Étienne Tshisekedi: Difference between revisions
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'''Étienne Tshisekedi wa Mulumba''' (born 14 December 1932) is a Congolese politician and the National President of the [[Union for Democracy and Social Progress (Democratic Republic of the Congo)|Union for Democracy and Social Progress]] (UDPS), a political party in the [[Democratic Republic of the Congo]]. He was [[Prime Minister]] of the country (then [[Zaire]]) on three brief occasions during the 1990s: in 1991, 1992–1993, and 1997. |
'''Étienne Tshisekedi wa Mulumba''' (born 14 December 1932) is a Congolese politician and the National President of the [[Union for Democracy and Social Progress (Democratic Republic of the Congo)|Union for Democracy and Social Progress]] (UDPS), a political party in the [[Democratic Republic of the Congo]]. He was [[Prime Minister]] of the country (then [[Zaire]]) on three brief occasions during the 1990s: in 1991, 1992–1993, and 1997. |
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Tshisekedi was born in Luluabourg (now [[Kananga]]), [[Kasai-Occidental]] in 1932. He obtained a diploma in 1961 at the [[Lovanium University]] School of Law in Leopoldville (now [[Kinshasa]]). He served in [[Mobutu Sese Seko|Mobutu]]'s government in various positions throughout the late 1960s and 1970s. |
Tshisekedi was born in Luluabourg (now [[Kananga]]), [[Kasai-Occidental]] in 1932. He obtained a diploma in 1961 at the [[Lovanium University]] School of Law in Leopoldville (now [[Kinshasa]]). He served in [[Mobutu Sese Seko|Mobutu]]'s government in various positions throughout the late 1960s and 1970s. He is now the UDPS candidate to the presidential election in November 2011. |
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==Arrests== |
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Between 1979 and 1999, Etienne Tshisekedi experienced arbitrarily arrests, tortures, relegations and residences under strict surveillance. These ill treatments were inflicted to his my wife, children and several political friends as well. |
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On February 15, 1982 Etienne Tshisekedi co-founded the Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS), which he continues to lead. The party remains popular in the entire country<ref>[http://wikileaks.org/], wikileaks.org US diplomatic cable n°53414 - February 17, 2006 - 06KINSHASA268 - Embassy Kinshasa</ref> with its main goal being a non-violent change to democratic rule. |
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According to Thomas Luhaka of the competing [[Movement for the Liberation of the Congo|MLC]], the main strengths of the UDPS and its leaders is its close relation to influential members of the local media including "Le Potentiel," "Le Phare," and "La Tempete des Tropiques". This was confirmed by US ambassador to Congo [[Roger A. Meece]] who claimed "Le Phare" and "La Temptete" are basically UDPS in-house organs.<ref>[http://wikileaks.org/], wikileaks.org US diplomatic cable n°26662 - February 8, 2005 - 05KINSHASA214 - Embassy Kinshasa</ref> In a cable, Ambassador Meece also wrote that although the UDPS members like to refer to "democracy", "republican values" and [[rule of law]], the UDPS as a political party is far from democratic and that its stance is anti-constitutional even violating its own political accords. |
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Etienne Tshisekedi is the co-signer of the letter to President Mobutu, denouncing human rights violations in regards to the "KATEKELAY MASSACRES"<ref>[http://www.protectionline.org/IMG/pdf/rapport_50_ans_dh.pdf] KATEKELAY MASSACRES</ref> in EAST KASAI region. |
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According to Kapinga (VP of the [[Popular Movement of the Revolution|MPR]]), Mobutu kept a number of Congolese tribes happy through the "sharing of money" with the tribes' power brokers. Under Mobutu's regime, Aponet Potia (Secretary General of the MPR) delivered money to Tshisekedi in the middle of the night to "feed his belly". Because the government of Joseph Kabila was not paying Tshisekedi, Tshisekedi was causing problems.<ref>[http://wikileaks.org/], wikileaks.org US diplomatic cable n°71233 - July 13, 2006 - 06KINSHASA1131 - Embassy Kinshasa</ref> |
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With the country in economic turmoil in the early 1990s, in part due to Mobutu's loss of Western support after the [[Cold War]], Mobutu promised a transition to multiparty democracy. During this time, Tshisekedi was appointed as Prime Minister on three separate occasions. The first lasted only one month (September 29, 1991 – November 1, 1991), the second only seven months (August 15, 1992 – March 18, 1993). Both times, Tshisekedi complained that he was prevented from functioning properly by Mobutu. The third term, while [[Laurent Kabila]]'s rebel forces were marching on [[Kinshasa]], lasted only a week (April 2, 1997 – April 9, 1997) and was again ended by Mobutu's lack of cooperation. A month later Laurent Kabila overthrew Mobutu (see [[First Congo War]]). |
