Removal of names
from voters list, slanderous accusations: UNOCI puts an end to the electoral
vuvuzela – Hamadoun Touré, UNOCI's spokesman: "Let us avoid polemics and wait
for the judges' decision"

L'Intelligent
d'Abidjan  -
UNOCI's spokesperson, Hamadoun Touré, on Thursday 19 August 2010
in Sébroko, hosted the mission's weekly press conference. With regard to the
phase of the judicial appeals process on the provisional electoral list,
Hamadoun Touré avoided the polemic on figures. By this statement, the UN mission
wants to put an end to the current arguments on the electoral list. "We did not
publish figures. You certainly noticed that since the resumption of the appeals
process on the new provisional voters list we did not do it, to avoid polemics.
[...] We prefer waiting for the concerned Ministry, the Ministry of Justice, to
publish the figures for the names' removal and rejection of requests for names'
removal", UNOCI's spokesperson announced. Explaining the procedure for the
management of the judicial appeals process, Hamadoun Touré reassured everybody.
"At the current stage of the appeals process, names' removal can only be decided
by judges and we must wait for their decision to have a concrete idea of the
results of this operation. For the moment, we must be serene and wait for the
completion of the operation", he advised, all the more because the issue of the
identity has provoked passion among the population. [...]

 

Credible and
transparent election – Hamadoun Touré (UNOCI's spokesman): « The voters' card
remains a key-indicator »

Le Nouveau
Réveil  –
The Spokesperson of the United Nations Operation in Côte d'Ivoire (UNOCI),
Hamadoun Touré, yesterday morning met journalists at the mission's headquarters
in the framework of the weekly press conference. [...] According to the
spokesperson, with regard to the preparation of the presidential election
scheduled for 31 October 2010, UNOCI observes that the process leading to the
production of the definitive voters list is ongoing with the judicial phase. As
you know, according to the circular by the Minister of Justice, the phase is due
to end on 26 August. In this regard, UNOCI notes that the Independent Electoral
Commission (IEC) is concerned with the production of the national identity card
which is a key-factor in the management of a credible and transparent electoral
process. [...].

 

Cantonment:
UNOCI donates 52 tents and 2 tanks to the FAFN

Fraternité Matin
 –
The cantonment of the ex-combatants of the FAFN Volunteers for the New Army
(VNA) which started on 15 June by the Training Group of Korhogo will resume
today with the Seguela phase. And according to the timetable, the cantonment
operation in Man and Bouaké will take place on 24 and 27 August. Following a
request from the Prime Minister's office, UNOCI decided to provide support for
the successful completion of the operation. This is what the mission's
spokesman, Hamadoun Touré, said yesterday at the weekly press conference. "UNOCI
accepted to provide the Armed Forces of the Forces Nouvelles with 52 tents and
two water tanks. This gesture is a positive response of the mission to a request
from the FAFN military Chief of Staff within the framework of the cantonment
operation".  He also recalled his institution's contribution in the
rehabilitation of 4 cantonment sites and he promised to continue "the
multifaceted support with a view to a successful completion of this key-phase in
the reunification process". In this framework, Hamadoun Touré announced UNOCI's
air logistic support for the transportation of the authorities involved in the
operation in Séguéla. And General Benjamin Freeman Kusi, the deputy Force
Commander, will represent UNOCI at the launching ceremony of the operation in
Séguéla. [...] 

 

The United
Nations against children exploitation

Nord Sud  –
The United Nations is against the exploitation of children in electoral
campaigns. In this regard, through the Child Protection Office of its mission in
Côte d'Ivoire, the United Nations launched a campaign against the involvement of
children in politics. This is what the Office started on Tuesday with an
information and sensitization session called "forum of children's rights" in
Ahoué, a village situated north of Abidjan.

