Juin 2010

mercredi 9 juin 2010

The Leadership of the Democratic Green Party of Rwanda, would like to express its great sadness and astonishment on the verbal statements made by the Rwanda’s Ombudsman/ Information Commissioner of RPF Inkotanyi, Mr.Tito RUTAREMARA, broadcasted on Saturday 5th June 2010 on BBC Gahuzamiryango’s talk show, Imvo n’Imvano and calls him to apologise to Rwandans or else resign. We are greatly saddened and surprised to hear someone of a high caliber like Tito RUTAREMARA, whom we respect, expected constructive advice from, whom we have been expecting to fight for the disadvantaged and be the voice of the voiceless, to have spoken so abusively on the Person of the President of the Democratic Green Party of Rwanda, Frank HABINEZA, that he is a street-kid (mayibobo). Frank Habineza is a Rwandan, staying in Rwanda, playing a role in the sustainable development of the Country. He worked in the same Government Tito RUTAREMARA is working in. His appointment as Personal Assistant to the Minister of Lands, Environment, Water, Forestry and Mines was confirmed by the cabinet chaired by the President of the Republic of Rwanda in 2005. He is the President of the African Green Parties Federation, and also represents Africa on the Global Greens Coordination Committee. For someone like Tito RUTAREMARA, to say that he does not know Frank Habineza, who is playing a role in both continental and international politics, and calls him a street-kid (mayibobo), is indeed a big problem and a shame !!, unless if it is true that some people are intentionally refusing to recognize the Democratic Green Party of Rwanda, otherwise, the rest of the people know it very well and know him as its Founding President. The Leadership of the Democratic Green Party of Rwanda, would like to remind Mr.Tito RUTAREMARA, that among its leadership they are also other outstanding men and women, Elders like him, who have contributed a lot to RPF’s development and ascension to power, whom now he is calling mayibobos, simply just because they have left RPF and joined an opposition party to RPF. We would also like to remind him that all the members of the national committee are able to feed themselves and are not beggars, so calling them mayibobos is something out of context. Frank HABINEZA, is playing his role in the political development of Rwanda, its now over TEN months ever since him and fellow colleagues publically declared this. For Tito RUTAREMARA to say that he doesn’t know him and that he is a mayibobo, it’s something non-factual. These statements are destructive, and also undermine the credibility and honor of the National Ombudsman. If Rwandans are in agreement that we should all join hands in the betterment of our country, then our Elders like Tito RUTAREMARA do the opposite by giving us such a bad example, then there is no guarantee for a better future of our country. We are wondering, whether the articles on mult-party politics are no longer in our National Constitution-which Rwandans voted for (to remind you, we are not foreigners, we voted for it) We also wonder, if Rwandan politics no longer accept democracy as a founding principle, and if this has become a reason for those starting opposition parties in Rwanda, which give constructive criticism, to be called criminals and mayibobos. Rwanda’s Ombudsman, also alleged that the Democratic Green Party of Rwanda is lost and does not know what it should be doing, that instead of taking care of forests, floods, landslides and so on, that it is only abusing RPF, we would like to clarify the following : A. The Democratic Green Party of Rwanda does not abuse any one, it says the truth about what is happening in Rwanda and will continue to do so. B. The Democratic Green Party of Rwanda is not lost, it follows the Laws of the Land. You cannot build a permanent house without a foundation. Protection of the Environment is just one of the different principles of the party and the Rwandan Citizens are our number one priority and are part and partial of the environment. The people are the foundation, they are the basis of everything and are the ones who protect or destroy the environment. We would like to inform Mr.Tito RUTAREMERA, that besides our Principle on ECOLOGICAL WISDOM, which has something to do with protecting the environment, we have other principles which are : 1. Participatory Democracy 2. Social Justice 3. Non-Violence 4. Sustainable Development 5. Respect for Diversity 6. Respect for Human Rights. Mr. Tito RUTAREMARA also mentioned that he is aware of other Green Parties around the world, we would like to remind him that these are the same principles which the Global Greens follow and the Democratic Green Party of Rwanda has subscribed to all of them. Whenever the Democratic Green Party of Rwanda is requesting for freedom of speech, freedom of association, participatory democracy, sustainable development, it is fulfilling its