PRESIDENT BONGO OF GABON TO DECIDE FOR CAR PROTAGONISTS

Julien Dreshengba, AfricaNews reporter in Bangui, CAR

Protagonists of Central African crisis met in Libreville, in the framework of the follow up committee, on 24 and 25 October 2008, in order to discuss misunderstandings surrounding the amnesty bill promulgated by President Francois Bozize.

The controversies around the amnesty bill concerned the 60-day deadline given to rebels to encamp, the cancellation of the bill’s effect in case of re-offense, and the non-consensual nature of the bill.

The chairman of the more active rebel movement, People’s Army for Restoration of Democracy, APRD, Jean Jacques Demafouth, is opposed to conditions attached the amnesty. He recently commented, “For instance, I go to Bangui and a police officer writes an information note saying that I am in collusion with a rebel movement or leader, I will automatically loose the benefit of the amnesty law, the authorities are free to get hold of me and detain me.” Demafouth also found the 60-day deadline for encampment “unrealistic.”

As for the democratic opposition gathered in the United Stakeholders Force, UFVN, its coordinator, Barrister Pouzere, denounced during a debate on Television Centrafricaine the “non-consensual” enactment of the amnesty bill, and the non-consensual composition of the inclusive political dialogue’s organizing committee.

The armed opposition, and the democratic opposition, both, withdrew from the dialogue’s process, protesting the move by the government to lock it up.

Reacting, the communication minister in charge of dialogue, Cyriaque Gonda, stressed that “rebels who are behind the house do not need many days to come in front the house,” referring to encampment of rebel combatants. He argued that the Libreville accord clearly opted for immediate encampment of troops upon promulgation of the amnesty bill. Gonda found strange the new move by the opposition.

It is in consideration of the confusion created by the promulgation of the amnesty bill that members of the follow up committee met under the chairmanship of Paul Toungi, Gabonese foreign minister. The committee discussed the situation prevailing on the ground after the promulgation of the bill, most specifically the reserves raised by APRD and UFVN.

The communiqué issued after the follow up committee’s session reads:

”While hailing the promulgation of the general amnesty on 13 October 2008, the follow up committee took note of the preoccupations put forwards by the APRD chairman concerning the interpretation of certain provisions of the amnesty law.

In this respect, the follow up committee decided to submit these preoccupations to the Highest Attention of His Excellency, El Adj Omar Bongo Ondimba, in his capacities as chairman of the ad hoc committee of the Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa, CEMAC, space on Central African issues.”