 

The 2010
presidential election/ Jean Ping (President of the African Union commission):
"the elections will be held this year"

L'Intelligent
d'Abidjan–
During his interview with Africa 24, the President of the African Union
Commission, his Excellency Jean Ping, among other subjects, talked about the
electoral process in Côte d'Ivoire. The diplomat said that he was confident that
the presidential election will be held on October 31, 2010. "My intimate
conviction, after discussing with President Blaise Compaoré, the mediator and
President Laurent Gbagbo, is that the presidential election will be held in
2010. None of them plainly assured me that the elections will happen but through
our discussions, I could definitely conclude that the elections will be held
this year. I know there are difficulties, numerous difficulties. However,
politicians are exploring the way to solve them so that Cote d'Ivoire can
organize these elections under very good conditions' Jean Ping said. The
diplomat expressed his optimism about the peaceful settlement of difficulties
which might impede the process, highlighting the willingness of Ivorians not to
experience a further escalation of violence.

 

Crisis
resolution Process: His Excellency Okamura Yoshifumi to Ivorians: « Vote to
rebuild your country »

Le Nouveau
Réveil  –9.016tonnes
of milled rice with a total value of  2 billion 700 million CFA francs were
given to the Ivorian government by Japan on  Tuesday, August 17 at the
Autonomous Port of Abidjan (PAA) [...] the Ambassador of Japan in Côte d'Ivoire,
Mr. Yoshifumi Okamura, recalled the context of the donation and stressed the
need for the Ivorian government to create conditions for the success of the plan
to revive the cultivation of rice in Côte d'Ivoire [...] The Japanese diplomat,
with a little humor added that "Elections are coming soon. Ivorians must be
ready to rebuild their country. Let us eat the rice from Japan, to have enough
strength to hold the elections and work for the better future of Côte
d'Ivoire"[...]

 

 

Electoral
appeals and removal of names from electoral list/ Clashes between the RDR and
FPI narrowly avoided in Abengourou

Agence
ivoirienne de Presse (AIP) -
Abengourou,
August 19 (AIP) - clashes between supporters of Rally of Republicans (RDR),
Alassane Ouattara and the Ivorian Popular Front (FPI), were narrowly avoided in
Abengourou, the capital city of the Indenié. The quarrel started after a court
hearing on the demands introduced by an advisor to President Gbagbo, former
Ivorian Minister of Water and Forests, Dr. Adou Asso, to remove from the
electoral list people he considered as fraudsters. During the hearing by Judge
Kouame of over 363 requests, only two people were confirmed "fraudsters".
However, the court decision was adjourned till August 23, because the other
alleged fraudsters were absent. They had not been told to go appear in court
that day. After the hearing, the RDR activists who did not agree with the
unfounded accusations of the FPI decided to fight against the FPI militants who
were returning from the court [...] they bluntly counteracted, almost causing
clashes between the two camps. The security forces were alerted and came to calm
down everyone. [...]

 

Crisis
resolution process: Wattao and his soldiers are determined to disarm.

Le Temps Hebdo
 –1100
soldiers of the Forces Nouvelles from Séguéla region have accepted to be
cantoned in barracks. To this end, a ceremony is to hold this morning in that
city. Yesterday, the commander Wattao received the flag of the nation. After
Korhogo, it is the turn of Séguéla to start the cantonment and the
demobilization of its soldiers. In all, 1100 ex-rebels from Séguéla and Mankono
will be demobilized today, Friday. Wattao is now the commander of Zone 2 for the
training of the demobilized. He will keep the flag until the end of his
mission.  Soldiers said they were ready to disarm.

 

Media coverage
of the elections- the debate programs will start in September.

Le Nouveau
Réveil
 – After its installation, the national commission on debates and
special programs held its first meeting onThursday19. This meeting was attended
by the 23 members of that structure, composed of representatives of the fourteen
(14) candidates for the presidential elections on October 31. [...] Before the
start of the meeting which was not opened to the press, David Ayemou, president
of the National Commission of debates and special programs, said. "We honestly
believe that in September we will begin the debate programs.