constitutional and fundamental rights. We are just waiting for the party registration from the Government of Rwanda, so that we are able to do other developmental activities. We have constructive programs for Rwandans, we shall start implementing them as soon as we get registered. We would like to request all Rwandans to respect and give credit to all those who have constructive ideas, this way, we can all be happy staying in our mother land. The Leadership of the Democratic Green Party of Rwanda, requests the Rwanda’s Ombudsman who is also one of the powerful advisers to the President of the Republic of Rwanda, to apologize to Rwandans and in particular to the Leadership of the Democratic Green Party of Rwanda, in order to regain his honor or else resign. Issued at Kigali, 10th June 2010 Frank HABINEZA, Founding President, Democratic Green Party of Rwanda

vendredi 4 juin 2010

Urebye politiki iriho, uko abantu babanye n’impumeko y’umutekano, Ishyaka Riharanira Demokarasi no Kurengera Ibidukikije mu Rwanda ryifuje gushyira ahagaragara imyumvire yaryo ku Ngengabitekerezo ya Jenoside, Ibyaha byibasiye inyoko-muntu, ifungwa ry’umunyamategeko w’umunyamerika Prof Peter ERLINDER no ku biregwa Mme Victoire INGABIRE na Me. Bernard NTAGANDA, abayobozi bagenzi bacu, bakaba n’abanyamuryango b’Inama Ngishwanama Ihoraho y’ amashyaka atavuga rumwe na leta mu Rwanda. Ingengabitekerezo ya Jenoside : Ishyaka Riharanira Demokarasi no Kurengera Ibidukikije mu Rwanda ryemera rwose ko ikibazo cy’ingengabitekerezo ya jenoside cyatangiye kera mu myaka ya 1950 nyuma y’ihirima ry’ingoma ya cyami, bigakomeza biganisha kuri jenoside y’Abatutsi yo mu 1994. Iyi ngengabitekerezo ya jenoside ni ibikorwa, amagambo n’imigambi yo kurimbura abavandimwe b’abanyarwanda, ariko kuva mu 1994, jenoside ikiri mu mitwe yacu, iyi jenoside yibasiye Abatutsi kurusha abandi bantu abaribo bose. Turamagana byimazeyo uwariwe wese waba afite imigambi yo gusubiza inyuma igihugu, mu bihe nk’ibya jenoside yo mu 1994. Twemera ko itegeko rihana ingengabitekerezo ya jenoside ryari rikwiye gusobanuka neza, rikagororwa ku buryo nta wajya aryitwaza mu kuniga ibitekerezo bya politiki no gucecekesha abantu avuga ko bafite ingengabitekerezo ya jenoside. Ibi byazagabanya icyizere itegeko-nshinga ryatagaga ku bwisanzure mu mvugo. Ibyaha byibasiye inyoko-muntu : Mu gihe cy’itsembabwoko bw’abatutsi ryo mu 1994, ubutegetsi bwariho bwibasiye abandi banyapolitiki baturukaga mu bundi bwoko. Abandi baturage benshi b’abahutu barishwe. Inyeshyamba z’Inkotanyi (RPF/A) barwanaga n’abasirikari ba guverinoma. Bamwe mu basirikari b’Inkotanyi bishe abasivile b’inzirakarengane, ariko FPR inkotanyi nta mugambi yari ifite wo kwica ABAHUTU. Abasirikari ba RPA bishe abantu babaziza ubusa bahanishijwe ibihano bikaze kandi ibimenyetso bimwe na bimwe birahari. Birashoboka ko bose baba batarahanwe. Icyo gihe, iperereza ryakorwa, abo icyaha kigaragayeho bagahanwa. Ishyaka Riharanira demokarasi no Kurengera Ibidukikije mu Rwanda, rizashyiraho “Komisiyo y’Ukuri n’Ubutabera“ izafasha gukemura iki kibazo, ikagaragaza ubwiyunge nyakuri mu Banyarwanda. Tuzashyiraho kandi Urubuga rw’ibiganiro mu Banyarwanda (National Rwandan Dialogue), rukazahuriza hamwe abanyarwanda baturutse imihanda yose, baba ab’imbere mu gihugu cyangwa mu mahanga kugirango turebe urwanda rwabona igisubizo kirambye, aho Abanyarwanda bazaba bafite ubutabera, amahoro n’umudendezo. Twemera ko abantu bose bakoze itsembabwoko n’ibindi byaha byibasiye inyoko-muntu bakwiye guhanwa kandi uko tuvuga ngo : “Ntibizongere ukundi” koko, ntibizongere. Ikibazo cya FDLR, ni ikibazo cya politiki. Ntigikwiye gukemuzwa imbaraga za gisirikari, gikeneye ibisubizo bya politiki, kandi Green Party irabifite, ikaba yabibona ikoresheje amahame yayo, ariyo : Kwimakaza umuco w’amahoro, Ubutabera mu mibanire y’abantu, Demokarasi ihuriweho n’abanyarwanda bose, Kubahana mu bitekerezo binyuranye, Kubahiriza uburenganzira bw’ikiremwa-muntu, iterambere rirambye n’ubumenyi buhagije mu kwita no mu kurengera ibidukikije. IBIREGO KU BANYAPOLITIKI BATAVUGA RUMWE NA LETA Y’u RWANDA Mme Victoire INGABIRE UMUHOZA uyoboye FDU-INKINGI Gushyinza no gufunga Mme Victoire INGABIRE, nta kibazo cya politiki na kimwe bizakemura. Gusa, bizashyushya politiki. Igihugu cyisanzuye hamwe n’impaka rusange ku bibazo bireba abaturage nicyo gisubizo cyiza cyonyine kandi kikaba n’inzira yo kugera ku Rwanda rutemba amata n’ubuki. Iterabwoba muro politiki, gufungwa, guhungisha abantu ku ngufu, ibi bisubizo byose nta cyizere cy’ejo hazaza heza bitanga ku rwanda. Gufunga urubuga rwa politiki ntibizahata imitima y’Abanyarwanda gukunda no kujya muri FPR. Baziga gusa kuba abahanga mu buryarya, kandi ibi ni bibi cyane kuri ejo hazaza h’iki gihugu cy’u Rwanda. FDU-INKINGI ntikwiye kubuzwa uburenganzira bwayo bwo kubaho, kuva abanyamuryango bayo bose batarashinjwe cyangwa ngo bafungwe n’ibyaha runaka. Me Bernard NTAGANDA uyoboye PS-IMBERAKURI Twemera cyane