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In 1979, he began to protest against the dictatorship and corruption established by [[Mobutu]]. |
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In 1998, the Congolese commission to create a new constitution stripped Étienne Tshisekedi of his political rights for his part in the murdering of Congo's first democratically elected prime minister, [[Patrice Lumumba]] and many other Congolese nationalists.<ref>{{Cite book|author=De Witte, Ludo|title=The assassination of Lumumba|year=2001|publisher=Van Halewyck|isbn=1859846181|url=http://www.amazon.com/Assassination-Lumumba-Ludo-Witte/dp/1859844103|pages=166}}</ref> |
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In December 1980, he was thrown in prison for his criticism and the "open letter to the President of the Republic"<ref>[http://www.country-data.com/cgi-bin/query/r-15119.html] "Open letter to the President of the Republic"</ref> co-signed with the 13 members of parliament. Their status as members of parliament has been withdrawn. |
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==Personality and health== |
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In 2004 Tshishekedi, in an attempt to please both sides travelled to the US to attend the July 2004 Democratic Party (United States) convention while also seeking an invitation for the September 2004 Republican Party (United States) convention.<ref>[http://wikileaks.org/], wikileaks.org US diplomatic cable n°19832 - August 17, 2004 - 06KINSHASA268 - Embassy Kinshasa </ref> In 2005, Luhaka was asked by Jean-Pierre Bemba to establish contact with Tshisekedi. Luhaka noted that because Tshisekedi and Bemba had very large egos, making an alliance between the two would be almost impossible.<ref>[http://wikileaks.org/], wikileaks.org US diplomatic cable n°26662 - February 8, 2005 - 05KINSHASA214 - Embassy Kinshasa</ref> Although Tshisekedi likes to refer to democracy, non-violence, "rule of law" and pay homage to the millions of Congolese who died in the civil war in eastern Congo, Tshisekedi has few qualms about inciting many more millions of Congolese to risk their lives to overthrow the government of Joseph Kabila and bring Tshisekedi to power.<ref>[http://wikileaks.org/], wikileaks.org US diplomatic cable n°30122 - April 5, 2005 - 05KINSHASA567 - Embassy Kinshasa</ref> In 2006 in an interview between US ambassador to Congo Roger Meece and Remy Masamba secretary of the UDPS, Masamba blamed Tshishekedi for "destroying" the UDPS with his ego.<ref>[http://wikileaks.org/], wikileaks.org US diplomatic cable n°53414 - February 17, 2006 - 06KINSHASA268 - Embassy Kinshasa</ref> |
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After his release and the creation of the "Union pour la Démocratie et le Progrès Social" (UDPS) political party (translated as [[Union for Democracy and Social Progress]]), he was arrested in 1982 as the co-founder along with the rest of founders of the party. |
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Tshisekedi almost eighty is in ill health. Over the last decade he underwent a series of medical treatments in both South Africa and Belgium. Comming from South Africa Tshisekedi had difficulty walking because his vision has deteriorated significantly making it difficult to maintain his balance. Masamba also expressed that Tshisekedi's mental capability is seriously diminished.<ref>[http://wikileaks.org/], wikileaks.org US diplomatic cable n°110496 - June 1, 2007 - 07KINSHASA594 - Embassy Kinshasa</ref> Because of his poor health, he also rarely makes public appearances. Mukamba stated that Tshisekedi "would not last two years" in a demanding job. Many independent observers agree that when Tshisekedi dies the UDPS will collapse but as long as he's alive the current UDPS members will try to make use of him as much as possible.<ref>[http://wikileaks.org/], wikileaks.org US diplomatic cable n°30122 - April 5, 2005 - 05KINSHASA567 - Embassy Kinshasa</ref> |
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After a short bail in 1983, he was arrested and relegated in November 1983 to his village of origin with his wife and children. |
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==2006 Elections== |
