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
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
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
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
Extract on RWANDA from the, Testimony of Johnnie Carson US’s Assistant Secretary, Bureau of African Affairs : before the House Foreign Affairs Committee Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health Washington, DC, May 25, 2010 The Great Lakes Region : Current Conditions and U.S. Policy http://www.state.gov/p/af/rls/rm/20 [ The presidential elections in Rwanda this August are expected to be peaceful and non-violent. However, the security environment ahead of the elections is of concern. We strongly condemn the series of recent grenade attacks in Kigali that have caused numerous casualties as well as anxiety and unease in the population in the run-up to the elections. The political environment ahead of the election has been riddled by a series of worrying actions taken by the Government of Rwanda, which appear to be attempts to restrict the freedom of expression. In a period of months, the Government of Rwanda has suspended two newspapers, revoked the work permit and denied the visa of a Human Rights Watch researcher, and arrested (and subsequently released on bail) opposition leader Victoire Ingabire, who has been linked to the FDLR. Despite multiple attempts, two political parties – the Green Party and FDU Inkingi – have still been unable to register. Dissention within the ruling party also appears to have surfaced. We have relayed our concerns about these developments to the Government of Rwanda, urging senior government leaders to respect freedoms of expression, press, association, and assembly. In particular, we have pressed leaders to allow all international and domestic non-governmental organizations and media to operate and report freely. We have also urged leaders to treat Victoire Ingabire in accordance with international law, ensure due process, and give her a speedy, fair, and transparent trial. We have urged the Government of Rwanda and all regional and international partners to work together to achieve free, fair, and peaceful elections that the people of Rwanda deserve. Leading up to the elections, the United States Government has supported a program that provides organizational and policy-development skills to political party leaders from all ten parties in Rwanda. The USG also plans to send approximately a dozen teams to observe the elections.]
Urubuga ngishwanama rw’amashyaka atavuga rumwe na leta mu rwanda(CCP) ITANGAZO : IMIKORANIRE YA PSD NA FPR, OPOZISIYO YA BARINGA, UMUKANDIDA UDAFITE AHO ABARIZWA. Urubuga Ngishwanama rw’Amashyaka Atavuga Rumwe na Leta mu Rwanda ruhuriza hamwe : FDU-INKINGI, Ishyaka Riharanira Demokarasi no Kurengera Ibidukikije mu Rwanda (Green Party) na PS-IMBERAKURI, rubabajwe cyane n’ingamba nshya za FPR zo gushyira ku ruhande amashyaka nyakuri atavuga rumwe nayo, igakoresha amashyaka yakoranye nayo mu gihe cy’imyaka 16 nka oposisiyo ya politiki. Ibi bibaye nyuma y’ibyumweru bike Perezida KAGAME asabiye mu ruhame -muri kimwe mu biganiro ajya agirana n’abanyamakuru cyabaye muri Mata 2010- abwira P.L. na P.S.D. ko bakwiye gutangira kujya basaba urubuga rwa politiki nk’uko amashyaka atavuga rumwe na Leta ajya arusaba. Dr. Jean Damascène NTAWUKURIRYAYO, Uwungirije Umukuru w’Inteko Ishinga Amategeko, umutwe w’abadepite, ntashobora gupigana no guhangana na Perezida KAGAME na FPR mu matora agiye kuza muri Kanama 2010. Dr. Jean Damascène NTAWUKURIRYAYO, yari Minisitiri w’Ubuzima kandi Ishyaka rye PSD ryakoranye igihe kirekire na FPR uhereye mu 1994, no mu matora ya 2003 PSD yashyigikiye umukandida wa FPR. Perezida wa PSD, Dr. Vincent BIRUTA, yigeze kuba Umukuru w’Inteko Ishinga Amategeko, nyuma yaho kugeza n’ubu aza kuba Umukuru wa Sena y’u Rwanda, arirwo rwego rwa kabiri rukuru rw’igihugu, rukaba n’urwa kabiri mu ikurikirana ry’inzego, ukurikije ITEGEKO NSHINGA ry’ u Rwanda. Ikindi kandi n’uko Umukuru wungirije w’Inteko Ishinga Amategeko atari kure cyane y’inzego zo hejuru zifatirwamo ibyemezo muri iki gihugu. Gahunda yafashwe yamaze kumenyekana : mu gihe gikwiye, umukandida wibereye aho azasaba abamushyigikiye gutora usanzwe ari ku butegetsi. Birasobanutse cyane ko PSD irimo gukorera mu nyungu za FPR, ikaba ikorera mu kwaha kwayo kandi ko itigeze yitandukanya nayo ngo ikore nk’ishyaka ritavuga rumwe na Leta kuva mu 1994. Ibyinjiyemo gusa kugirango iherekeze FPR kandi iyiheshe icyizere, hanyuma bifashe no guhuma amaso imiryango mpuzamahanga, maze amatora azagaragare nk’aho