Ruling council fixes date for national conference

The Central African Republic's legislative body, the National Transitional Council, voted 60 to 0, with one abstention, on Tuesday, fixing a date for a national reconciliation conference after years of political instability and war, according to state-owned radio. The conference is now due to take place from 10 to 25 September. The council also recommended the establishment of a 72-member preparatory team to pave the way for the conference. The team's members are to be grouped into technical commissions on politics and diplomacy; defence and security; economy and finances; social and cultural affairs; and logistics. The council also recommended new members for the conference coordination team, previously chaired by Bishop Paulin Pomodino and his deputy, Henri Maidou. The council disqualified Maidou, who was recently appointed by President Francois Bozize as his special adviser, for the position of deputy coordinator. Instead, the council proposed a coordination team of one coordinator, his deputy, three representatives of the government and three of the council. Adoption of these recommendations came a day after the council disqualified exiled former President Ange-Felix Patasse from taking part in the conference. The council's Speaker, Nicolas Tiangaye, said on Radio Centrafrique that the International Criminal Court would prosecute Patasse. However, the council approved the participation of former presidents Andre Kolingba and David Dacko. Patasse, who was overthrown by Bozize in a coup on 15 March, had earlier suggested that a national conference be held to end Bozise's rebellion that had broken out in October. Some analysts see Patasse's exclusion as an obstacle to a true national reconciliation. A professor of sociology at the University of Bangui, Bienvenue Djanga, told IRIN on Tuesday that everybody should be forgiven their political errors in a spirit of reconciliation. "If Kolingba was granted amnesty, why not Patasse?" Djanga said.