http://greenparty.ca/statement/2010 15 July 2010 2:45pm OTTAWA — A full investigation is needed into the actions of the Rwandan Government, political violence and the ongoing Presidential elections. The Green Party of Canada wishes to convey our deep concern over the news of the death of the Rwandan Greens’ Vice President Mr. Andre Kagwa Rwisereka who went missing yesterday on July 13th. Mr. Kagwa Rwisereka was found dead this morning near the River Mukula. This follows a series of actions by the Kagame government to harass and arrest opposition leaders and political rivals. The Green Party of Rwanda has been consistently stymied by the actions of local government officials who have repeatedly interfered with the Party’s ability to register as an official party. Two of these attempts involved violence that broke up the meetings. In the fall of 2009, Rwanda became a member of the Commonwealth with the backing of Canada, Britain, and Australia, among other nations, despite a report in July, 2009, by the Commonwealth’s own Human Rights Initiative which expressed deep reservations over the country’s human rights record. In particular, it noted that Rwanda needed to “Tackle a lack of political freedom and harassment of journalists…” Harassment of journalists and newspaper agencies has increased dramatically during this past election year and since Rwanda was admitted to the Commonwealth. The Canadian government has been silent on the elections in Rwanda and the actions of President Paul Kagame’s government. The Green Party of Canada wishes to reiterate its support for founding President Mr. Frank Habineza of the Democratic Green Party of Rwanda and the President of the African Greens Movement. The Green Party of Canada also remains in solidarity with the aspirations of the peoples of the continent of Africa to have their nations and communities embrace and build democratic societies which can live free from violence and environmental degradation. We strongly encourage the government of Paul Kagame, the President of the Republic of Rwanda, and all other government officials to reverse its recent descent into undemocratic practice and turn its energies towards a fully democratic, inclusive and peaceful society. We recognize that Rwandan society can and should be among the leading societies on the African continent in the efforts to combat climate change and environmental degradation which remains the greater overall threat to the future of all Africans. We are disturbed by this recent news and once again, respectfully petition His Excellency Paul Kagame, the President of the Republic of Rwanda, and all other government officials concerned to do the following : [a] To conduct a full investigation into the death of Mr.Andre Kagwa Rwisereka and all other acts of political violence ; [b] To do or perform any other act that is politically and legally conducive to the successful registration of democratic political parties ; [c] To continue to adhere to internationally accepted democratic principles so that the culture of multiparty democracy is entrenched in Rwandan society. 30 Contact Information : Debra Eindiguer Press Secretary C : 613.240.8921 media@greenparty.ca
http://www.greenparty.org.uk/news/1 Commonwealth urged to act over Rwandan election unrest 16 July 2010 Caroline Lucas, with other Green Party leaders in the Commonwealth, is urging action after the killing of the deputy leader of the Rwandan Green Party, Andre Kagwa Rwisereka. In the lead-up to Rwanda’s presidential vote on the 9th August, the Democratic Green Party of Rwanda has been subject to harassment, intimidation, and death threats. Police have broken up party meetings, and the party has been barred from registering or putting up candidates for the election. (1) A letter was sent yesterday to the Commonwealth’s Secretary-General, Kamalesh Sharma, co-signed by Green Party leader Caroline Lucas, Sen. Bob Brown (leader of the Australian Greens) and Russel Norman (leader, New Zealand Greens). It calls on Sharma to take urgent steps to enforce the Commonwealth’s standards of human rights and democracy in Rwanda. (2) In part, the joint-letter from Lucas, Brown and Norman reads : The death of Green Party Vice President, Mr. Andre Kagwa Rwisereka, who was found dead on 14th July 2010, is a tragic event and we are extremely concerned for the other members of the Rwandan Green Party. Mr. Rwisereka’s death follows on from a series of events in the last few months that suggest that the Rwandan government is creating or allowing an extremely hostile environment for opposition political parties in the run up to Presidential elections on 9 August. Rwanda’s membership of the Commonwealth requires that it honors and complies with the Commonwealth’s fundamental political principles which include respect for civil society and human rights. We urge you to immediately send a team of Commonwealth representatives to Rwanda to ensure the Government is taking all steps possible to ensure respect for rights to freedom of expression, freedom of association and peaceful assembly of opposition parties. Notes 1) 15th July 2010, The Independent 2) This week, Reporters Without Borders also called on the European Union and other donors to suspend financial support for the election because of a series of grave press freedom violations.
