Following the military spokesman’s statement accusing exiled army generals to be behind recent grenades, with the help of Uganda and Tanzania, the atmosphere in Kigali is tense.

The city of Kigali Authority has issued security measures regarding hotels, banks, bars and transport businesses with immediate effect:
? Every one entering a hotel must be searched and hotels must be equiped with detectors within one week.
? Bars must be equiped with power generators to keep lights on in event of general blackouts in the area.
? Owners of cars with tinted windows are asked to change car window glasses as soon as possible.

Kagame has got his new term after last week’s sham elections, but the recent events and these drastic new measures show that he is very nervous and that worries in Rwanda are not over yet.

by Ambrose Nzeyimana.

Rwandans are strongly encouraged to take back their destiny into their hands.

In the 50s the Rwandan population had suffered centuries of total oppression and exploitation at the hands of a Tutsi aristocracy from the minority ethnic group in power. Intertwined internal and external events made oppressed people ready to face their discriminatory masters. Their courage and determination to change the submissive way of life of their majority gave to their country a different future that no criminal leader could rob them forever.

The decade before the African independence saw in 1959 what historians have called the Rwandan revolution where the Hutu enslaved from birth majority and excluded Tutsi minority managed to become owners of their destiny in the years that followed.

Fifty years on the spirit and values of the Rwandan revolution have been crashed. Rwanda has fallen in the hands of a local and international mafia type of political leadership which is using oppressive policies of the past to control and use the population for its own greed. Voices of the oppressed people are nowhere represented in the sphere of politics or any other institutions of the country. Surprisingly the mercenaries in power claim to be more Rwandans than any other constituency around.

When a nation of deliberately impoverished people under the pretense of economic liberalism is subject to discrimination and exploitation, raising awareness about its oppression is not being divisive, genocidaire, genocide denier, national security threat, but only a call for justice and fairness.

When black Americans and black South Africans vigorously opposed discriminative policies that racist oppressors imposed on them, they were only after their fundamental human rights of association, freedom of speech, owning a property, access to decent education and employment, having space to determine and decide their own destiny.

Paul Kagame regime has now been exposed for what it is: a criminal institution which rules over a country pursues a selfish agenda and lives on lies laundered through PR machinery costing millions of dollars. Different reactions from the main partners of Rwanda after the results of the undemocratic presidential elections of 2010 come short of the usual praises of the Rwandan government.

What Rwanda has experienced in recent months and which culminated in a masquerade of presidential election on August 9th, 10 calls every Rwandan from all ethnic groups young and old, literate and illiterate, inside and outside the country, rich and poor, and friends everywhere of the real Rwanda and not the one of oppressors, to come out more than at any other time of the country�s history to stop a criminal political system led by Paul Kagame.

By coming out together and taking back their destiny into their hands Rwandans can bring and give to their country a trans-formative revolution which can and will undoubtedly address effectively current and future political economic and social challenges.

Here is Peter Erlinder’s interview as reported by Ndze Ntuv Evaristus Tunka of the African News Journal.

Professor Peter Erlinder is no stranger to the international community. He is a distinguished Criminal Defense professor at William Mitchell College of Law, and a lead Defense Council for the UN International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda based in Tanzania. He was recently arrested by the Rwandan government on allegations of ‘genocide denial’ while defending Victoire Ingabire – a Hutu politician and current presidential candidate who is charged with ‘propagating genocide ideology’ as well. Prof. Erlinder sat down with The African News Journal’s Ndze Ntuv Evaristus Tunka to talk about his ordeal in Rwanda.

ANJ: Thank you for talking with The African News Journal today. Most people might consider you a rogue lawyer, especially from your defense of such personalities as Mohammed Warsame, Sami Al-Arian, and now Victoire Ingabire….
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Erlinder: First I do not consider myself a rogue lawyer. I stand for the legal process and for justice. I think it is very important that we allow justice to take its course in any legal issue.

