Friday, January 14, 2005 Posted: 9:40 AM EST (1440 GMT)
KINSHASA, Congo (Reuters) — A strike brought the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo to a standstill on Friday as public transport shut down and businesses remained closed in protest at the possible postponement of elections.
Much of normally bustling Kinshasa — a city of some 6 to 8 million people which sprawls by the banks of the Congo river — was deserted because of the strike, also called to protest at the killing of demonstrators earlier this week.
« This is a sign that the people are taking on their responsibility, » university student Adolphe Ngungu said at a deserted bus stop at Victoire, usually a busy hub for commuters. « Nothing has been done to organize elections. »
Local human rights organizations say at least four people were killed on Monday when police used tear gas, batons and AK-47 rifles to stop thousands of demonstrators from reaching the center to demand elections take place in June as planned.
« Our aim is to show people we are not happy with what happened on Monday. But we are also upset with the way that this country is being led, » Ngungu added.
The elections are a key part of a 2003 peace plan following a five-year war that killed an estimated 3.8 million people, mainly as a result of starvation and disease.
But the transitional government of former foes remains deeply divided and preparations for the elections are running late. The head of the central electoral commission said last week the vote might have to be postponed.
It was not clear who was behind the strike in the former Belgian colony, previously called Zaire. It was announced in leaflets calling for a « ville morte » — a dead city.
Empty streets
Schools and the city’s market were closed while main roads were largely empty, except for small groups of people walking to work and squads of heavily armed riot police on patrol.
Residents said the demonstration was the first of its kind since protests against dictator Mobutu Sese Seko in the 1990s.
The government spokesman said some civil servants had got to work but many had been stranded by the lack of transport. « They (the organizers) are playing on the fear of the population. That is illegal — they can’t stop people from going to work, » declared Henri Mova Sakanyi.
The Federation of Congolese Businesses said the private sector had also been paralyzed by the lack of transport.
« Some bosses have gone to work but most employees could not come to work so businesses are closed, » Jean Bamanisa, a senior official, told Reuters.
Many Congolese seem increasingly disillusioned with political leaders, who are arguing over ministerial posts while three laws crucial to the election have yet to be passed.
Former rebel leader Jean-Pierre Bemba has threatened to leave the government by the end of this month.
« We call on the government to resign unless there are elections. Come June 30, we won’t accept any political games — we will choose our new leader and it will be none of those in power, » said Mputu Ilia, an unemployed 45-year-old reading newspapers laid out on the street.
« They have spent their time there doing nothing. »