The Democratic Green Party of Rwanda welcomes the National Police’s efforts which have led to the arrest of the suspected murderer of our First Vice President Late Andre KAGWA RWISEREKA who was found dead on 14th July 2010. The National Police Spokesperson, Sup. Eric KAYIRANGA announced last night (15th July 2010) that they have put in custody, Thomas NTIVUGURUZWA, the last person to have talked to our Vice President. This is a good step taken in these investigations ; we had shared some of those details with the National police and the Rwandan Army. We hope that this suspect will not divert the police investigations but lead us to the killers of our Vice President and their real motives. Issued at Kigali, 16th July 2010 Frank HABINEZA Founding President Democratic Green Party of Rwanda
MADRID — UN chief Ban Ki-moon on Friday called for a full probe into the deaths of a senior opposition party member and a journalist in Rwanda during talks in Madrid with Rwandan President Paul Kagame, his spokeswoman said. He expressed his concerns regarding the recent incidents which have caused political tensions in Rwanda ahead of August 9 presidential elections in the African country, his spokeswoman Vannina Maestracci told AFP. The UN chief also stressed the need to respect human rights and he encouraged the Rwandan authorities to carry out a full investigation into these incidents , she added. Three Rwandan opposition parties on Thursday called for an independent international investigation into the murder of opposition official Andre Kagwa Rwisereka and independent journalist Jean Leonard Rugambage. Rwisereka was the deputy president of the Rwandan Democratic Green Party, which along with the Unified Democratic Forces (FDU) and the Socialist Party (PS), called for the investigations. His nearly decapitated body was found dumped by a river on Wednesday. Rugambage, who was critical of Kagame’s government, was shot dead near his home on June 24. The Rwandan Democratic Green Party is unregistered and has no candidate for next month’s presidential elections. It has accused President Paul Kagame of blocking it from taking part in the polls. Ban and Kagame were in Madrid for the first meeting of the MDG Advocacy Group set up last month by the United Nations to advance the Millennium Development Goals, which include halving extreme poverty by 2015. Kagame and Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero are the co-chairs of the group. But at the last minute Zapatero opted out of Friday’s meeting following protests that Kagame’s regime was linked to Rwanda’s 1994 genocide. Spain was instead represented at the meeting by Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos and Zapatero met with the UN chief separately. http://www.google.com/hostednews/af
Permanent Consultative Council of Opposition Parties in Rwanda (PCC) C/O B.P.6334 Kigali,Rwanda, Tel :+250 788563039,+250728636000,+250788307145 The Permanent Consultative Council of opposition parties in Rwanda (PCC), is deeply concerned and shocked on the death of the First Vice President of the Democratic Green Party of Rwannda, Mr.Andre KAGWA RWISEREKA. We strongly condemn this inhuman action. We call upon the Rwandan Government to quicken its investigations and bring these criminals to justice. We also call for an international independent inquiry over the assassination of a key opposition leader. The First Vice President of the Democratic Green Party of Rwanda, Mr.Andre KAGWA RWISEREKA who went missing yesterday 13th July 2010, was found dead on 14th July 2010. His head was almost completely removed from his body. He was born on 31st Dec 1949, in Rusenge, Nyaruguru, Southern Province, Republic of Rwanda. He went into political exile in the early 1960’s. He stayed in DRC, where he obtained a degree of Education, while in DRC he was one of the senior members of the ruling Rwandan Patriotic Front, especially in its struggle to liberate Rwanda. He has been a prominent businessman in Butare town. He was among the founding members of the Democratic Green Party of Rwanda, founded on 14th August 2009, at Hotel ex-Novotel in Kigali. He is survived with four children. In less than a month, the repression spree is alarmingly high rocketing : on 24th June 2010, Mr. Jean-Léonard RUGAMBAGE, a Rwandan Editor of UMUVUGIZI Newspaper, a critical voice, was shot dead in front of his home. Earlier