ANJ: So what made you decide to defend Victoire Ingabire?

Erlinder: Well, Victoire Ingabire has argued that both Hutus and Tutsis were responsible for the genocide in Rwanda, and that it was unjust to blame only one side for the genocide. I share this idea, as my research and findings from UN documents, US government documents, and trial documents at the ICTR on what happened in Rwanda show that both the Hutus and the rebel led FDR were responsible for mass killings in Rwanda. I think that all those who were responsible, be they Hutus or Tutsis should face justice.

ANJ: When you were arrested on May 28th, what was going through your mind? What were you thinking?

Erlinder: Well this is something that in order to talk about, I might probably have to spend some time thinking about it, and I’ll probably write about it at some point; but I wasn’t expecting to be arrested. However once I was arrested, my main concern was not to disappear and my view is that; had I not taken the initiative to force my captives to allow me to talk to the US Embassy, I’m not sure anybody would have known what had happened to me.

ANJ: How were you treated in the Rwandan jail and what were the conditions like?
Erlinder: What I’ve said to everybody that I have talked to, is that the people in Rwanda treated me quite well. The individuals that were charged with taking care of me treated me well under the circumstances. The conditions in the detention facility I was in were quite difficult per standards; that is no toilets, no beds, no blankets, and no food but this was quite normal to Rwandans, although most Rwandans in jail had family members who would bring them food, and what they needed to survive, but because I didn’t have that, and because the US Embassy was not so reliable, my situation was particularly difficult in that situation, but not because I was mistreated, but because I didn’t have the support that other detainees had. They kept me in a separate cell and the guards would go out and buy me food on the street so that I could have something to eat and some water to drink and no one beat me or mistreated me. But I saw other people being treated not so well, which made it more difficult for me psychologically, because I was really at the mercy of young kids with AK-47s.

ANJ: There were rumors of reports by Rwandan Prison Officials, stating that you tried to overdose on your medications, while you were behind bars. What is your reaction to these rumors?

Erlinder: Well I don’t have any comments on it in detail, but I do have medical problems that if I had been born and raised in Rwanda, I would have probably been dead by forty; but my problems are currently and I’m undergoing treatment, and as long as I get that treatment, then I’ll be ok. But being kept indefinitely in detention facilities with that kind of wasn’t really possible. That’s kind of what the danger was.

ANJ: After your release, the Rwandan government put out an official statement, stating that you were released on medical grounds, and they didn’t and have not dropped the charges against you…have you been formally charged by the Rwandan government?

Erlinder: The actual fact is that in the Rwandan system, it’s not necessary to be charged to be a suspect. Although I haven’t been formally charged, I’m still a formal suspect and the investigation I understand is continuing.

ANJ: Some Rwandans especially the Tutsis, who saw a huge population of their tribesmen murdered during the Rwandan genocide look at you, and might wonder why you are defending opposition leader Victoire Ingabire, who the Kagame regime has charged with alleged genocide denial and promoting genocide ideology. What would you say to them?

Erlinder: The best evidence produced by the Rwandan government/UN prosecutor during 7-years of trial resulted in the Tribunal finding that there was no conspiracy to commit genocide or ethnic killings at the level of the military or government leadership. The Rwandan government is in a difficult position because the majority of the population has a different ethnic and historical background because the leaders in Rwanda now are English speaking Rwandans who actually were raised and even born in Uganda. So that among people who had lived in Rwanda during the time they spoke French rather than English as a European language, the situation is difficult politically. I’m interested in seeing a peaceful democratic development in Rwanda, and I hope that, that happens.

ANJ: With regards to a democratic Rwanda, President Kagame has insisted that since his rise to power, Rwandans have been given the opportunity to participate democratically in the country’s politics; that he has encouraged decentralization has ensured a fair representation of women in government; and has secured economic growth for Rwanda. What is your assessment of this assertion?