ko ariwe muyobozi w’ukuri kandi akaba na Perezida wa PS-IMBERAKURI. Ibindi byaba binyuranye n’uko kuri byaba ari nko kwiganirira cyangwa umukino w’ababa bafite inyungu mu kwigarurira ubuyobozi. Guverinoma y’u Rwanda yari ikwiye kwiga kutabogama igahagarika kwivanga mu mibereho y’andi mashyaka kandi igakurikiza inzira zose zigenwa n’amategeko, aho guteza imbere amacakubiri mu mashyaka atavuga rumwe nayo, hanyuma ikaboneraho kuvuga ko ayo mashyaka ariyo afite ibibazo mu nzego zayo. Twamaganye bikomeye iyo myitwarire, dukwiye kuvana isomo ku byabaye mu bihe bya 1990, aho guverinoma yari iriho yatangiye kwica abanyapolitiki batavugaga rumwe nayo, nyuma ikajya ivuga ko ayo mashyaka ataravugaga rumwe nayo ko ariyo asubiranamo ubwayo. Amateka atubwira ko, nyuma, ibi byaje kugora igihugu cyane. Leta iyobowe na RPF, turayihamagarira gukura isomo mu mateka, ikirinda imyitwarire iyo ariyo yose yayiganisha mu guteza impagarara mu mashyaka atavuga rumwe nayo. RPF niyo yazabyishyura ku buryo buremereye. Turahamagarira Poilsi y’Igihugu gukora ipererza ku buryo bwuzuye kandi igahana abateguye ubugizi bwa nabi, bagatera MUKABUNANI Christine. RPF ikwiye kwibuka igihe yahamagariraga Leta y’u Rwanda mu myaka ya 1990 guhagarika imyitwarire mibi yayo, ntisubize, ko ibi byahenze igihugu cyane, bikagiteza kubura ubuzima bw’inzirakarengane zirenga miliyoni. Ubwo rero RPF ntiyari ikwiriye kuvunira ibiti mu matwi. UMUNYAMATEGEKO W’UMUNYAMERIKA Peter ERLINDER : Mbere na mbere, turibaza impamvu Guverinoma y’u Rwanda yemereye prof. Peter ERLINDER kwinjira mu gihugu niba bari bazi neza ko yahakanaga jenoside. Turongera tukibaza mpamvu ki batamushubije iwabo aho kujya kumufatira muri hoteri yari arimo i Kigali. Imiryango mpuzamahanga muri iki gihe yari ikwiriye kwerekana umubano ifitanye n’abanyarwanda, igasaba guverinoma y’u Rwanda kubahiriza amategeko yishyiriyeho, nibura ikaba yayubaha kubera inkunga ikomeye yayiteye. Turamagana bikomeye iri fungwa, tukaba dusaba ko yafungurwa bidatinze. N’ubwo u Rwanda ari igihugu cyigenga kandi kigashaka kwereka imiryango mpuzamahaga ko gishoboye kurangiza inshingano zacyo, byongeye kikaba nta nama iturutse hanze gikeneye, amategeko mpuzamahanga yari akwiriye kubahirizwa muri iki kibazo. Ishyaka Riharanira demokarasi no Kurengera Ibidukikije mu Rwanda, ni Ishyaka ‘generation’ nshya, twarenze ibibazo by’amoko n’ibijyanye nayo. Ntabwo turi abacakara b’amateka y’ingengabitekerezo ya politiki iyo ariyo yose igihugu chyakiyemo. Dufite gahunda n’ibitekerezo bishya ku Rwanda. Imyumvire yacu niyo yonyine ikwiriye gushyirwa imbere kurusha amacakubiri ayo ariyo yose muri politiki kandi ni imyumvire yizeza igihugu cy’amahoro n’ ubutabera birambye. Abanyawanda bose tubafata nk’abere imbere y’amategeko kugeza igihe bahamwa n’icyaha. Igihe nikigera, rwose ntimuzashidikanye gudutora, turi umwimerere. Turi umusingi w’u Rwanda rushya. Bikorewe i Kigali, kuwa 3 KAMENA 2010 Frank HABINEZA Perezida Fondateur w’Ishyaka Riharanira Demokarasi no Kurengera Ibidukikije mu Rwanda

jeudi 3 juin 2010

The Permanent Consultative Council of Opposition Parties in Rwanda (PCC) C/O. B.P. 6334 Kigali , Rwanda , Tel : +250 788563039,+250 728636000, +250 788307145 Kigali, 4th June 2010 Open Letter to the Ambassador Of the United States of America Kigali, Rwanda Your Excellency, The Permanent Consultative Council of Opposition Parties in Rwanda which brings together, the United Democratic Forces (FDU–Inkingi), the Democratic Green Party of Rwanda, the Parti Social IMBERAKURI strongly believe that your leverage as the Ambassador of the United States of America in Rwanda can help diffuse tensions as the presidential elections loom and unveiled deep military crisis background deepens. Improving the security situation in Africa is one of the United States of America Government’s key goals. Effective conflict prevention also requires a capacity to respond promptly to an emerging crisis before any conflict party resorts to force . On 25 may 2010, the Assistant Secretary of State for Africa, Mr. Johnnie Carson in his testimony before the House Foreign Affairs Committee Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health, has confirmed that the USA policy priority in Rwanda is to further internal stability and social cohesion by promoting national reconciliation, economic growth, good governance, justice, and democratic values. The Permanent Consultative Council of Opposition Parties in Rwanda appreciates this commitment of your Government in our country. Today we are pleased to write to you hoping you can help to impress upon the Rwandan Government to open the political space and ensure that the electoral process for the presidential elections are free, fair and transparent. We have decided to take part in these elections in order to show to all political contenders that political change in Rwanda is possible without resorting to violence as it has been the case up to now. While we praise wholeheartedly the commitment to help build the capacity of Rwanda to tackle poverty and attract meaningful investment, it is our very considered view that unless these efforts are underpinned by democracy, freedom and the rule of law, the achievements in that area will not be sustainable. This is why we request you to use the influence of your country to impress upon the regime that opening the political space is the best guarantee of sustainable development. As you may be aware, our position that we are dealing with a dictatorial form of Government that is not prepared to accept a political opposition is documented by human rights organisations i.e. Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative and even the US State Department report on Human rights (2009), under the vague law on genocide ideology, divisionism and negationism. The Permanent Consultative Council of Opposition Parties in Rwanda would like the US Government to consider the following : 1. We are very convinced that political parties play a vital role in a democratic system. Freedom of expression and the independence of the judiciary, like political pluralism are equally strong pillars of a democratic system. There cannot be any meaningful democracy without a functioning multiparty system. This creates an enabling environment for political tolerance, peaceful competition and transfer of power and for accountability of political leaders to the people who delegate power to them through a democratic election. This is only possible where the freedom of expression, association and assembly including the right to peaceful public demonstrations over the whole territory, without fear and intimidation are guaranteed. 2. We believe that the Law N°18/2008 on Genocide ideology of 2008 should be more clarified and fine-tuned so that it is not used by anyone to freeze political thoughts and descent voices on pretext that they have a genocide ideology. This would minimize the constitutional guarantee of the freedom of expression. The provisions of the current law of 2002 related to divisionism, which is contrary to article 9 of the international convention on civil and political rights and of 1966 to which Rwanda is party, must be reviewed. Also the press law must provide for the review to bring it to the international standards. It is quite clear that the punishment of imprisonment for “defamation and attack on honour” as stipulated in the present law must be scrapped. 3. The security services including the army have to be apolitical. They should avoid any interference in political matters and should only use their rightful role of ensuring internal security and defending the territorial integrity of the country. They should not accept to be used by individuals or political parties to oppress the people. 4. The Rwandan Government has to postpone elections until the political situation is conducive to holding free, transparent elections and all political parties are given the right to exercise their civil and political rights fully. We are convinced that the only solution in the growing social and political tension in Rwanda depend more on the resolution of the internal political problems. Therefore, there is no other way than a dialogue between Rwandans political actors to map out a political landscape which can set the parameters for a functioning democratic system with a better system of governance and proper management of power. In this regard, the dialogue will lead to an agreement on institutional arrangements that allow political pluralism and provides guarantees for the security and safety of each citizen. Hoping that your Government will be able to contribute positively to getting us out of this impasse that leads to polarise positions and exacerbate antagonisms, please accept your Excellency, the assurances of our highest consideration. Mrs. Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza Chairperson, United Democratic Forces Mr. Frank Habineza Chairman, Democratic Green Party of Rwanda Me. Bernard Ntaganda Chairman, Parti Social IMBERAKURI

mercredi 2 juin 2010

The Permanent Consultative Council of Opposition Parties in Rwanda, would like to request an urgent action from the part of the East African Community to use its influence to stop the situation from degenerating further, so that it does not threaten peace and security in Rwanda and indeed in the sub region. The Permanent Consultative Council of Opposition Parties in Rwanda (PCC) C/O. B.P. 6334 Kigali, Rwanda, Tel : +250 788563039,+250 728636000, +250 788307145 Kigali, 3rd June 2010 Open Letter to, The Secretary General, East African Community Secretariat, P.O. Box 1096, Arusha, Tanzania Dear Sir, Re : Growing Social and Political Tension in Rwanda Ahead of August 2010 Elections We the undersigned, representatives of the Permanent Consultative Council of Opposition Parties in Rwanda which brings together, the United Democratic Forces (FDU–Inkingi), the Democratic Green Party of Rwanda, the Parti Social IMBERAKURI would like to draw your attention to the growing social and political tension in Rwanda in the run up to the planned elections in August 2010. We would like to request an urgent action from the part of the East African Community to use its influence to stop the situation from degenerating further, so that it does not threaten peace and security in Rwanda and indeed in the sub region. It is our very considered view that the tension which is now felt both in the military and in the civil society in general is a result of the government’s repressive measures against those who do not toe the government line and a purge in the army where some of the most senior military officials have fled the country and others have been arrested just because they hold different views from that of the President, who is the commander in chief of the Army. Rwanda being a member of the East African Community, our political organisations, would like to convey to you its serious concerns over the situation and over the violation, by the Rwandan government, of one of the fundamental principles that underpin the objectives of the Community as provided for under Articles 6 and 123 (3) (c) of the Treaty for the Establishment of the East African Community. The latter calls for the development and consolidation of democracy, respect for the rule of law and respect for human rights in respective countries as a solid basis for peace and sustainable development. What we are observing is that the Rwandan government is systematically closing down any avenues for transparent, free and fair elections during the presidential elections due in August 2010. The government is taking every step to rule out any serious political contest against the incumbent President by trumping up false charges against the FDU-Inkingi political party, interfering in the running of opposition political party PS Imberakuri and refusing to register the Democratic Green Party of Rwanda ever since it started in August 2009, as well as suspending newspapers that are critical of the government. In this respect we hold the view that a proper process in the conduct of the forthcoming elections is a turning point in deciding the future political and social development in Rwanda. Supporting, condoning or turning a blind eye to a process that denies Rwandans a freedom of choice between different political programs through transparent competitive elections will be tantamount to complicity in creating seeds of political and social instability in Rwanda. We hold the view that the cycle of political violence in Rwanda whether under the monarchical regime or under republicanism has been due to repressive systems of government and lack of a democratic and transparent competition for and peaceful transfer of power. In this regard we request your Excellency to use your personal influence and powers that your position, as Secretary General, gives you to safeguard the values of the EAC and request the government of Rwanda to take all measures to : • Create an independent electoral commission representing all the political parties • Stop the use of national resources to fund the campaign of the candidate of the regime in power • Postpone elections until the political situation is conducive to holding free and transparent elections where all political parties are given the right to exercise their civil and political rights fully. • Be on the side of the Rwandan people during these difficult times that the state is oppressing dissenting voices in an attempt to end the democratic process that had started. • End all intimidation tactics against opposition political leaders and their members We would like to reiterate the commitment of our political organisations to peaceful democratic process in the competition for and transfer of power and call on the international community and all well wishers for peace and stability in Rwanda to support our efforts by putting pressure on the Rwandan regime to respect the principles of the East African community and behave accordingly. Our political parties are seriously concerned that flawed elections will further increase the social tension with unforeseeable consequences on the political and sustainable economic development of the country. Yours sincerely Mrs. Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza Chairperson, United Democratic Forces Mr. Frank Habineza Chairman, Democratic Green Party of Rwanda Me. Bernard Ntaganda Chairman, Parti Social IMBERAKURI C.C : All members of the EAC in Rwanda

mercredi 2 juin 2010