that day, opposition members including Mr.Andre Kagwa RWISEREKA were arrested, many stayed in police custody for over a week, they revealed to the Judge serious marks of torture, ill-treatments and abusive hate language. On 19th June 2010, in Johannesburg, a Rwandan former Army Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General KAYUMBA NYAMWASA survived an assassination attempt. Another assassination case, was reported on 21st June 2010, in Gisenyi, Northern Rwanda of Denis Ntare SEMADWINGA, former Chief of Staff to General Laurent NKUNDA. SIBOMANA RUSANGWA Aimable Private Secretary for the Founder President of PS Imberakuri, was reported missing since 13th June whereabouts are completely unknown. Two local newspapers UMUSESO and UMUVUGIZI have been suspended while all the editing team of UMURABYO newspaper are now in police custody. Only a few days ahead of the presidential election, the Rwandan opposition is in a very sorry state. The Parti Social IMBERAKURI, has been split into two factions, a pro-government wing and another one represented by Maitre Bernard NTAGANDA, the founding President of PS Imberakuri, currently in a Kigali maximum prison for politically motivated crimes. Most of his colleagues were also arrested and released on bail. They told court and prosecution that they had been tortured while in detention. The Democratic Green Party of Rwanda , has been prevented from registering after trying several times, its recent attempt was when it requested the Government to grant it permission to have a founding congress on 4th June 2010, so that is able to participate in the elections, but it never received any response from Gasabo District. Earlier alone it had officially requested the Ministry of Local Government which is in charge of political parties to intervene in its situation. It never received any official response, despite after having been invited to one meeting with Ministry officials. The Democratic Green Party of Rwanda, still hopes that the Government will respond positively to its earlier requests. The FDU INKINGI, not yet registered as well, is facing a critical situation. It’s Chair, Ms Victoire INGABIRE UMUHOZA is still under extended house arrest ; Mr. Sylvain SIBOMANA, the party Secretary General and Ms. Alice MUHIRWA, the party Treasurer, have been released on bail. FDU Inkingi has tried several times to get registered but could not be allowed. The FDU-Inkingi had officially requested the Ministry of Local Government which is in charge of political parties to intervene in its situation, despite after having been invited to a meeting with Ministry officials. It never received any official response. The Permanent Consultative Council of opposition Parties in Rwanda (PCC) calls for an independent international investigations on the assassination of the opposition key figure Mr. Andre KAGWA RWISEREKA, the murder of the journalist Jean-Léonard RUGAMBAGE and other allegations of tortures or death threats to opposition members. We call upon the Government of Rwanda to use all means possible to ensure that there is peace and tranquillity in Rwanda, especially before and after the August Presidential elections. We also call upon the Rwandan Government to allow the opposition parties get registered and work freely, release Maitre Bernard NTAGANDA of PS Imberakuri and waive all criminal charges levelled against opposition members. Issued at Kigali, 15th July 2010 Mrs. Victoire INGABIRE UMUHOZA Chairperson, United Democratic Forces, FDU INKINGI Mr. Frank HABINEZA Chairman, Democratic Green Party of Rwanda Mr. Theobald MUTARAMBIRWA Secretary General, PS Imberakuri
The First Vice President of the Democratic Green Party of Rwanda, Mr.Andre KAGWA RWISEREKA who went missing yesterday 13th July 2010, has been found dead this morning of 14th July 2010. His head was almost completely removed from his body. He was found dead in the same wetland of River Mukula just about 3 Kms away from Butare town, where his car was dumped. His brother Antoine HAGUMA confirms seeing the dead body. During our visit to Butare yesterday, we found out that his national ID, driver’s license, house keys and car keys were found inside the dumped car, now packed at Police Headquarters in Huye-Butare town. His passport was also found in his house ; TABA-Butare Town. Issued at Kigali, 14th July 2010 Frank HABINEZA, Founding President, Democratic Green Party of Rwanda