ari mu mucyo no mu bwisanzure. Urubuga Ngishwanama rw’Amashyaka Atavuga Rumwe na Leta mu Rwanda (CCP) ruramagana cyane izi ngamba nshya za FPR zo gushyira ku ruhande amashyaka nyayo atavuga rumwe nayo, ikikoranira n’ayarasanzwe akorera mu kwaha kwayo : PL na PSD, nk’amashyaka yafashe gahunda nshya yo kutavuga rumwe nayo. PSD na PL nta na rimwe zigeze zihagarara ku mugaragaro ngo zivuguruze ubutegetsi bwa FPR, ntizigeze zamagana akarengane FPR ikorera abaturage, ntizigeze zihangana na FPR mu nzira yo kuzana demokarasi mu gihugu, igihe cyose zamaze zari zibereye mu mudendezo hamwe na FPR, kandi buri gihe zashyigikiraga ibikorwa byose bya FPR, nta kunenga na rimwe byigeze bibaho ku mugaragaro. Amatora atagaragaramo uruhare rw’abatavuga rumwe na Leta n’ayo gupfusha ubusa umutungo w’igihugu n’igihe. Turongera gusaba ubwisanzure buhagije mu matora ya Perezida wa Repubulika ya 2010 ; agaciro k’imyanzuro y’amatora kazakomeza kuba ikibazo gikomeye igihe cyose abatavuga rumwe na Leta bazakomeza guhezwa. Turongera kandi gusaba ko Guverinoma y’u Rwanda yakwemera amashyaka atavuga rumwe nayo : FDU-INKINGI n’Isyaka Riharanira Demokarasi no Kurengera Ibidukikije mu Rwanda (Green Party), nta yandi mananiza. Bikorewe i Kigali, kuwa 24 Gicurasi 2010. Bishyizweho umukono na : Ms. Victoire INGABIRE UMUHOZA Umuyobozi wa FDU-INKINGI Mr. Frank HABINEZA Umuyobozi w’Ishyaka Riharanira Demokarasi no Kurengera Ibidukikije mu Rwanda Me. Bernard NTAGANDA Umuyobozi wa PS-IMBERAKURI
The Permanent Consultative Council of Opposition Parties in Rwanda (PCC) 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, is very disturbed and deeply concerned with the new RPF strategy of doing away with the real political opposition and embrace its coalition partners for the last 16 years as the Political Opposition. This comes just a few weeks after the public Request by President Kagame in one of his Press Conferences held in April 2010, telling Liberal Party-PL and Social Democratic Party-PSD to start claiming for the political space the opposition has been calling for. Dr. Jean Damascene Ntawukuriryayo, Rwanda’s Deputy Speaker of Parliament, cannot challenge President Paul Kagame and the RPF in the upcoming August presidential elections. Dr. Ntawukuriryayo is a former Health Minister and his Social Democratic Party (PSD) have been sleeping in the same bed with RPF since 1994 and in 2003 elections, PSD backed the RPF candidate. The President of PSD, Dr.Vincent BIRUTA, became the Speaker of Parliament then and there-after, till now the Speaker of the Rwandan Senate-the second Supreme Organ in the Country and Number two in hierarchy according to the Rwandan Constitution and also the Deputy Speaker of Parliament is not far away from the top hierarchy and decision makers of the Land. The usual master plan is already known : the right time the stooge candidate urges his supporters to vote for the incumbent. It’s very clear that PSD is an RPF satellite and affiliated Party and has never been in opposition since 1994. It is just coming in to escort and give legitimacy to the RPF Candidate and hoodwink the international community that the elections are free and fair. The Permanent Consultative Council of Opposition Parties in Rwanda strongly condemns this new RPF strategy of doing away with the real and genuine political opposition by embracing its coalition Partners, PSD and PL as its new opposition. PSD and PL have never stood up publically to challenge the RPF regime, they have never denounced the injustices of the RPF against the population, they have never confronted the RPF for the democratization of the country, they have always been comfortable with the RPF-established clientele system and they have always supported all RPF activities without giving any critic publically. An election, where the real opposition is not allowed to participate in, is just a wastage of national resources and wastage of time. We once again call for a level playing field for the 2010 presidential election ; the legitimacy of the results will remain a big problem if the real opposition is closed out. We also once again call the Rwandan Government to register the real opposition parties : FDU INKINGI and the Democratic Green Party of Rwanda without any further hurdles. Issued at Kigali, 24th May 2010 Signed by : Ms Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza Chairperson, United Democratic Forces Mr. Frank Habineza Chairman, Democratic Green Party of Rwanda Me. Bernard Ntaganda Chairman, Parti Social IMBERAKURI
