A popular mass rally organised by the opposition against impunity in
Togo and the Eyadema-Gbagbo- Ouattara talks in Lome on possible solutions
to the social and political crisis in Cote d'Ivoire have been the main
issues commented on by the Togolese media this week.
"Echos d'Afrique," close to the parties backing the President says under
the title: "So-called march of impunity from the opposition - thugs in
the streets to display the gangsterism of Gilchrist (Olympio) and the imposture
of the opposition."
"The Impunity March, which is mere provocation, is a strong signal of
the failure and the imposture of the opposition which after two decades
of procrastination has ended in annoying the Togolese peoples who know
the real nature of these political leaders," the paper says.
"Le Soleil," another pro-government paper, "the opposition march organised
last Saturday to imitate the Burkina Faso opposition did not succeed."
This was because, the paper says, "Togo is not Burkina Faso and the
Togolese opposition is not the Burkina Faso opposition," adding that "the
people did not find the reasons to march."
Another view is expressed in the pro-opposition "Le Regard" which hails
the great mobilisation of supporters" during the march against impunity.
"The opposition hails the determination of the residents of Lome and
its outskirts," says the paper.
It says that the "opposition made up its mind to mobilise thousands
of people from Lome only after months of apathy."
Other parts of the country will have to wait for a similar rally because
people are asking for more rallies in Lome and the hinterlands, the paper
adds.
It concludes: "This proves that nothing can hold back the people who
are striving for changes."
The "Evenement" newspaper also criticises the government which says
in a headline: "Popular march of the opposition against impunity: the Togolese
revive the pressure of the street."
The weekly says that the "17 march has been that of the strong will
of the Togolese people to remain mobilised and committed to the noble cause
of the struggle for the advent of a real democracy and rule of law."
On the Eyadema-Gbagbo-Ouattara talks in Lome, "Echos d'Afrique" under
the title, "Côte d'Ivoire: Eyadema assists the political class,"
says that the simple fact that the two leaders from Cote d'Ivoire met each
other a week before the municipal elections has been unanimously hailed
in Abidjan and other capital cities of the region.
It adds that the real stake in such a meeting has been a kind of "rehabilitation
for Ouattara."
"Evenement" says in its front page: "Failure of the Eyadema mission
in Lome as Gbagbo says no to conditions set by Alassane Ouattara."
After recalling the declarations made by president Laurent Gbagbo when
he returned to Abidjan, the paper says "we do not need to think hard to
know that the head of the restructuring in Cote d'Ivoire has not met the
request of his political opponent."