Mr.Andre KAGWA RWISEREKA, First Vice President of the Democratic Green Party of Rwanda, has gone missing. His car (Toyota Pick Up) has been found on the banks of River Mukula in Butare (Huye-Southern Province) near Burundi, according to family sources. We understand that officers of National police have arrived at the scene, we call for quick results. We would also like to call upon the Rwandan Government to use all means possible and inform us the whereabouts of our Vice President. We shall update you on new developments as they come. Issued at Kigali, 13th July 2010 Frank HABINEZA, Founding President Democratic Green Party of Rwanda
The Permanent Consultative Council of Opposition Parties in Rwanda (PCC) C/O. B.P. 6334 Kigali , Rwanda , Tel : +250 788563039,+250 728636000, +250 788307145 Press Release : Detained victims of the last police crackdown on opposition still in agony. The National Electoral Commission (NEC) is wrapping up nominations for Presidential Candidates today, as opposition politicians arrested last week when it started receiving nominations are still imprisoned, under torture and suffering inhumane torments in police cells. The victims are in agony and have been denied medical care. The Permanent Consultative Council of Opposition Parties in Rwanda (PCC) is deeply concerned with this inhumane treatment from state organs. There are persecuted because they are opposed to the ruling party and were demonstrating for their civil and constitutional rights, since the National Electoral Commission in complicity with other Government institutions have blocked the genuine opposition from participating in the upcoming August presidential elections. The planned demonstration on 24th June 2010 was sabotaged by the Government when Maitre NTAGANDA Bernard, founding president of PS Imberakuri was violently grabbed from his home by agents of the National Police. Since then he has been day and night in handcuffs in different police cells. The Party Secretary General, Theobald MUTARAMBIRWA and several Imberakuri members are still held up. The same day several members of FDU Inkingi were arrested. Though some have been released others are submitted to severe tortures and denied medical attention. Ms. Alice MUHIRWA, the party treasurer, is still bleeding due to boots kicks into her stomach. Mr. Sylvain SIBOMANA, the party secretary general, needs an urgent x-ray as he was hardly beaten several times while his legs and arms were tied behind his back. Mr. Theoneste SIBOMANA (party leader in Kigali) needs a concussion evaluation after head injury which was bunged on wall many times during torture. The medical condition of the following prisoners is not known : the party lawyer Maitre Theogene MUHAYEYEZU, and the party member Martin NTAVUKA. They all have symptoms of torture and degrading treatments. How can the incumbent President Paul KAGAME, his regime and police explain the arbitrary arrests, torture, inhuman and cruel treatment of the opposition leaders ? We call upon the Rwandan Government to immediately release these political prisoners without any further delay and investigate the reported cases of torture and barbaric martyrdom. Issued at Kigali, 2nd July 2010 Mrs. Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza Chairperson, United Democratic Forces Mr. Frank Habineza Chairman, Democratic Green Party of Rwanda
The Democratic Green Party of Rwanda strongly condemns the murder of the Rwandan Journalist, Jean Leonard RUGAMBAJE, Deputy Editor of UMUVUGIZI Newspaper, who was gunned down on 24th June 2010, outside his home in Kigali. We call upon the Rwandan and International media fraternity plus all other well-wishers to extend their support to the family of the murdered Rwandan journalist. The deceased journalist has left behind a two year old boy whose mother is un-employed. We appeal to the Rwandan Government to use all means available to bring to justice these criminals and do whatever possible to help end these sad happenings. Revenge killings are completely un-acceptable. We support all non-violent means in conflict resolution. We call upon the Rwandan Journalist Association to take this initiative forward and support the Late RUGAMBAJE’s family. The International media fraternity should take this initiative seriously and show solidarity to the deceased’s family, which is indeed in urgent need for support. Issued at Kigali, 28th June 2010. Frank HABINEZA Founding President Democratic Green Party of Rwanda
