Information on the July 1997 march organized by the JUDPS could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

However, AFP articles refer to arrests and detention of some JUDPS members in connection with a meeting held at UDPS headquarters in Limeté, Kinshasa on 15 August 1997 to commemorate the fifth anniversary of the election of Etienne Tshisekedi, leader of UDPS, as Prime Minister (AFP 28 Sept. 1997; ibid. 25 Aug. 1997; ibid. 16 Aug. 1997). Various sources indicate that the first election of Etienne Tshisekedi as Prime Minister by the members of the National Conference happened on 15 August 1992 (Keesing's Aug. 1992, 39039; Africa Research Bulletin 1-31 Aug. 1992, 10679; Africa Confidential 11 Sept. 1992, 7).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Africa Confidential [London]. 11 September 1992. Vol., 33 No. 18. "Angola/Zaire: Division on Four Fronts."

Africa Research Bulletin, Political, Social and Cultural Series [Oxford]. 1-31 August 1992. Vol., 29 No. 8. "Zaire: National Conference Decision."

Agence France Presse (AFP). 28 September 1997. "L'AZADHO dénonce la disparition de deux militants de l'opposition détenus par la police." (AFP mailtopic@alcl.par.afp.com)

_____. 25 August 1997. "Quinze jeunes de l'UDPS torturés en RDCongo, selon leur antenne au Benelux." (AFP mailtopic@alcl.par.afp.com)

_____. 16 August 1997. "Une cinquantaine de militants de l'opposition interpellés par la police à Kinshasa." (AFP mailtopic@alcl.par.afp.com)

Keesing's Record of World Events [Cambridge]. August 1992. Vol., 38 No. 7-8. "Zaire: Election of Tshisekedi as prime Minister."