Congo-Kinshasa: This is a Decisive Moment in the History of the Country - F. Casta-On

October 25, 2006
Posted to the web October 25, 2006
At the weekly press conference on Wednesday 25 October, 2006, MONUC asked the presidential candidates to maintain the unity of the country before and after the polls of next Sunday 29 October 2006 and to pledge not to repeat the first round behavior of unilaterally self proclaiming as a winner.
The whole world is looking at you; the Congolese are asking to be heard. They want to vote in peace and calm.

Don't deceive their expectations, MONUC told the two presidential candidates and asked them to appeal their supporters to stay calm and disciplined.
MONUC condemned the isolated incidents that occurred in some of the provinces such as in Lubumbashi, Mbandaka, Lodja, Kinshasa and Kindu. The violent acts have never been the solution to solve problems.

Violence is the opposite of democracy, the political system chosen by the Congolese, said Jean Tobie Okala, MONUC deputy spokesperson.
Amid a tense atmosphere ahead of the forthcoming elections, MONUC recalled the political actors to respect the code of conduct they had voluntarily signed.
The press conference was held before the High Authority of the Media (HAM) announces that the televised debate due to take place on Thursday 26 October 2006, between the two presidential candidates was cancelled.

After five hours of negotiations with the delegations of President J. Kabila and Vice-president JP. Bemba, it was impossible for the HAM to find a common ground, declared Modeste Mutinga, president of the HAM during a press conference.

In the field of Human Rights, the director of the Human Rights Division (DDH) at MONUC, Fernando Casta-on, expressed concerns for the escape of more than twenty inmates from Mbandaka prison, including the five condemned in April 2006 for crimes against humanity for massive rape in the Songo Mboyo process.
The DDH also asked the Congolese government to urgently take the necessary measures in order to reinforce the security in prisons and detention centers where there are risks of escape.
As for the polling day, the DDH encourages the Congolese people to participate in that day with a spirit of calm, respect and tolerance.

This is a decisive moment in the history of the country and DDH deeply wishes that the Congolese would be able to exercise their right to vote freely, added Fernando Casta-on.

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