United Nations condemns irregularities in DR Congo election campaign

KINSHASA – The UN mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUC) has condemned “inappropriate acts” in the campaign leading to elections at the end of this month.

Lamenting clashes between rival supporters and attempts to bribe voters, MONUC said however that it “remains generally satisfied” with the campaign for legislative and presidential elections to be held on July 30, now in its third week. But MONUC deputy spokesman Jean-Tobie Okala condemned a number of incidents and irregularities nationwide at a news conference in Kinshasa.These included clashes Saturday at a stadium in Kinshasa between backers of Oscar Kashala, one of 33 presidential candidates, and young stone-throwers who were beaten up, and the banning of an opposition march in Goma in the east of the country.Cases of physical attacks and destruction of posters and banners were reported in several places.At Kananga in western Kasai province, the Congo Liberation Movement (MLC) of Vice President Jean-Pierre Bemba and the People’s Party for Reconstruction and Democracy (PPRD), which backs sitting President Joseph Kabila, were accused of noting down the numbers on voter identity cards.They then handed out T-shirts and showed the symbols of the party they wanted those participating at rallies to vote for.In some cases, the numbers of voters’ cards went into a lottery which handed out prizes, UN observers said.In another region, arguments between PPRD and MLC backers turned into pitched battles.MONUC’s human rights division condemned the “nitpicking” and “threats” from political parties or government officials targeting human rights activists and journalists as the elections drew nearer.- Nampa-AFPBut MONUC deputy spokesman Jean-Tobie Okala condemned a number of incidents and irregularities nationwide at a news conference in Kinshasa.These included clashes Saturday at a stadium in Kinshasa between backers of Oscar Kashala, one of 33 presidential candidates, and young stone-throwers who were beaten up, and the banning of an opposition march in Goma in the east of the country.Cases of physical attacks and destruction of posters and banners were reported in several places.At Kananga in western Kasai province, the Congo Liberation Movement (MLC) of Vice President Jean-Pierre Bemba and the People’s Party for Reconstruction and Democracy (PPRD), which backs sitting President Joseph Kabila, were accused of noting down the numbers on voter identity cards.They then handed out T-shirts and showed the symbols of the party they wanted those participating at rallies to vote for.In some cases, the numbers of voters’ cards went into a lottery which handed out prizes, UN observers said.In another region, arguments between PPRD and MLC backers turned into pitched battles.MONUC’s human rights division condemned the “nitpicking” and “threats” from political parties or government officials targeting human rights activists and journalists as the elections drew nearer.- Nampa-AFP