Kinshasa (Agenzia Fides) - "Military presence in Kinshasa is massive. So far there have not been major clashes, but the tension is evident", said local Church sources to Fides contacted in the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where the confrontation between President Joseph Kabila and the leader of the opposition Etienne Tshisekedi does not seem to calm down. The latter yesterday said he considers himself the "elected President", despite the Supreme Court has confirmed Kabila's victory at the presidential elections which were held on 28 November.
"Tomorrow, December 20, Kabila should take possession of the Presidency, while Tshisekedi announced that on Friday, December 23 he will appoint himself as President, and has given orders to arrest Kabila" the sources told Fides. "And this is the crucial day, when one will be able to understand the dimension of the problem and conflict, given the strong military presence. One will see then, on the one hand, Tshisekedi’s capacity to mobilize society and provoke a popular backlash that could undermine the government, and secondly, what the reaction of the army will be".
In this delicate stage of the DRC’s life, the missionaries Network "Peace for Congo," launch an alarm about the future of the country. "Demonstrations of the opposition, the heavy hand of the military forces of the State to repress opponents, deaths among civilians, the resurgence of old tensions between province supporters of either candidate (Katanga and Kasai), statements of associations and national and international institutions on the voting and counting procedures, individual positions taken ... time passes, while the people’s mood is restless", is what is stated in a document sent to Agenzia Fides. "In these days, especially the heavy hand of those in power seems to dominate, with a police force that, in many cases acted brutally, causing the murder of civilians. Increasing risk of installing a dictatorship with violent means, in the guise of a democracy?"
"It is important, more than ever in this period, to keep ones eyes open on the DRC, civil society asks us, the entire population asks us. We must bring these people as part of our interest, our solidarity, and, for those who believe, in our prayer", conclude the missionaries. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 19/12/2011)
"Tomorrow, December 20, Kabila should take possession of the Presidency, while Tshisekedi announced that on Friday, December 23 he will appoint himself as President, and has given orders to arrest Kabila" the sources told Fides. "And this is the crucial day, when one will be able to understand the dimension of the problem and conflict, given the strong military presence. One will see then, on the one hand, Tshisekedi’s capacity to mobilize society and provoke a popular backlash that could undermine the government, and secondly, what the reaction of the army will be".
In this delicate stage of the DRC’s life, the missionaries Network "Peace for Congo," launch an alarm about the future of the country. "Demonstrations of the opposition, the heavy hand of the military forces of the State to repress opponents, deaths among civilians, the resurgence of old tensions between province supporters of either candidate (Katanga and Kasai), statements of associations and national and international institutions on the voting and counting procedures, individual positions taken ... time passes, while the people’s mood is restless", is what is stated in a document sent to Agenzia Fides. "In these days, especially the heavy hand of those in power seems to dominate, with a police force that, in many cases acted brutally, causing the murder of civilians. Increasing risk of installing a dictatorship with violent means, in the guise of a democracy?"
"It is important, more than ever in this period, to keep ones eyes open on the DRC, civil society asks us, the entire population asks us. We must bring these people as part of our interest, our solidarity, and, for those who believe, in our prayer", conclude the missionaries. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 19/12/2011)
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