Erlinder: I think my arrest is a pretty good indication about the range of discussion and debate that is possible in Rwanda. And I do think that the Rwandan government has many accomplishments. Kigali is a beautiful city and far away more developed than it was in 2004, which is the last time I was there. But on the question of opposition parties, there are none that are meaningful, and any significant disagreement with the current government is dangerous and under those circumstances, I think that the Rwandan people are going to have some difficulty in having a meaningful debate. What got Victoire Ingabire arrested was that on the day that she arrived in Rwanda, she went to the genocide memorial and she made note that the Rwandan government says that the umm….I’m using the word ‘Rwandan genocide’ because its common, not because I understand it the way every one does. She asked the question whether, because the government said it was genocide of Tutsis and moderate Hutus, which would mean that Hutus who defended Tutsis–and there were many; the question was “where is the memorial to the dead Hutus?” The Rwandan government insists that ONLY Tutsi were victims, but describes 1994 as: “a genocide of Tutsi and moderate Hutus” Ingabire got in trouble for pointing out that there are no memorials to Hutu victims, whether “moderate” or not. There are none in the country, and anyone who suggests that Hutus were also victims during that period has the same faith as Victoire Ingabire and-me. And suggesting that both sides committed crimes is a crime, according to the Rwandan government. That’s what my arrest shows.

ANJ: Some Rwandans and even some member states of the African Union have questioned why the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) is based in Tanzania; arguing that it would best address crime and issues of the Rwandan genocide if it was housed in Rwanda. What is your reaction to this?

Read this:
? a key scientific study by Professor Christian Davenport and Allan C. Stam.
? Coming to a New Understanding of the 1994 Rwanda Genocide.
Watch this:
? lecture by Professor Davenport at the University of Michigan.

Erlinder: When you’ve had a civil war, and one side has won the civil war, how can you set up a neutral tribunal of the sort in the country? I don’t think that would be possible in any country. And to suggest that it is possible in Africa, I think it’s unlikely. Also I want to make it clear, that I have never said that large numbers of Tutsis were not killed. However the most recent evidence, not by me, but by Allan Stam at the University of Michigan and Christian Davenport of Notre Dame. They analyzed all the reports that all the NGOs had, and all the reports that the Rwandan government had, and they came to the conclusion that there were twice as many Hutus killed as Tutsis. We have to think through what really happened. But I can say that from the experience of other countries, if there is a civil war and one side wins the war, it’s unlikely that they’re going to give the side they defeated the benefit of doubt, and that happened in the US civil war as well. The US controlled the South militarily for twenty years or more and for a long time, it wasn’t even possible for us to discuss the idea that the Confederate states had a significant that could be defended, and they were also blamed for everything. When there’s a civil war, that’s what happens, different sides tell different stories.

ANJ: Are you still the Defense Council for Victoire Ingabire?

Erlinder: No, I was never given the opportunity to defend her. I had applied for accreditation from the Rwandan Bar, and it was never granted, and even when I got to Rwanda to represent her, I was arrested and sent to jail. She does have a different Defense Council, however, I have kept in touch with her every now and then…and would be willing to give her my advice if she requests it.

ANJ: Thank you again for meeting and talking with The African News Journal, and also thank you for your commitment with the ICTR, your stand for justice, and for your continuous defense of the suppressed.

Erlinder: Thank you too, and it was marvelous that the ICTR stood behind me in my time of need. My opinion is that the support I got from around world was significant in my release; and of course, you know that there have been assassinations and the lawyer who replaced me as Ingabire’s defense attorney was arrested and tortured, so I consider myself lucky.