With the ongoing political, social and security tension in Rwanda, the Democratic Green Party of Rwanda would like to clarify its position on the Genocide Ideology, Crimes against humanity, the arrest of the American Lawyer Prof. Peter ERLINDER, and the accusations to Ms. Victoire INGABIRE and Me. Bernard NTAGANDA fellow opposition Leaders and members of the Permanent Consultative Council of Opposition Parties in Rwanda. Genocide Ideology : The Democratic Green Party of Rwanda believes that indeed the problem of genocide ideology started as far back as 1950’s after the abolition of the monarchy and culminated into the 1994 genocide against Tutsis. This genocide ideology could be acts, statements and plans to exterminate fellow Rwandans but since the 1994 genocide is still fresh in our minds, this ideology is more targeting the Tutsis other than anybody else. We strongly condemn anyone who may have plans to take the country back in the situation of 1994 Genocide. We believe that the Law on Genocide ideology should be more clarified and fine-tuned so that it is not used by anyone to freeze political thoughts and descent voices on pretext that they have a genocide ideology. This would minimize the constitutional guarantee of the freedom of expression. Crimes against Humanity : During the 1994 Genocide against Tutsis, the regime in power also targeted political opponents from other tribes. Many more people (Hutus) were killed. The then rebel Rwanda Patriotic Front/Army (RPF/A) was fighting with Government Soldiers. Some RPA soldiers killed innocent civilians. It was not RPF policy to kill HUTUS. The RPA soldiers who killed people were severely punished and some evidences are available. It may be possible that not all were punished. Investigations can be made and those who committed crimes against humanity be brought to book. The Democratic Green Party of Rwanda, will set up a Truth and Justice Commission, which will help to resolve this problem and bring about genuine reconciliation in the Rwandan people. We shall also establish a National Rwandan Dialogue, which will bring all people from different walks of life both in the country and Diaspora to help in setting a sustainable Rwanda, where Rwandans will have justice, peace and tranquility. We believe that all those who committed the genocide and crimes against humanity should be punished and Never Again should be Never Again. The problem of FDLR is a political problem. It cannot be solved using military might. It needs political answers and the Democratic Green Party of Rwanda has those answers, using its principles of : Non-Violence, Social Justice, Participatory Democracy, Respect for Diversity, Respect for Human Rights, Sustainable Development and Ecological Wisdom. ACCUSATIONS ON OPPOSITION POLITICIANS Ms.Victoire INGABIRE UMUHOZA of FDU INKINGI : Convicting and Jailing Ms.Victoire Ingabire will not solve any political problem. It will rather increase the political tension. An open society with open public debates on national contentious issues affecting the Rwandan people is the only best solution and key to a better future of Rwanda. Political harassment, intimidation, imprisonment, forcing people into exile, all these solutions do not guarantee a better future for Rwanda. Freezing political space will not force people in their hearts to Love and belong to RPF. They will only learn how to become better hypocrites and this is very dangerous for the future of the nation of Rwanda. FDU INKINGI should not be denied its right of existence, since not all its members have been accused or arrested on any crime. Me.Bernard NTAGANDA of PS IMBERAKULI : We strongly believe that he is the real Leader and President of PS IMBERAKURI. Anything contrally to that is just a joke and a game to benefit the powers to be. The Government should learn how to become impartial and stop meddling itself in the management of other political parties and should follow all the legal procedures other than promoting divisionism in opposition political parties and then later pretend by branding that the opposition parties have internal problems. We strongly condemn this behavior, we should learn from what happened in the 1990’s, when the Government in power then started killing opposition politicians and then blamed it on the opposition parties themselves that they have internal wrangles. History tells us that this later coasted the country too much. We call upon the RPF led Government to borrow a leaf from history and resist any behavior that may entice it to cause political wrangles in the opposition parties. It’s the RPF that will pay heavily. We call upon the National police to fully investigate and bring to book the architects of violence on the attack of Ms. MUKABUNANE Christine. RPF should remember that when it called the Rwandan Government in the 1990’s to stop its bad behavior and it never answered, this coasted the country too much, leading to a loss of more than million lives. So RPF should not keep a deaf ear. AMERICAN LAWYER, Prof.Peter ERLINDER : We wonder in the first place why the Government of Rwanda, allowed Prof. Peter ERLINDER to enter the country if they knew very well that he was a genocide denier. We still wonder why they did not