International women's day: the
CSCI asks the State to reduce disparities

Agence Ivoirienne de Presse
(AIP)- « On
the occasion of the International Women's Day, which is celebrated on 8 March,
the Commission for the Rule of Law and Equality of Opportunity (CEDEC) of the
Convention of the Ivorian Civil Society (CSCI) congratulates the Ivorian State
for having ratified the International Convention for the elimination of any form
of discrimination against women (CEDEF) and for the solemn statement by the Head
of State on equal opportunity, gender equality, and ask him to do all he can to
reduce certain disparities undergone by women in Côte d'Ivoire. In a statement
sent to the AIP on Sunday, the day before the commemoration, the CSCI, noted
that the Day for this year is internationally proclaimed as the "year of
equality of rights, equal opportunities and progress for all" and at the
national level it is the "year for election and promotion of equal
opportunities",  urges the State to sign the additional protocol to the African
Charter on human and people rights regarding women's rights; to apply Resolution
1325 of the United Nations Security Council to put an end to violence, rapes and
sexual abuses whose principal victims are women, resulting in the spread of
HIV/AIDS; to implement the national policy document on Equal Opportunities and
Gender Equality (...)"

Crisis-resolution/ FN conclave
in Bouaké - Soro negotiates disarmament with the com'zones

L'Intelligent d'Abidjan -
"In Bouaké since Saturday 6 March 2010, the Ivorian prime Minister, Guillaume
Soro, is holding working sessions with the different military and political
leaders of the Forces Nouvelles (FN). These discussions revolve around the
national political situation, and issues on the completion of the electoral list
and also the crucial issue of disarmament. The conclusions of these sessions
will be given tomorrow, Tuesday, 9 March 2010. (...) During the sessions,
Guillaume Soro amply explained the context, the development and the conclusion
and of course the lessons from this long crisis in Côte d'Ivoire, after the
dissolution of the Government and the IEC. According to the FN's spokesman,
Minister Sidiki Konaté, questioned after the meeting, Guillaume Soro announced
the prospects for the FN. Namely continuing to work to construct peace in Côte
d'Ivoire. "The Forces Nouvelles should summon up courage, determination, and
will so that they do not fail when applying the Ouagadougou Political Agreement.
And as a token of this new determination, the Forces Nouvelles are meeting with
Guillaume Soro until Tuesday to decide on various issues", he said. (...)"

The RHDP's demonstration in
Gagnoa: The government commissioner wants to hear the Chairman of the RHDP
leadership

Agence Ivoirienne de Presse
(AIP)- "As
part of the military investigation which started after the demonstrations by the
Rally of Houphouetists for Democracy and Peace (RHDP, coalition of the four
major opposition parties) in Gagnoa, which resulted in 16 victims including 5
deaths, on 19 February, the Government commissioner, Anges kessy informed the
local judicial police officers in charge of the investigation to get a statement
from the chairman of the RHDP's leadership, Alphonse Djédjé Mady. During a press
briefing held on Wednesday, the Government commissioner explained that the
demonstrators said they had responded to the decision by their national leaders,
by refusing to organize legal marches. So it is necessary to hear Djédjé Mady so
that he can "explain the reasons why he made this decision and said that he does
no longer recognizes the State. (...)"  

Massacre in March 2004 and
February 2010 - Amadou Gon Coulibaly (DNC): "The ICC will be informed this week"

Le Patriote -« The
National campaign director for Dr. Alassane Dramane Ouattara had an important
meeting with the regional and district campaign directors.   During the working
session, Amadou Gon Coulibaly said that with regard to the massacres of March
2004 and February 2010, complaints will be sent to the International Criminal
Court by the RHDP this week. «It is likely that this week, the International
Criminal Court will be informed by the leaders of the RHDP to ensure that this
culture of impunity ends in Côte d'Ivoire» said ADO's DNC.

There were two points on the meeting's agenda: as assessment of the RHDP's
activities following the crisis in the Government and the IEC and preparations
for the appeals on the provisional electoral list.
(...) »

Young Patriots insist on
changes in the local IECs

Fraternité Matin -« The
deputy national campaign director (DNCA) in charge of the presidential youth
majority (Lmp) has committed Young Patriots to the fight for changes tn the
local Independent Electoral Commissions (IEC).  "Now that the IEC has been
established, the fight which we must now start is to go to the nieghbourhoods to
campaign. But especially to tell members of the IEC who have just arrived: «This
is the news of the house». The news of the country is that the IEC has to change
the image of the IECs in the regions and the districts,» Charles Blé Goudé. It
was at a meeting on Saturday, 6 March, at the Champroux de Marcoury stadium.
(...) »

Mamadou Sanogo (DCCQE): "It is
out of the question to doubt the local IECs"

Le Patriote -« After
the office of ex-chairman Mambé, the Ivorian Popular Front now raising doubts
about the local IECs. Affi N'Guessan asked that they be reformed last week. The
day before yesterday, Blé Goudé repeated the lesson at Champroux. Mamadou
Sanogo, the RDR's campaign director in charge of electoral issues, gives his
reaction on this issue. 


L.P.: The
presidential camp through Affi N'Guessan and Blé Goudé, are asking for the
re-formation of the local IECs.
What is your
reaction to this issue?

Mamadou Sanogo: We
are not really surprised.
The FPI is in the permanent logic of creating conditions which
will cause maximum delay in the electoral process.
The FPI has just
unveiled its real intention.
This who are of good faith were thinking that the FPI was right
to demand the departure of Mambé after the the affair of the 429,000 voters,
will now realise that this party is only looking for way to gain time. We are
asking ourselves what could motivate such action? Are the local IECs responsible
for this affair of the 429.000 voters? The agreement made with the facilitator
following his visit to Abidjan on 22 February, said that i twas only the
Chairman of the IEC and his four deputy chairpersons who were to be replaced and
the achievements must be maintained.  Among these achievements, there is the
list of 5, 300,000 voters and the local IECs. There is no question for us of
expressing doubts over which we consider to be an achievement.
(...) »