[Twin City Daily Planet]

Defiant General Kagame always says “I don’t care“

Troubling contrasts

Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe was widely condemned for his repression against the opposition with the British Government leading the onslaught on Mugabe,
Saddam Hussein was overthrown by British American coalition for killing his own people,
Obiango Nguema of Equatorial Guinea is strongly criticised for his repressive system of government and President Bashir of Sudan is charged for genocide in Darfur.
On the other hand, the General Paul Kagame,
- who has openly used political violence as well as legal and administrative barriers against his critics including politicians and journalists;
- who chose to go to polls alongside his supporters to give a semblance of a contested election;
- who stands accused of having committed a terrorist act by ordering the shooting down a civilian plane killing two sitting heads of state on board hence triggering genocide in Rwanda,
- who is held to be largely responsible for the wars in the Democratic Republic of Congo which have cost an estimated 6 million lives while overseeing the plunder of the natural resources of the Congo,
that person remains the darling of the West with the British government leading the way and the US coming second in line of key supporters of the regime.

One explanation is that his ruthlessness makes him a good steward for international corporate interests, has very committed godfathers and pays well his PR firms.

Controversial elections

General Paul Kagame has been declared the winner of the 9th August elections by the Electoral commission, appointed by his ruling party RPF. He got a score of 93 % 6 points lower than his predecessor General Juvenal Habyarimana, whom he is alleged to have ordered the assassination, who scored 99% in 1988. His score also put him 2 points lower than Obiango Nguema of Equatorial Guinea (95. 4 in November 29, 2009 elections), whose regime is considered one of the most oppressive and undemocratic states in the world and only 6 points lower than President Kim Jung of North Korea who also scored 99, 99 % and 7 points lower than Saddam Hussein who scored 100% in 2002, one year before the Anglo-American invasion.
Like in Rwanda the elections were held in a very peaceful and orderly manner. However the elections in Rwanda are said to represent the will of the Rwandan people, the elections in those other counties are condemned by the West as undemocratic and not representing the will of the people.

All independent observers agree that the high score of Paul Kagame, like in all dictatorial regimes is due to repression, muzzling the media and ensuring that the real political contenders to powers are ruled out of the electoral process.

The regime set up administrative and legal barriers to block opposition political parties from registering and to prevent candidates from standing for the presidential elections.
FDU Inkingi, the main opposition party was not allowed to hold its congress and therefore not officially recognised. The chair of FDU Inkingi, Madame Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza, is still under house arrest, without freedom of movement following accusations of imaginary crimes.
The Green Party has not been registered either. It has been decapitated with the assassination on the 13th of July of its 1st Vice President Kagwa Rwisereka.
Bernard Ntaganda, President of the Socialist Party Imberakuri was put in jail.

Two newspapers, Umuvugizi and Umuseso critical of government were suspended and most its journalists forced into exile. One brave journalist who refused the advice of his colleagues to flee paid with his life. Rwanda was ranked 157th out of 179 countries in the 2009 Reporters without Borders press freedom index. This was the fourth lowest ranking in Africa, above only Eritrea, Somali and Equatorial Guinea.

One of his former close allies General Kayumba Nyamwasa who fled to South Africa, escaped assassination from those believed to be Rwanda government agents. South Africa has recalled its ambassador for consultation.

The difference between Paul Kagame and other dictators

The UK government is again leading in hailing the elections in Rwanda has �welcomed the peaceful and credibly administered Presidential Elections on 9 August. Rwanda has made huge strides since 1994 and these elections represent another important stage in the country�s development�

This time round the US has partied company with the UK through a State statement which rights pointed out: “Democracy is about more than holding elections,” read the statement.

“A democracy reflects the will of the people, where minority voices are heard and respected, where opposition candidates run on the issues without threat or intimidation, where freedom of expression and freedom of the press are protected.”

As Robert Krueger who served as a U.S. congressman, senator, ambassador at large for Mexican affairs, ambassador to Burundi and later Botswana.The Paul Kagame I Know �makes a poignant reflection on the elections; �Many corporate leaders and economists will be pleased that the government of a Central African country claiming the fastest economic growth in its region has won again. Only justice, democracy, and the silent and terrified majority of the Rwandan population will have lost�

Paul Kagame has money to pay the best Public Relations Firms in London. Thus the success of PR Racepoint in selling Rwanda image has greatly improved its lucrative business and has extended its services to other governments notorious for their bad human rights record.