make him ‘persona non grata’ and instead went ahead to arrest him from his Hotel in Kigali. The International Community should now show its true friendship to the people of Rwanda and Request the Rwandan Government to respect the laws it put in place by its self with great support of your tax payers hard earned money. We strongly condemn this arrest and call upon his immediate release. Even though Rwanda is a sovereign state and would like to prove to the International Community that it is able enough to manage its duties and thus does not need any foreign advice, the International Law Principles should be applied in this case. The Democratic Green Party of Rwanda, is a party of the new generation, we are beyond ethnic and tribal lines. We are not slaves to any political ideology history of the country. We have a new Vision for Rwanda and a new ideology for Rwanda. The Green Ideology is the only ideology that goes beyond any political divisionism and it’s an ideology that ensures a peaceful, just and sustainable Rwanda. We consider all Rwandans innocent in the eyes of the Law until proven guilty. When, time is due, please don’t hesitate to VOTE GREEN. We are the Original. We are the foundation of a New Rwanda. Issued at Kigali, 3rd June 2010 Frank HABINEZA, Founding President, Democratic Green Party of Rwanda

mardi 1 juin 2010

The Permanent Consultative Council of Opposition Parties in Rwanda which brings together, the United Democratic Forces (FDU–Inkingi), the Democratic Green Party of Rwanda, the Parti Social IMBERAKURI would like to draw your attention to the growing social and political tension in Rwanda in the run up to the planned elections in August 2010. The Permanent Consultative Council of Opposition Parties in Rwanda (PCC) C/O. B.P. 6334 Kigali, Rwanda, Tel : +250 788563039,+250 728636000, +250 788307145 Kigali, 1st June 2010 Open Letter to the Representative Of the European Union, Kigali, Rwanda Your Excellency, The Permanent Consultative Council of Opposition Parties in Rwanda which brings together, the United Democratic Forces (FDU–Inkingi), the Democratic Green Party of Rwanda, the Parti Social IMBERAKURI would like to draw your attention to the growing social and political tension in Rwanda in the run up to the planned elections in August 2010. We would like to request an urgent action from the part of the EU to use its influence to stop the situation from degenerating further, so that it does not threaten peace and security in Rwanda and indeed in the sub region. It is our very considered view that the tension which is now felt both in the military and in the civil society in general is a result of the government’s repressive measures against those who do not toe the government line and a purge in the army where some of the most senior military officials have fled the country and others have been arrested just because they hold different views from that of the President, who is the commander in chief of the Army. We strongly believe that only a democratic system of government is the only one capable of managing the present societal and political demands of the Rwandan society. This has been acknowledged in the UNDP Human Development report which was endorsed theoretically by the Government in its blueprint for development : turning 2020 vision into reality. Among other things it called on government to “further deepen the democratisation process by strengthening the capacity of civil society, the media and the wider political sphere, which represent the pillars of a truly open and vibrant democratic society” and an important tool to managing growing society demands. In this regard the same report warns that “Rwanda’s high growth rates are deceptive in that they hide large and growing inequalities between social classes, geographic regions and gender (Chapter 2.3). These disparities cut across all sectors and undermine Rwanda’s progress towards the MDGs in all areas from health to education and even poverty reduction”. tttp ://hdr.undp.org/en/reports/nationalreports/africa/rwanda/RWANDA_2007_en.pdf Indeed our political organisations consider that the values of freedom of speech and association, human rights and the rule of law are not niceties of the West but universal and as former Prime Minister of Britain Tony Blair declared before the US congress in July 2003, are “universal values of the human spirit and anywhere, anytime”. We consider the recent comment of the President of Rwanda in the Guardian and The Independent that Rwanda is not ready for the ‘medicine’ of democracy, that they need food on the table more than those niceties, this implying that Rwandans are not mature to use their votes rationally. This is an insult to their conscience and their dignity. In this respect we hold the view that a proper process in the conduct of the forthcoming elections is a turning point in deciding the political and social development of Rwanda in the