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The 2008 New Year message of Mr. Etienne Tshisekedi,   the National President of UDPS



Dear Compatriots,

Finding myself still outside of the country, I am, and always will be, with you in heart and mind.

Following tradition, as this year ends, I would like to express my best wishes for happiness and prosperity for the new year; and I do so despite the circumstances that do not lend itself to this given the scale of misery afflicting the majority of our people.

Dear Compatriots

One year after the establishment of the institutions resulting from the famous elections, the economic, social, and security situation of our dear and beautiful country is hardly encouraging.

The toiling masses--tired of unfulfilled promises and shocked by the ostentatious way of life of those who are in business, and who have clearly chosen to be self-serving- -no longer hide their frustrations. I show as evidence the strikes affecting almost all sectors of national life.

Because of the catastrophic humanitarian situation, of the horror and brutality that have afflicted most of our fellow citizens throughout the year 2007, and which continues to assault and oppress them today, I express my full solidarity with the people.

I am thinking, more specifically, of our compatriots in North and South Kivu, victims of quasi-permanent armed confrontations.

My thoughts also turn to our brothers and sisters in ITURI, in North and South Kivu, victims of armed bands at the forefront of which are RWANDAN HUTU militias.

I am also thinking of our compatriots in KAHEMBA in Bandundu, and in FARADJE and in ANGO in Province Orientale who have been forced to abandon the land of their ancestors due to the incursion of foreign forces or armed gangs.

Nor should we forget our compatriots in Bas-Congo, in Kinshasa and elsewhere who have  been wounded by gunfire or who have paid with their lives because of the intolerance of those in power, and sheer human stupidity.

Dear Compatriots,

Faced with the inaction and the inability of the leaders of these institutions to provide appropriate solutions to all of these problems, UDPS
urges you to break free from apathy and to demand real change in themanagement of public affairs.

It is from this perspective that I intend to organize in the near future the Congress of our Party, the Union for Democracy and Social Progress [UDPS].

Dear Compatriots,

As UDPS has unwaveringly led the struggle for democracy in the interest of all Congolese, today UDPS has taken upon itself the task of examining all of the problems that beset you and of providing viable solutions to these problems.

For these reasons, the upcoming [UDPS] Congress is a matter for all the Congolese people.

To this end, and before leaving the country [DRC], I set up the Organizing Committee for the materialization of the first UDPS Congress whose success depends upon the involvement of all of you.

Dear Compatriots.

This grim picture can, in no way, be considered as inevitable. As I prepare my return [to the DRC], I send you this message of hope and urge you not to be overwhelmed by the current difficulties.

Let us gather our strength, and let us all stand, so that together we may put to right our country.

Thank you