Above all Paul Kagame counts heavily on the connection, public image and advice of members of the Presidential Council who last met in March this year. The council was composed of the following people:

Kagame and members of his Presidential Advisory Council (PAC)

1. Sir Tom Hunter � Scottish entrepreneur, philanthropist, co-founder Clinton-Hunter Development Initiative
2. Dr. Donald Kaberuka � President of the African Development Bank Group, former Minister of Finance, Rwanda
3. Dr. Clet Niyikiza � GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) Vice President of Worldwide Research & Development
4. Kaia Miller � founder of Aslan Global, Inc.
5. Joe Ritchie � Rwanda�s Honorary Consul in Chicago, founder Fox River Financial Resources, Inc and CEO of Rwanda Development Board.
6. Michael Roux � Rwanda�s Honorary Consul General in Australia, Chairman, Asian Markets, KPMG; Roux International Pty Ltd; RI Group;
7. Bishop John Rucyahana � Retired ex-Bishop of Shyira Diocese of Rwanda
8. Tribert Rujugiro Ayabatwa � Rwandan Entrepreneur, Board President of Rwanda Investment and Export Promotion Agency
9. Dr. Eliane Ubalijoro � Assistant Professor at McGill University, Canada
10. Pastor Rick Warren � Religious leader, founder Saddleback Church, and PEACE Plan.
11. Prof. Michael Porter is also a member of PAC though he did not attend the launch.
12. Tony Blair, former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.
13. Bel Dowson
14. James Musoni, Rwanda�s minister of Finance
15. Rosemary Museminari, Rwanda�s Foreign Affairs minister ( now replaced by Louise Mushikiwabo)
16. Gatare Francis, new Personal Representative of President Kagame to the NEPAD Steering Committee
17. Himbara David, Private Secretary to President Kagame
18. Kanimba Fran�ois. Governor, Rwanda National Bank
19. Michael Fairbank, Chairman Emeritus and founder of The OTF Group, a software and strategy consulting firm based in USA.

The group is responsible for offering strategic advice and guidance to the Rwandan Dictator General Paul Kagame, while the PR firms rewrite the history of Rwanda to give a moral justification to their enterprise. The council was officially launched in Kigali PAC on September 26, 2007 and is reported to be meeting in April and in September every year.

Paul Kagame backers must be happy with General Kagame’s assessment of Rwandans namely that they are so backward and not rational enough to be trusted with exercising their vote when faced with choosing between two or more opposed political programmes. It is left to Paul Kagame and his Party to decide when the Rwandan people can pass the test of using their vote rationally without being supervised. For the moment what Rwandans need is to fill their plates: stomach first and democracy thereafter.

This was made clear in his speech on the 16th anniversary of genocide against Tutsi in Rwanda; Paul Kagame talked straight to western backers in telling them: �Some of these who give us lessons have been on a journey of thousands of years to democracy and they want to wake up one morning and distort our situation�

One of the advisors of Kagame, former Prime Minister of Britain Tony Blair seems to have backed down on his statement to the US Congress on the 18th of July 2003 and bowed to the wise assessment of Paul Kagame. Blair had stated in regard to the invasion of Iraq:

�Ours are not Western values. They are the universal values of the human spirit and anywhere, anytime, ordinary people are given the chance to choose, the choice is the same. Freedom not tyranny. Democracy not dictatorship. The rule of law not the rule of the secret police�. Strangely the statement does not apply to Rwandans.

However Blair throws a challenge to the rest of Rwandans, who are not part of the selected few in charge of their emancipation, setting out values worth fighting for:

1. Freedom to earn a living and be rewarded by your own efforts.
2. Freedom not to bend your knee to any man in fear.
3. Freedom to be you so long as being you does not impair the freedom of others.