The Permanent Consultative Council of Opposition Parties in Rwanda (PCC) C/O. B.P. 6334 Kigali , Rwanda , Tel : +250 788563039,+250 728636000, +250 788307145 A planned demonstration against the National Electoral Commission (NEC) has been blocked today, while they are receiving nominations for the Presidential Elections. The genuine opposition has been denied a chance to participate in these presidential elections. The planned demonstration was blocked this morning when Maitre NTAGANDA Bernard, founding president of PS Imberakuri was violently grabbed from his home by unidentified armed plain clothed officers. Sources suggest that he is held incommunicado in a police cell. On the same occasion Ms. Victoire INGABIRE of FDU Inkingi woke up to find that her house had been surrounded by armed policemen and was prevented to get out of the residence. The Democratic Green Party Leader, Mr. Frank HABINEZA, and his Vice President, Andre Kagwa RWISEREKA were held up by police, their National Identity cards and phones were taken for almost one hour at US Embassy in Kigali. Two Executive Members of FDU INKINGI, the Secretary General Sylvain Sibomana and the Treasurer Alice Muhirwa are missing. The Secretary General of PS Imberakuri, MUTARAMBIRWA Theobald is believed to be in police custody. The ‘Parti Social Imberakuri-PS Imberakuri, had written to the Mayor of GASABO district on 17th June 2010, requesting for permission to demonstrate on 24th June 2010. The Letter specified that the demonstrations were to start from the Prime Minister’s Office in Kimiruhura, continue to the Parliament and then end at the Ministry of Local Government in Kacyiru, where a public message was to be read. The District never responded by Wednesday, 23rd June and Maitre NTAGANDA a senior Lawyer and advocate, confirmed to other opposition Leaders that legally in this case silence is not NO, and the program remained as planned. To our surprise early this morning, the Democratic Green Party Leader, Frank HABINEZA, received a phone call from PS Imbearakuri Secretary General, informing that the party Leader had gone missing and they have changed plans and instead of the planned demonstrations they will go to the American Embassy in Kacyiru and ask US Embassy officials to intervene in this serious situation. They also asked the Green Party Leader to help them out so that Maitre NTAGANDA could be released. To our surprise upon arrival at the US Embassy visitors parking at around 09:00 local time, when we called the PS Imberakuri Secretary General, instead of getting his response we heard a lot of commotions on his phone and by the time we reached outside the US Embassy buildings, we saw police chasing PS Imberakuri members and also saw others being arrested and being put on Police Vans. The Secretary General is believed to be in police custody with hundreds of other Imberakuri members. We proceeded and talked to US Embassy officials and after a while as we were leaving the US Embassy grounds, police stopped us and took away our National Identity Cards and Phones for about an hour. Both the President and Vice President of the Green Party were released, thereafter but without any harm. Meanwhile, hundreds of members of FDU Inkingi were arraigned and beaten by policemen at Gishushu (Remera) and in front of the Ministry of Justice in Kimihurura. They were heading to a peaceful demonstration in front of the Ministry of Justice to request the government to lift restrictive measures and false charges against their leader Ms. Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza who remains since April 22nd 2010 bailed under house surveillance deprived of her political rights. Demonstrators spontaneously reacted to the statement by the General Prosecutor that the government does not have enough evidence to prosecute and challenge the case in a court of law. The Permanent Consultative Council of Opposition Parties in Rwanda is deeply concerned with the deteriorating political harassment and denial of political space in Rwanda ahead of the August 9th Presidential elections. The Government of Rwanda has continuously done all political manoeuvres to deny the genuine political opposition a chance to exist and be able to participate in the upcoming Presidential