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Number Plates Cause Rising Tension

UN Integrated Regional Information Networks
NEWS
December 11, 2002
Posted to the web December 11, 2002
Kinshasa
Tension rose in Bukavu, eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), on
Tuesday as hundreds of children demonstrated against the introduction by rebel
authorities of compulsory licence plates for all vehicles in the town.
On Tuesday, police were sent to guard the Contributory Services Office after a
group of children aged between seven and 12 years began tearing off the number
plates of vehicles around the building, while shouting and threatening staff
inside. They then moved towards the town centre, stopping and any vehicles
displaying the plates to remove them.
Meanwhile hundreds of other youngsters had organised a peaceful march through
the town, between the areas of Essence and Cahi, shouting: "No to the new
plates! Death to RCD [Rassemblement congolais pour la democratie]! No to
pillaging! No to criminals!"
On Wednesday, no new plates were to be seen in the town, a humanitarian worker
said, adding that the police had done nothing to stop the children.
There has been significant resistance to the introduction of the number plates
(several weeks ago) from civil society, business people, the association of
transport operators, local and international NGOs, and churches in Bukavu.
Residents say they plates are too expensive - costing between US $70 and $120
each - and that they signify a partition of the DRC.
Meanwhile, RCD-Goma spokesman Jean-Pierre Lola Kisanga told IRIN that the two
employees of Radio Maendeleo (Radio Progress) arrested during the closure of
the station on Monday had been released early on Wednesday.
However, a humanitarian worker in the town who spoke to family members of
station director Kizito Mushizi later on Wednesday said neither Mushizi nor his
colleague, Omba Kamengele, had yet been released.
The station broadcast a programme on Sunday, in which RCD-Goma declined to
participate, that enabled listeners to air their views on the number-plate
system. Kisanga told IRIN the station had been closed because its role was to
provide information on development issues, not politics.

   

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