If Paul Kagame does not give a damn to being criticized for tyranny instead of freedom, dictatorship instead of democracy, police state instead of the rule of law and is backed by the international community and big business interests, it is indeed up to Rwandans to decide if they merit enjoying the freedoms set by Blair and if they are worth fights for. I don�t encourage the same methods used in Iraq that are destroying the country but rather carrying out the struggle using non violent means.

Montreal – Canada has �expressed real concern� over political unrest which broke out during the presidential poll held on 9 August in Rwanda, according to a press release received at APA on Saturday.

Canada is concerned about the fact that the political violence which occurred before the election is still going on.

�Canada is worried about the political climate which prevailed during the election and is still going on, as well as the number of violent incidents so far. Worrying reports indicate intimidation on political opponents and pressure exerted on the media,� said the Canadian Foreign minister, Lawrence Cannon.

The Canadian authorities further expressed concern about grenade attacks and shootings which were reported on Thursday in Kigali. We request Rwandan authorities to shed light on these events in a fair manner, in a bid to promote fairness and accountability,� added Mr. Cannon.

While commending the participation of the Rwandan people in the presidential election which shows �a real aspiration to democratic development for the country,� Canada urges the Rwandan government to �enforce the right of association and the freedom of the press which are fundamental to democratic development over the post-electoral period.�
APA-Montreal (Canada)

[African Press Agency]

The United States expressed concern on Friday about “disturbing events” surrounding this week’s presidential election in Rwanda in which incumbent Paul Kagame drew 93 percent of the votes.

The White House National Security Council said in a statement that progress has been in Rwanda since the 1994 genocide of 800,000 ethnic Tutsis and moderate Hutus.

“We remain concerned, however, about a series of disturbing events prior to the election, including the suspension of two newspapers, the expulsion of a human rights researcher, the barring of two opposition parties from taking part in the election, and the arrest of journalists,” National Security Council spokesman Mike Hammer said in a statement.

The land-locked African country’s stability and prosperity will be difficult to sustain without broad political debate and open political participation, Hammer said.

Critics say the Rwandan election campaign was marred by government repression. Human rights groups pointed to mounting violence during the run-up to the election after the fatal shooting of a local journalist and the killing of an opposition official who was found nearly beheaded in July. The government denied involvement.

“Democracy is about more than holding elections,” Hammer added. “A democracy reflects the will of the people, where minority voices are heard and respected, where opposition candidates run on the issues without threat or intimidation, where freedom of expression and freedom of the press are protected.”

The White House statement does not congratulate Kagame for his re-election in Monday’s voting.

Kagame’s nearest rival, Jean Damascene Ntawukuliryayo of the Social Democratic Party, won 5 percent of the vote, according to final election results released on Wednesday.

“We have expressed our concerns to the government of Rwanda, and we hope the leadership will take steps toward more democratic governance, increased respect for minority and opposition views, and continued peace,” Hammer said.

[Reuters]

General Kagame:
“I should not be over-praised!”

President elect, Paul Kagame, on Tuesday evening, appeared on Contact FM�s radio talk show- Rwanda Decides, hosted by, Andrew Mwenda. He spoke on a wide range of issues including: RPF�s huge victory, democracy, succession, the need for public debate, Rwanda-South Africa relations. Below are excerpts:

You have won the election by 93 % and that is an unprecedented figure Mr. President. People who have been following elections, your critics will say look, such percentage can only be achieved in countries like Egypt or Iraq. That Kagame can arrange election and win by that percentage means that it was stage-managed and not genuine.

It happens here and to me it has to do with our context. One has to look at where we are coming from. Sixteen years ago, nothing existed and there were no institutions to talk about. There was nothing absolutely. We had to build everything from scratch. Not only building from the scratch but also to ensure that people have security, peace. People were in despair. We have brought value to the people and they identify with us.

But there has been a serious concern within the International Media, especially ahead of election. The media says, Kagame created an atmosphere of fear in the country. A leading politician was killed, a journalist murdered and some opposition leaders were blocked from registration and those allowed to compete were your allies.