elections. The Ruling Party-RPF has indeed shown to the Rwandan people and the International community that it is too scared to compete with the real opposition and has rather resorted to getting stooge candidates to compete with. That is the real picture of President Kagame’s RPF competing with stooge candidates of PSD, PL and other satellite partners, who have been comfortably enjoying ministerial and parliamentary positions along the RPF state party for the last 16 years. The opposition in Rwanda has been subjected to verbal, physical intimidation and abuse. The legal framework has also been used to stop the Democratic Green Party of Rwanda and United Democratic Forces (FDU–Inkingi) from registering their political parties and exercising their political rights. The Democratic Green Party of Rwanda’s founding convention on 30th October 2009 was sabotaged violently, by people suspected to be connected to security organs and others to be working for the Government. The Green Party Leader, Mr.Frank HABINEZA has also received several death threats, the latest one indicating that he is supposed to be killed before the August 2010 Presidential Elections. Despite the fact that he reported this matter to the police and wrote to the Minister of Internal Security, he never received any response. The FDU Inkingi Leader, Ms.Victoire INGABIRE was physically assaulted early this year in a Government office at Kinyinya-Kigali. She has also faced serious allegations and has been charged for working with a terrorist organisation and as well for having a genocide ideology. Her Party has also been refused chance to register on pretext that its leader has criminal charges, which must be cleared first. The problem though is that even though she was charged in court, she has never been given chance to defend herself. Instead her lawyer, Peter Erlinder, was arrested as well. All these actions are done by the Government to demonise these politicians and make them hated by the population. PS Imbearkuri is the only opposition party that had managed to get registered last year, but its leader Maitre Bernard NTAGANDA, has faced a lot of challenges and was summoned by the Rwandan Senate on charges of having the genocide ideology. The party has now been divided into several factions, one illegal faction was recently recognised by the Government after its head was appointed Vice President of the pro-Government’ Political Parties Forum, though they very well know that this Lady has never been gazetted or approved by the cabinet according to the Rwandan Law. The legally recognised Leader, Maitre NTAGANDA is now unable to present his credentials for official nomination as a Presidential Candidate by the Electoral Commission. This division is believed to be done by the Ruling Party-RPF in order to weaken the real opposition and deny it a chance to participate in the upcoming August 2010 presidential elections. Neither Ms.Victoire INGABIRE, FDU-Inkingi’s Presidential candidate, nor, Mr. Frank HABINEZA, Democratic Green Party of Rwanda’s Presidential candidate will be able to present their credentials for approval by the Electoral Commission, since both of their parties have been denied a chance to register in time and they are not criminals. We call upon the Rwandan Government to postpone these elections until the political field is levelled enough to allow a peaceful competition for political power in Rwanda. We request the President of Rwanda to use his powers as vested to him by the Constitution to impress upon the Rwandan Government officials to allow political parties that are critical of the ruling party-RPF, (the Democratic Green Party of Rwanda and FDU-Inkingi) to get registered and exercise their full political rights and as well let the legally recognised leader of PS Imberakuri, Maitre Bernard NTAGANDA, manage his party without any outside interference. We would like to remind H.E. Paul KAGAME that he under took an oath seven years ago, to protect the Rwandan Constitution. He is the custodian of the Law. The Constitution guarantees multi-party politics and democracy in Rwanda. We call upon His Excellency, the President of the Republic to respect his pledge. Done at Kigali, 24th June 2010. Mrs. Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza Chairperson, United Democratic Forces Mr. Frank Habineza Chairman, Democratic Green Party of Rwanda