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In the run-up to the 2006 national elections Tshisekedi decided to boycot the electoral process and the constitutional referendum. He hoped that the national elections would never take place, the entire electoral system would collapse, be declared "illegitimate" and that the Congolese population would turn to him as the political savior and become the "rightful leader of the DRC" as he considers himself to be.<ref>[http://wikileaks.org/], wikileaks.org US diplomatic cable n°49175 - January 5, 2006 - 06KINSHASA23 - Embassy Kinshasa</ref> The more pragmatic members of the UDPS' inner circle like Masamba realized Tshisekedi's misgamble but were unable to turn the course because of the UDPS' autoritarian line. A number of party members thus registered quietly as candidates.<ref>[http://wikileaks.org/], wikileaks.org US diplomatic cable n°79394 - September 22, 2006 - 06KINSHASA1487 - Embassy Kinshasa</ref> |
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In 1985, his home village has been criminally torched and he has been relegated to the [[Isangi]] territory in the Oriental Province. |
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On August 9, 2005 during the election registration proces a voter registration center was set on fire in Mbuji Mayi, Kasai Oriental. The fire was put down in time and 4 people waiting to be registered suffered minor burns. The police and the local population suspected UDPS militants of the attack since the voter registration center is located in the same neighborhood as the provincial headquarters of the UDPS that boycotted the elections.<ref>[http://wikileaks.org/], wikileaks.org US diplomatic cable n°38309 - August 10, 2005 - 05KINSHASA1289 - Embassy Kinshasa</ref> |
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In October 1985, he was sentenced to 18 months of prison at Makala in Kinshasa for "outrage to the Head of State". |
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Realizing that the boycot was a failure Tshisekedi decided to participate in the election process. As some registration centers were already closed, Tshisekedi pressurized the [[Independent Electoral Commission (DRC)|Congolese Independent Electoral Commission (CEI)]] to re-open them to accommodate him and the UDPS further risking to delay the already tight electoral calendar. If the CEI wouldn't re-open the rigistration centers, Tshisekedi no doubt would claim he is being unfairly excluded from the elections which eventually he did.<ref>[http://wikileaks.org/], wikileaks.org US diplomatic cable n°49175 - January 5, 2006 - 06KINSHASA23 - Embassy Kinshasa</ref> In Kinshasa UDPS members began a frantic series of phone call's to the CEI and also to Western Embassies to try to extend the enrollment period for voter registration.<ref>[http://wikileaks.org/], wikileaks.org US diplomatic cable n°37432 - July 27, 2005 - 05KINSHASA1224 - Embassy Kinshasa</ref> |
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In June 1986, He was relegated to his village of origin in [[East Kasai]]. |
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In March 2006, UN Secretary General Koffi Annan and Tshisekedi had meeting about the upcomming elections. Musamba who was also present at the meeting was "shocked" when Tshisekedi bluntly told Annan that he had no intention of "lending credibility" to an illegal electoral process.<ref>[http://wikileaks.org/], wikileaks.org US diplomatic cable n°58352 - March 28, 2006 - 06KINSHASA493 - Embassy Kinshasa</ref> |
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In 1987, after a short release, he was molested and arrested after returning from trips from Europe, the United Stated and Canada, for wearing a simple tie. |
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During the 2006 national elections Tshisekedi demonstrated a remarkable lack of political savvy and even lack of personal concern for the political future of his supporters demonstrating his failure to adapt to the new political landscape.<ref>[http://wikileaks.org/], wikileaks.org US diplomatic cable n°93841 - January 24, 2007 - 07KINSHASA81 - Embassy Kinshasa</ref> |
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On 17th January 1988, after a short bail, he was arrested and detained at the central prison of Makala<ref>[http://www.ecoi.net/file_upload/sb47_rdc-cod-prison0502.pdf] Prison of Makala</ref> for organising and leading a meeting at the [[Kasa-Vubu]] bridge in [[Kinshasa]] in commemoration of the 27th anniversary of the assassination of the first Prime Minister of Congo [[Patrice Emery Lumumba]]. |
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==2011 Elections== |
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At a UPDS congress in April 2009, delegates unanimously affirmed that the party would participate in the 2011 election and that Tshisekedi would be its presidential candidate.<ref>[http://fr.allafrica.com/stories/200904160812.html "Congo-Kinshasa: E. Tshisekedi plébiscité par les congressistes"], ''Le Phare'' (allAfrica.com), 16 April 2009 {{fr icon}}.</ref> |
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On 8th April 1988, after a short release, he was detained and relegated first to [[Dungu, Democratic Republic of the Congo|Dungu]], then to Monga in the Oriental Province. |
