I am traveling today, but check out the following pieces on elections, by Tony Gambino/Michael O'Hanlon and Emily Paddon/Guillaume Lacaille. I apologize for the lack of Congolese editorials - more of those soon.
http://globalpublicsquare.blogs.cnn.com/2011/12/06/congos-crucial-crossroads/
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
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@Jason - Awesome! Thanks for these links. I have been searching for analysis that sums things up, gives a perspective on what the international community should do, and gives enough background to make sense to people who are new to DRC politics. These articles fit the bill better than any I have found. It's part of the problem in getting people interested in the DRC; you have to retell the basic facts again and again. Sending a recent election update does little for people who only vaguely even know the country exists. Thanks again. Safe travel.
Please allow me, Jason, to refer to my most recent piece, although it is only a very brief analysis: http://ethuin.wordpress.com/2011/12/06/as-tension-mounts-ahead-of-drc-election-results-proclamation-where-is-the-european-union/
Best wishes, Christoph
Re: Anand. Unfortunately, the CIC article won't reach the mainstream. Worse, in the media's sudden rush to cover the Congo elections there is a lot of misinformation being put out there that won't ever be corrected.
In Toronto and Ottawa this afternoon, the protesters are Tshisekedi supporters (naturally, given the circumstances). The protest leaders are telling the media that Kabila is a dictator and "Dr. Tshisekedi" won the election.
There is no telling of the facts that Kabila was democratically elected and that we don't know now, and probably can never know, who really won these elections.
You are so right on the need to tell and retell basic facts --non-biased with the ugly warts all around.
I fear that this brief burst of political 'information' about the DR Congo may guide discourse and policy going forward...
@Glenys - I couldn't agree more. To a degree I can understand the lack of fact checking by new, uber-enthusiastic advocates. Not that it is altogether sound, but you see people jump on the bandwagon of various "causes" all the time. Many people love simple narratives and an easy way to participate/ advocate. But when a media outlet decides to pay very little attention to a major world event, they should strive for the utmost accuracy. And you are correct, half hearted analysis and reactionary decision making often lead to questionable policy. I am waiting to see the "breaking news" about Congo on CNN...
I was on the phone this Sunday with the son of a 92 year old man who was kidnaped on Saturday 26, 2011 on the occasion of Tshiseked's election gathering in Kinshasa. I was in tears to hear that this senior citizen died after being incacerated and brutalised by police forces. He was brought to Maman Yemo Hospital while he was agonising. I chose to share this story with you so that you can put a face to the many victims of injustice and violence in the Congo. May God assist this family which is mourning their beloved father!
@Anonymous Dec 6, 4:46PM - I am so sorry to hear that. Thank you for your post. Sending positive thoughts to your friend.
The fact that people are only demonstrating in KINSHASA and KASAI shows that there is no big crises here and Chisekedi did not have much support in the rest of the country like he has been claiming. even before the elections Chisekedi was claiming that he was already the winner because the peoples have choosed him and the entire country has rejected KABILA. in a big country like Congo with 11 provinces if the victory was stolen from CHISEKEDI like he is claiming and the population has rejected Kabila, the entire Congo would have been on fire right now ,but the fact that complains are only coming from areas that have a big populations from his native kasai and there is no complains or riots in ather big cities mostly in the east Where Kabila did very well, just demonstrate that the irregularities that have been reported was not very big to change the outcome of elections.
No province has started to demonstrate yet.... There is nothing in kinshasa or anywhere else YET....I was in communication with bukavu yesterday, a fief of Kamehre who allied himself to Tshisekedi, and the situation there is tense. Nobody agrees that Kabila was first there. They want to see results polling station by poling station first. They have their PV ready.... I have heard the same for beni, they are also waiting to see results station by station and have their pv ready as well....lets the poll speaks or it will be a huge tragedy...
@anand, I do not believe this kidnapping story, and the 3 Chisekedi's air plains that he claimed was dinied air space entrance from the Congolese air autority, and the claims that Chisekedi just made last week that he has the proof that MONUSCO chief ,MR Roger Meece has been bribed by Kabila and the ather claim that he mad that he did not start his campaign on time because the Governor of the Province oriental and the mayor of Kisangani was making death threat against.if that governor was making those threats against him, he could just start his campaign in BUKAVU... this is the reason why Chisekedi and his UDPS can not be taken seriously because they are good at making ridiculous and misleading statements it suddens me to see how little media coverage serious candidates like DR Oscar Kashala,Kengo,Kamerhe and even Kabila are getting. now the intire media is focused on Chisekedi and his diaspora thugs(the so called combattants)who are violently demonstrating in western cities and have been violently attacking
ether Congolese in the diaspora if they do not support their leader, like if there is no ether candidate in the DRC.i have never seen a political party with no headquaters ,all meetings are held in Chisekedi's living room and all press briefings are held on his front porch.if after 30 years a political party is unable to organize it self how will they lead the country?
I don't know if you have ever been to Bukavu or south kivu, i have been there and south kivu is a very divers region with many ethic tribes.Kamarhe is Popular in Bukavu and among the Bashi and Havu, but Kabila stil very popular among all ether groups (Rega,bembe,bafulero,bavira,banyindu...)even among the bashi Kabila stil very popular.the people of south kivu are disappointed with the slowness of the promised 5 chantiers and some remaining insecurity but Kabila still very popular in that state.if Kabila was not in the race Kamerhe was going to win big in the kivus, province oriental and Maniema but he was going to have a tough time in Katanga.just like if Chisekedi was not in the race,DR Kashala was going to win big in the Kasais and do good in Lubumbashi sins he was born there and he speaks good Swahili.
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