The Permanent Consultative Council of Opposition Parties in Rwanda which brings together, The United Democratic Forces (FDU–Inkingi), The Democratic Green Party of Rwanda, Le Parti Social IMBERAKURI, is deeply concerned with the continued grenade attacks which are destabilizing the security situation in the country, these barbaric acts are causing a serious security and political crisis to the people of Rwanda. Our country has indeed suffered a lot, many people have died, we need no more war, no more killings. We strongly condemn all these violent means being used to threaten the Rwandan People and make the upcoming presidential elections a nightmare. We condemn in the strongest terms possible the use of violence and the authors of the continued grenade attacks in Kigali city and elsewhere in Rwanda. The Opposition Parties have embraced non- violence to change the political situation in Rwanda. We also strongly condemn the arrest and intimidation of political opponents ; sabotage and non-registration of opposition parties. We believe that without a discussion on creating a level playing field for the 2010 election, the legitimacy of the results will remain a problem. We seriously condemn the suspension of independent newspapers by the Rwandan High Media Council and its recent decision to ban UMUSESO and UMUVUGIZI Newspapers for good, (freedom of the press is a fundamental right, citizens of Rwanda have a right to balanced information). The escalation of this crisis is no secret any more : arrest and intimidation of political opponents ; sabotage and non-registration of opposition parties, arbitrary detention and exile of army senior officers ; suspension of independent newspapers ; (unexplained repeating grenade blasts in Kigali city) and “near-war” speeches from the President. The Permanent Consultative Council of Opposition Parties in Rwanda urge : The Government to take all necessary measures to thoroughly investigate these barbaric killings and continued security threats, prosecute those responsible, ensure the physical and psychological integrity of all citizens and inform Rwandans about this unrevealing grenade terror. The Government to register the FDU INKINGI and the Democratic Green Party of Rwanda without any further delay. The Government to put an end to the harassment, intimidation and withdraw the politically motivated trials of opposition leaders. The Government to immediately release the new electoral code and set up a consensus based national electoral commission. We officially call upon the international community and all bilateral partners of Rwanda to take an active role in the peaceful process for achieving a lasting solution to the current political situation in Rwanda. Issued at Kigali, 19th May 2010 Signed by : Ms Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza Chairperson, United Democratic Forces Mr. Frank Habineza Chairman, Democratic Green Party of Rwanda Me. Bernard Ntaganda Chairman, Parti Social IMBERAKURI
18th May, 2010 The Mayor of Gasabo District Kigali, Rwanda Dear Sir, RE : Requesting Permission to Hold Founding Congress for Democratic Green Party of Rwanda. We humbly request you to allow us hold the founding congress of the Democratic Green Party of Rwanda on 4th June 2010. After several correspondences between the District of Gasabo and National Police, we requested the Ministry of Local Government to intervene in our situation, we held one meeting with them and they showed their interest in our holding a peaceful congress. We informed them of our new strategy to sign party documents in the Public Notary’s Office, without holding a congress but they clarified that a congress was mandatory. It’s in that regard that we would like to once again request for your permission to hold the Party’s founding Congress on 4th June 2010 at CASABONITA Hall, Kimironko Sector, Gasabo District, Kigali City. We would also like to take on this opportunity to request the presence of the District Public Notary who will witness the signing ceremony. We recently re-organized our party and nominated new committee members, we don’t have any internal problems. The Police had written to us, assuring its commitment to protect us in case we got the permission from the District, we are hopeful that we shall not have any security problem. Since it’s in Government’s roles and obligations to ensure security for all Rwandans, including ourselves, we are hopeful to have a peaceful and successful congress. We are looking forward to getting your quick response. Yours Faithfully Frank HABINEZA Founding President, Democratic Green Party of Rwanda C.C : Minister of Local Government Mayor of Kigali City
