, where 250 Peacekeepers were deploying.
La Référence Plus, in turn, alerts over the finding of a weapons cache in Bukavu indicating, « whilst order is being restored in Kanyabayonga where MONUC imposed a buffer zone, news from South Kivu, notably Bukavu, are rather alarming. A huge weapons cache was discovered in the residence of the Vice-governor in charge of economic and financial matters, Mr. Nziratima ». According to 'corroborating' sources'', «Besides the weapons of war found in the Vice-governor's residence, there were also about thirty soldiers hiding in the residence without the knowing of the 10th military region's authorities. »
Analysing the military situation, Le Phare focuses on « the contribution to the war effort ». According to the paper, « the new war in Eastern DRC visibly demands a lot of foreign money (') Under the guise of the contribution to the war effort, the public firms (the viable ones) have been asked to contribute about 500 000 dollars' ».