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In 1989, several cases of his detention were recognised to be unlawful by UN Human Rights Committee<ref>[http://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Publications/SDecisionsVol3en.pdf] UN Human Rights Committee</ref>. |
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After his release from 24 April 1990, he was then arrested, tortured at the residence of Commander Masasu, then Special Counsellor to President [[Laurent-Désiré Kabila]], for his criticism against the dictatorship and human rights violations. |
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On 12th February 1998, after a release obtained on 27th June 1997, he was arbitrarily arrested by a squad of military agents after being beaten at his own home. He was then secretly detained under Laurent-Désiré Kabila government. |
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On 13th February 1998, He was relegated to his village of origin, Kabeya Kamwanga in East Kasai province and put under strict surveillance as in the Mobutu regime. |
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On 1st July 1998, he was freed and secretly returned to his residence in Kinshasa. |
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With the country in economic turmoil in the early 1990s, in part due to [[Mobutu]]'s loss of Western support after the [[Cold War]], Mobutu promised a transition to multiparty democracy. During this time, Etienne Tshisekedi was appointed as Prime Minister on three separate occasions. |
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The first lasted only one month from 29th September 1991 to 1st November 1991. |
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The second only seven months from 15th August 1992 to 18th March 1993, where he was elected as Prime Minister by the "Conférence Nationale Souveraine" (CNS), a national forum created to restore political stability of the DRC. |
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He was prevented from functioning properly by Mobutu. And against resolutions from the CNS, Mobutu removed him from his post of Prime Minister in 5th February 1993. |
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The third term, while [[Laurent-Desiré Kabila]]'s rebel forces were marching on Kinshasa, lasted only a week (from 2nd April 1997 to 9th April 1997) and was again ended by Mobutu's lack of cooperation. |
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A month later, Laurent-Desiré Kabila overthrew Mobutu (see [[First Congo War]]). During this time he attempted to negotiate a peace between the government and the rebels. On 2nd August 1998, a second civil war called [[Second Congo War]] erupted against Kabila regime, and as in 1996, the insurgency was actively and massively supported by foreign armed forces of Rwanda, Uganda and Burundi; while Kabila received active and massive support from Angola, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Sudan, etc. |
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On 23rd August 1998, he invited through an earnest, solemn and patriotic appeal, all armed factions to put an end to the war and to prioritise the search of a negotiated political and diplomatic solution to the Congolese crisis. |
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On 4th September 1998, he addressed a memorandum to the International Community (UN, EU, OAU), President Kabila, and neighbouring countries; explaining that the origin of this second civil war was to be found in the lack of democracy and in the poor governance of the country by the Kabila regime; and that the solution could not but be political and diplomatic, resulting from political negotiations between the representatives of the Kinshasa government, the armed opposition, and the local and non-armed opposition. |
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As a result of this memorandum, a peace agreement called [[Lusaka Ceasefire Agreement]] was signed on 10th July 1999 in LUSAKA between all the parties in conflict. A negotiated political and diplomatic solution was advocated as the essential plan to restore peace and build a new political order in RDC. |
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On 22nd July 1999, he announced publicly, on behalf of all political and social forces supporting democratic change, the formal acceptance and support of the Lusaka Ceasefire Agreement, as well as the mediation of Father MATEO of the Catholic community of Sant Egidio of ROME. |
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In January 2006, he officially ended his two-year boycott of the transitional government under [[Joseph Kabila]] regime, and announced that he would participate in the national elections scheduled for 29 April 2006, as well as the preceding polls in March. |