It�s not easy to do that and still get huge support. These are stories people create-that there is no democracy in Rwanda. For example, the killers of the journalist admitted to the crime, their gun was found. Police arrested the suspects; the killers even give reasons why they killed the journalist. It was revenge.

The story is out there but reporters, mainly those with issues with Kagame [and] Rwanda, they ignore the fact that police arrested the suspects. They only want to create the stories they want.

Let us come to the politician who was killed. The Green Party politician. The International media has said this was a powerful politician. First the government refused to register his party because you feared him.

I didn�t know this man until he was killed. He was not known at all. He was not even known in his home town of Butare. But the media will always want to say what they want, that this was a powerful politician and obviously Kagame feared him.

Have you arrested the killers of this politician?

Yes, police have arrested some suspects

Why did you refuse to register Green Party?

There is a process to register parties. You need 200 supporters who form a General Assembly, then present their documents to the notary office. And after this, you go to the Ministry of Local Government, [and the minister] brings the matter to the Cabinet. After this, then registration follows.

The Green party didn�t do this. They kept fighting themselves. At one point, they went to Kampala and while there, one [of their members] talked bad things about Rwanda. Later, some members didn�t agree with him because of what he said in Kampala. It�s not true that we refused to register Green Party; actually, the Ministry of Local Government tried to help.

So you don�t fear Green Party?

They would not challenge anybody at all. None at all.

I followed the campaigns and I was amazed to see the huge turn up of the supporters everywhere you went. Let me ask you Mr President, were these people attending willingly or they were coerced to attend your rallies?

I have no doubt absolutely that these people attended willingly. Our people are honest, genuine and I want to say that those who think otherwise are mistaken.

Mr. President, would you say that in 2010, things have changed, that people have forgotten about the past, that people no longer look at themselves in terms of ethnicity. And that Kagame is a good leader and we identify with him and love him.

One would be making a serious mistake to ignore the amount of political maturity now. You know political leadership is very important. Leaders killed our people in the past and caused the genocide.

And the leadership that values people creates a new nation of Rwanda. We stopped the genocide. People will support you. You cannot bring people at gun point to attend your rally and go back singing, wake up early in the morning and attend to their work

Do you consider yourself as an achiever?

I should not be over-praised because I would not have achieved these things without the massive support of Rwandans. You cannot do things alone; you need people to be behind your back. You can be a good General but when you don�t have supporters of soldiers, you cannot do much. We have been able to achieve a lot because of the support of Rwandans.

Mr President, one of the many questions that keep coming up is about when the teachers will have salary increment. When will this be?

We want everybody to access education and we want quality education. In order to achieve this, we need to invest in education. And to get good results, you need good teachers to provide quality education. You need to train them and after this, obviously, we shall remunerate them well. The thing is that if they are not remunerated well, they cannot do well and this is one of the many things we are going to do.

You can only do what you can basing on the resources you have. So, we shall look at our capacity, because we try to avoid a situation where you promise yet you don�t have enough resources, otherwise, other people will rise other issues, you know doctors will say we also save lives of people.

We appreciate so much the work of teachers, there is no doubt about this. We have been able to put money in the banks and teachers can now get loans. Here teachers will come, get loans and be able to do some investments.

South Africa recently recalled its ambassador. What have you done to them now and are you not worried that you are losing a very strategic partner?

We have had excellent relationship with South Africa and we want to keep it. The issue causing this problem is about the two dissidents Kayumba Nyamwasa and Patrick Karegeya. I am told they are seeking refugee status there.

We have raised the issue with South Africa that we want to try these people. And our country wants to hold them accountable. We have given SA all information about their cases here. Even the information of what they have been involved in after they left. But to them the issue is about the shooting of General Nyamwasa in SA recently. But for us we think the issue is much bigger.

When the President of SA went to Uganda, a journalist asked him the possibility of the dissidents� extradition and the President said SA will respect International laws or obligation.

