Affair of fraud
on the electoral list/ finally people are beginning to talk: Choi Young Jin is
clearing Robert Beugré Mambé's name

Le Jour Plus  -

«The provisional electoral lists which were produced last
November were highly credible and well balanced". This is what Mr. Choi
Young-Jin said before the whole world's cameras and microphones on Wednesday 17
march 2010 at the headquarters of the United Nations in New York... this speech of
the UN senior diplomat, though late, is welcome inspite of everything, because
it sets the record straight: clandestine and parallel registration on the
electoral file never occurred. So Robert Beugré Mambé never defrauded...
curiously! The UN organization waited until two months later, after the
situation has deteriorated and Mambé had left the leadership of the organization
to give its opinion: "The provisional electoral lists which were produced last
November is highly credible and well balanced". But: this late speech of Choi
results in several disturbing questions. Ivorians who quickly understood that
this fraud affair regarding 429 000 persons was a lie, want to know. Why Choi
who knew the truth for ages did not speak to set the record straight? (since the
Electoral Assistance Division is working in collaboration with the IEC and is
represented throughout the Ivorian territory. It provides daily reports on the
process) Why did he remain silent when he just had to tell the truth to allow
the process to continue? What is Choi's profit in making the Ivorians' suffering
last? Is he an accomplice to the presidential camp by his silence in this
campaign aimed at denigrating an honest and serious Ivorian citizen called
Robert Beugré Mambé? Did Choi receive money for his silence? (Since everybody
has his price); by this silence, is Choi not responsible for many deaths caused
by the Forces de Défense et de Sécurité which occurred during the peaceful
demonstrations which were organized by the opposition to demand Mambé's
reappointment as head of the IEC? Does Mr. Choi Young-Jin deserve Ivorians'
confidence? Choi who started to speak should go further by answering all of
Ivorian people's questions. For the time being, Choi (by his guilty silence) and
all of those who accused former Chairman Mambé should be fair-minded by
acknowledging that they simply made a mistake on someone who had only one
objective: organizing credible elections... [...]".

Students in
Daloa commit to creating a peaceful electoral environment

Le Quotidien -

"During an information and sensitization session organized by the
United Nations Operation in Côte d'Ivoire (UNOCI) in this town situated about
400 km from Abidjan, fifty students living in the students' hall of residence,
welcomed the peace Mission's first visit in their university. "The initiative to
go and meet people and break down suspicion and the opportunity for us to learn
and further know about UNOCI's role in Côte d'Ivoire is good", said student
Stéphane Achui, at the end of the meeting. The Public Information Office in
Daloa explained UNOCI's mandate and sensitized students on the importance of a
peaceful electoral environment. Several authorities from the Regional Centre for
University Works (RCUW) in Daloa, including the deputy Director in charge of
socio-cultural affairs, Mr. Seri Bailly, took part in this meeting which marks
the beginning of an information and sensitization tour for university students
in the district. This initiative is part of the Mission's efforts to contribute
to a peaceful environment before, during and after the elections."

Paul Yao N'dré
meets Compaoré

Fraternité Matin
 -
«The chairman of the constitutional council of Côte d'Ivoire, Mr. Yao N'dré, met
on 22 march 2010 Faso's President, Mr. Blaise Compaoré. Leading a large
delegation, Mr. N'dré discussed crisis-resolution issues with Blaise Compaoré.
"President Blaise Compaoré gave us advice to restore serenity in Côte d'Ivoire.
(...) we received his advice and we will use them as teachings so that as regard
the role we play, we produce definitive results which are beyond question", said
Mr. N'dré. [...]"

Gervais Coulibaly (spokesman
of the head of state) : "Gbagbo will not hold elections without disarmament and
an audit of the electoral list"

Le Nouveau Réveil -« Gervais
Coulibaly, spokesman of the head of state and chairman of  the conférence cap
ur lg, and NGO which supports the actions of the head of state was on
Saturday, 20 March, in  Duékoué to install a regional coordination of the NGO.
On the margins of this event, Gbagbo's spokesman gave his boss's position to the
meagre audience which came in exchange for a t-shirt. "Why is the Rhdp scared of
an audit of the electoral list? asked Gervais Coulibaly before continuing, "this
list will be audited and we are going to remove all the foreigners from it and
then the rebels must disarm after which we will organize elections in an equal
footing.
In other words nothings will happen.
Gbagbo send me to tell you
that he will not hold elections without disarmament and an audit of the
electoral list".

Affoussy Bamba (FN spokesman):
"Disarmament is not linked to elections"

L'Expression -«
Forces Nouvelles spokesman, Lawyer Affoussy Bamba, Sékongo Félicien and
Commissioner Ouattara Seydou, faced the press, at hôtel du Golf, to further
explain their position with regard to the evolution of the crisis-resolution
process.
Notably on the point they find annoying.
«Despite the establishment of
a new government and a recomposed Independent Electoral Commission, the
presidential camp continue with their excesses and recriminations», said Mrs
Affoussy Bamba. The main speaker at the press conference also made an
enlightening speech. She took the opportunity to explain the Forces Nouvelles'
position to all those who are demanding disarmament as a condition for the
holding of elections. «The Forces Nouvelles wishes to stress that DDR as
mentioned in the Ouagadougou Political Agreement and its supplementary
agreements continues after general elections, including presidential election.
This is why this is why disarmament is not linked to the organisation of the
presidential election and was therefore never a condition for its organisation»,
she said.(...) She insists: «We have discussions fora to say what we have to say
if indeed we need to discuss something. There is the Permanent Consultative
Framework (Cpc) and the Evaluation and Accompanying Committee at medium level. I
think that with regard to this level of consultation, we can discuss vexing
issues instead of speaking to the press.
[...] »

Sociopolitical
situation: The Forces nouvelles and the FPI, the two signatories of the OPA in
discussions yesterday.

Le Nouveau Réveil -
A seven-member
delegation of the Forces Nouvelles, led by the Minister of Justice and
Human Rights, Mr. Koné Mamadou, was yesterday received by the Chairman of the
FPI, Mr. Affi N'Guessan, who was surrounded by the hard men of his party,
namely, notamment Sokoury Bohui, Williams Atteby, etc...who are pulling the
crisis-resolution process down with their [projects on disarmament before
elections, recomposition of the local IECs and complete reunification of the
country before elections or  an audit of the provisional electoral list, the so
called white list of  5,300.000 Ivorians. It was at the home of the FPI
chairman, Pascal Affi N'Guessan, in Riviera. (...) At the end of the meeting,
Minister Koné Mamadou, spokesman for the Forces Nouvelles delegation, told the
press: "For the past few days, the Forces Nouvelles has been on a political tour
to explain to all the major actors in the crisis-resolution process the
conclusions of its seminar and conclave. It was in this regard that we came to
meet the FPI. We had very fruitful discussions and proposals and observations
were also made. We took note and each of us will report back to our respective
hierarchy. ...
[...] »