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Although elections were postponed to 30th July 2006, Etienne Tshisekedi demanded that conditions of democratic, fair and transparent elections to be met and as well as voter registration stations to be partially reopened, in order to allow those who boycotted their registration to be able to be registered and then to receive their election ID cards allowing them to vote. |
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The "Commission Electorale Indépendante" (CEI) translated as [[Independent Electoral Commission (DRC)|Independent Electoral Commission]] denied this request, on account that it was too late in the process. Etienne Tshisekedi then reverted to his previous position of boycotting the elections. |
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The UDPS congress, held from 11th to 14th December 2010, chose Etienne Tshisekedi as the party candidate to the presidential election of 28th November 2011. |
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Etienne Tshisekedi is determined to win this election as results of Joseph Kabila regime and governance are notoriously negative economic, security and social wise. |
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As in 2006, he demands democratic, fair and transparent election and denounces the "Commission Electorale Nationale Indépendance" (CENI) translated as Independent National Electoral Commission, for her deliberate lack of transparency in the organisation of voter registration and polls centres. |
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===Letter from Thirteen members of parliament=== |
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Etienne Tshisekedi is the co-signer of the "Open letter to the President of the Republic" signed by thirteen members of parliament in December 1980. This act subsequently resulted to their arbitrarily arrest and their status as members of parliament to be withdrawn. He was detained in [[Kisangani]] and then moved to Kabeya Kamwanga in the East Kasai Privince. |
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===Union pour la Démocratie et le Progrès Social (UDPS)=== |
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Etienne Tshisekedi is the co-founder of the "Union pour la Démocratie et le Progrès Social" political party (translated as Union for Democracy and Social Progress), on 15th February 1985, and presently the national President. |
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The party remains popular with its main goal a non-violent change to democratic rule. |
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==References== |
==References== |
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==External links== |
==External links== |
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*[http://www.udps.org/ UDPS website] |
*[http://www.udps.org/ UDPS Official website] |
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*[http://www.udps.net/ UDPS websites] |
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*[http://wikileaks.org/ Wikileaks website] |
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| NAME = Tshisekedi, Etienne |
| NAME = Tshisekedi, Etienne |
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| ALTERNATIVE NAMES = |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES = |
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| SHORT DESCRIPTION = Congolese politician and the National President of the "Union for Democracy and Social Progress" |
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| SHORT DESCRIPTION = |
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| DATE OF BIRTH = |
| DATE OF BIRTH = December 14th, 1932 |
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| PLACE OF BIRTH = |
| PLACE OF BIRTH =Luluabourg (Capital of the West Kasaï province) - DRC |
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| DATE OF DEATH = |
| DATE OF DEATH = |
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| PLACE OF DEATH = |
| PLACE OF DEATH = |
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[[it:Étienne Tshisekedi]] |
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[[nl:Étienne Tshisekedi]] |
[[nl:Étienne Tshisekedi]] |
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[[ja:??????·?????]] |
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[[ja:エティエンヌ・チセケディ]] |
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[[sv:Étienne Tshisékédi wa Mulumba]] |
[[sv:Étienne Tshisékédi wa Mulumba]] |
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Revision as of 19:35, 25 September 2011
Étienne Tshisekedi wa Mulumba (born 14 December 1932) is a Congolese politician and the National President of the Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS), a political party in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He was Prime Minister of the country (then Zaire) on three brief occasions during the 1990s: in 1991, 1992–1993, and 1997.