future. Supporting, condoning or turning a blind eye to a process that denies Rwandans a freedom of choice between different political programs through transparent competitive elections will be tantamount to complicity in creating seeds of political and social instability in Rwanda. We hold the view that the cycle of political violence in Rwanda whether under the monarchical regime or under republicanism has been due to repressive systems of government and lack of a democratic and transparent competition for a peaceful transfer of power. The real threat to peace and sustainable development in Rwanda is not the existence of ethnic groups or mentioning their existence but the over concentration of power in the presidency and the exercise of power unrestrained by parliament, the judiciary and the civil service, lack of respect for human rights, scandalous economic inequalities and the absence of genuine political participation due to lack of active party politics. Therefore a democratic form of government is a condition for development. The European Union will recall the comments made by its observers during the presidential elections of 2003 when the head of the European Union Observer Mission, Ms Collette Fleische observed, as reported in the Monitor Newspaper of August 28, 2003, that there was lack of transparency in the election process pointing out that “there were cases where EU observers were not welcome at polling stations, while some officials were denied access to where votes were being consolidated” and reported that “ballot box stuffing was obvious from the significant difference between the voters’ lists and ballots”. According to the same papers she also highlighted the mysterious disappearances of political opponents ahead of the elections and the use of state resources by the incumbent in the campaigns. A Belgian member of the European Parliament Nellie Maes, who observed the polls in Rwanda in 2003 equally pointed out that “You cannot speak of democratic elections in the classic sense of the word. That requires opposition, and there is no opposition. We are surprised that the EU in light of such observation would again finance a process that is more flawed than 7 years earlier, without preconditions. The situation is now marked by a very high turnover of people fleeing the country ; the government taking a number of steps to limit the ability of opposition parties to organize their political activities by arresting one of the political leaders and her lawyer, threatening opposition leaders and putting in jail opposition militants, refusing them the right to register, putting up laws that limit the freedom of expression, banning newspapers that are critical of government and forcing into exile human rights activists that challenge the government of its human rights record. The Permanent Consultative Council of Opposition Parties in Rwanda would like the European Union consider the following ; • Require the government to register the political parties ( FDU-Inkingi and Democratic Green Party of Rwanda) without any condition ; • Put conditions to the granting of financial support to the election process in order to ensure that the process is transparent and fair. This would mean ending the harassment of the political opposition, allowing genuine opposition political parties to register organise and campaign at grassroots level and remove law clauses that restrict the freedom of expression and in particular those that limit criticism of government policies and political leadership • Require the government to create an independent electoral commission in which opposition parties are represented as key actors in electoral process • Impress upon the government to stop the use of national resources to fund the campaign of the candidate of the regime in power. • To request the Incumbent President, to stop electoral campaigns before the campaign period starts. • Require the Rwandan government to postpone elections until the political situation is conducive to holding free, transparent elections and all political parties are given the right to exercise their civil and political rights fully. • To be on the side of the Rwandan people during these difficult times that the government is oppressing dissenting voices in an attempt to end the democratic process that had started. • Require the government to stop resorting to illegal means in splitting opposition parties. The Permanent Consultative Council of Opposition Parties is seriously concerned that flawed elections will further increase the social tension with unforeseeable consequences on the political and sustainable economic development of the country. Mrs. Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza Chairperson, United Democratic Forces Mr. Frank Habineza Chairman, Democratic Green Party of Rwanda Me. Bernard Ntaganda Chairman, Parti Social IMBERAKURI C.C : All members of the European Union in Rwanda