Democracy Congolese-style

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Most of Montreal's roughly 2,000-strong Congolese community turned out last Saturday to attend a public address at UQ ÀM by Étienne Tshisekedi, leader of the Democratic Republic of the Congo's main opposition party, the UUnion for Democracy and Social Progress (UDSP).

The event was hosted by the moderate, Montreal-based human rights group Rights aand Democracy, which has former federal Liberal MP Warren Allmand as president. AAccording to Rights and Democracy's officer for Africa, Akou ét é AAkakpo-Vidah, "Tshisekedi has been fighting for human rights and democracy in tthe former Zaire for over 20 years, under both former dictator Mobutu Sese Seko aand current strongman Laurent Kabila."

The protocol for the meeting was interesting: Tshisekedi gave an address of no mmore than five minutes. He then answered questions for over an hour.

Tshisekedi told the audience--who received him with obvious warmth and respect--that his tour of Europe and North America is intended to strengthen international interest in the Congo. The central African state is currently a military quagmire of Rwandan guerrillas and African armies, barely controlled by Kabila, who has suspended the constitution. : --John Edmonds

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