Tshisekedi was born in Luluabourg (now Kananga), Kasai-Occidental in 1932. He obtained a diploma in 1961 at the Lovanium University School of Law in Leopoldville (now Kinshasa). He served in Mobutu's government in various positions throughout the late 1960s and 1970s. He is now the UDPS candidate to the presidential election in November 2011.
Arrests
Between 1979 and 1999, Etienne Tshisekedi experienced arbitrarily arrests, tortures, relegations and residences under strict surveillance. These ill treatments were inflicted to his my wife, children and several political friends as well.
Etienne Tshisekedi is the co-signer of the letter to President Mobutu, denouncing human rights violations in regards to the "KATEKELAY MASSACRES"[1] in EAST KASAI region.
In 1979, he began to protest against the dictatorship and corruption established by Mobutu.
In December 1980, he was thrown in prison for his criticism and the "open letter to the President of the Republic"[2] co-signed with the 13 members of parliament. Their status as members of parliament has been withdrawn.
After his release and the creation of the "Union pour la Démocratie et le Progrès Social" (UDPS) political party (translated as Union for Democracy and Social Progress), he was arrested in 1982 as the co-founder along with the rest of founders of the party.
After a short bail in 1983, he was arrested and relegated in November 1983 to his village of origin with his wife and children.
In 1985, his home village has been criminally torched and he has been relegated to the Isangi territory in the Oriental Province.
In October 1985, he was sentenced to 18 months of prison at Makala in Kinshasa for "outrage to the Head of State".
In June 1986, He was relegated to his village of origin in East Kasai.
In 1987, after a short release, he was molested and arrested after returning from trips from Europe, the United Stated and Canada, for wearing a simple tie.
On 17th January 1988, after a short bail, he was arrested and detained at the central prison of Makala[3] for organising and leading a meeting at the Kasa-Vubu bridge in Kinshasa in commemoration of the 27th anniversary of the assassination of the first Prime Minister of Congo Patrice Emery Lumumba.
On 8th April 1988, after a short release, he was detained and relegated first to Dungu, then to Monga in the Oriental Province.
In 1989, several cases of his detention were recognised to be unlawful by UN Human Rights Committee[4].
After his release from 24 April 1990, he was then arrested, tortured at the residence of Commander Masasu, then Special Counsellor to President Laurent-Désiré Kabila, for his criticism against the dictatorship and human rights violations.
On 12th February 1998, after a release obtained on 27th June 1997, he was arbitrarily arrested by a squad of military agents after being beaten at his own home. He was then secretly detained under Laurent-Désiré Kabila government.
On 13th February 1998, He was relegated to his village of origin, Kabeya Kamwanga in East Kasai province and put under strict surveillance as in the Mobutu regime.
On 1st July 1998, he was freed and secretly returned to his residence in Kinshasa.
Political career
With the country in economic turmoil in the early 1990s, in part due to Mobutu's loss of Western support after the Cold War, Mobutu promised a transition to multiparty democracy. During this time, Etienne Tshisekedi was appointed as Prime Minister on three separate occasions.
The first lasted only one month from 29th September 1991 to 1st November 1991.
The second only seven months from 15th August 1992 to 18th March 1993, where he was elected as Prime Minister by the "Conférence Nationale Souveraine" (CNS), a national forum created to restore political stability of the DRC.
He was prevented from functioning properly by Mobutu. And against resolutions from the CNS, Mobutu removed him from his post of Prime Minister in 5th February 1993.
The third term, while Laurent-Desiré Kabila's rebel forces were marching on Kinshasa, lasted only a week (from 2nd April 1997 to 9th April 1997) and was again ended by Mobutu's lack of cooperation.
A month later, Laurent-Desiré Kabila overthrew Mobutu (see First Congo War). During this time he attempted to negotiate a peace between the government and the rebels. On 2nd August 1998, a second civil war called Second Congo War erupted against Kabila regime, and as in 1996, the insurgency was actively and massively supported by foreign armed forces of Rwanda, Uganda and Burundi; while Kabila received active and massive support from Angola, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Sudan, etc.
On 23rd August 1998, he invited through an earnest, solemn and patriotic appeal, all armed factions to put an end to the war and to prioritise the search of a negotiated political and diplomatic solution to the Congolese crisis.
On 4th September 1998, he addressed a memorandum to the International Community (UN, EU, OAU), President Kabila, and neighbouring countries; explaining that the origin of this second civil war was to be found in the lack of democracy and in the poor governance of the country by the Kabila regime; and that the solution could not but be political and diplomatic, resulting from political negotiations between the representatives of the Kinshasa government, the armed opposition, and the local and non-armed opposition.
As a result of this memorandum, a peace agreement called Lusaka Ceasefire Agreement was signed on 10th July 1999 in LUSAKA between all the parties in conflict. A negotiated political and diplomatic solution was advocated as the essential plan to restore peace and build a new political order in RDC.
On 22nd July 1999, he announced publicly, on behalf of all political and social forces supporting democratic change, the formal acceptance and support of the Lusaka Ceasefire Agreement, as well as the mediation of Father MATEO of the Catholic community of Sant Egidio of ROME.
In January 2006, he officially ended his two-year boycott of the transitional government under Joseph Kabila regime, and announced that he would participate in the national elections scheduled for 29 April 2006, as well as the preceding polls in March.
Although elections were postponed to 30th July 2006, Etienne Tshisekedi demanded that conditions of democratic, fair and transparent elections to be met and as well as voter registration stations to be partially reopened, in order to allow those who boycotted their registration to be able to be registered and then to receive their election ID cards allowing them to vote.
The "Commission Electorale Indépendante" (CEI) translated as Independent Electoral Commission denied this request, on account that it was too late in the process. Etienne Tshisekedi then reverted to his previous position of boycotting the elections.
The UDPS congress, held from 11th to 14th December 2010, chose Etienne Tshisekedi as the party candidate to the presidential election of 28th November 2011.
Etienne Tshisekedi is determined to win this election as results of Joseph Kabila regime and governance are notoriously negative economic, security and social wise.
As in 2006, he demands democratic, fair and transparent election and denounces the "Commission Electorale Nationale Indépendance" (CENI) translated as Independent National Electoral Commission, for her deliberate lack of transparency in the organisation of voter registration and polls centres.
Letter from Thirteen members of parliament
Etienne Tshisekedi is the co-signer of the "Open letter to the President of the Republic" signed by thirteen members of parliament in December 1980. This act subsequently resulted to their arbitrarily arrest and their status as members of parliament to be withdrawn. He was detained in Kisangani and then moved to Kabeya Kamwanga in the East Kasai Privince.
Union pour la Démocratie et le Progrès Social (UDPS)
Etienne Tshisekedi is the co-founder of the "Union pour la Démocratie et le Progrès Social" political party (translated as Union for Democracy and Social Progress), on 15th February 1985, and presently the national President. The party remains popular with its main goal a non-violent change to democratic rule.