Even after they left Rwanda, they have been involved in activities aimed at creating security problems here. They should not continue to use this status to attack us. They were linked with groups throwing grenades. We have evidence against them. If they want to give them refugee status, they should not use this to attack us.

What would you consider as the role of the media in this political dispensation. Do you for example agree with the liberal view that the media should act as a market place, where ideas are debated Or you consider the media basically to be an institution just to promote government programs and ideas with limited questions?

I think I take the liberal view where the media is allowed to operate freely. And do what they can do freely but also be mindful about what they are doing and not to harm the society. They should not be harmed by those who are not happy with what they are doing. They should be allowed to criticize but the criticism should be constructive for our development and not harm any member of the society.

The contentious one is about succession. The constitution allows you only two terms and this is your last term. In Africa, we have known presidents that when the last term is about to end, their minds start changing. Even if you don�t want, what if RPF says we want you to stay. Are we going to see you amending the constitution?

Personally, I don�t want to get involved in the change of the Constitution and stay into power. I don�t intend to do that. When we took power in 1994, they wanted me to become the president and I was almost the automatic candidate but I refused and somebody else become President for six years. They had no quarrel with that.

I am saying this clearly and for me, one of the things I am looking at is that a debate should come up about this so that I can state my position. It does not mean that it has to be initiated by RPF, it can come from other people. I cannot amend the Constitution for the support of staying into power. For me to stay into power for two terms and fail to raise somebody who can take over, may be I can share that blame.

by Ambrose Nzeyimana
on Wednesday, August 11, 2010.

Victoire Ingabire, a Rwandan opposition leader, just survived a car accident a moment ago, a day after a Rwandan minister claimed ‘if Victoire Ingabire dies in a car accident, don’t blame the government.’

It’s 8.30 pm London time. Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza, the leader of FDU-Inkingi has just escaped an attempt of murder in Kigali a moment ago.

‘Victoire Ingabire has just survived a car accident a few minutes ago,’ says her friend.

Someone who couldn’t believe the news questioned the source:’really? a few minutes from now precisely 38 the friend said that if Ingabire died it would have been by car accident and now it happens! How accurate is that?’

Another interlocutor in their conversation wonders about a report in the news saying that if Ingabire was to have a car accident people would maybe question that it wasn’t an accident. The surprise is only that what was predicted, this time it is not an accident but should now be considered as premeditated murder. The timing of the report and the accident appear suspect. You win elections and keep on silencing the critical voices.

‘She just told me. I am only confirming the news. Those involved are injured, but people in her car are not. The car is a bit damaged. It just happened near her home,’ reports Ingabire’s friend.

At the question from someone who asked if there was any collision Ingabire’s friend explained that they knocked her car from behind.

This is interesting and scary. Mrs Victoire Ingabire, a Rwandan opposition leader, just survived a car accident a moment ago, a day after a Rwandan minister claimed ‘if Victoire Ingabire dies in a car accident, don’t blame the government.’

Can the celebrations of the elections’ victory continue? Will the endorsements of the elect President continue?

On the contrary of James Bond movies where villains are brought down, in Rwanda the community international is celebrating them.

Ambrose Nzeyimana
Africanist and Human rights activist

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by Frank Habineza.

Rwandan Minister Claims Car Accident Killed Green Party Vice President! This should stop immediately, it is a naked lie.

The Democratic Green Party of Rwanda is so much alarmed and disturbed by the recent statements from the Rwandan Minister of Education, Dr. Charles MURIGANDE, made on ARTE Television, based in Germany and also viewed in France, Netherlands, Swiss, Belgium and many other European countries. It can be accessed on : Rwanda : sous les urnes, la chasse aux sorci�res.

The Minister claimed that our First Vice President died in a car accident. This is completely wrong and misleading. It never happened. He was murdered and decapitated (his head was almost removed from his body), we have the photos to prove that and ARTE Television has also shown these photos. We also dressed him up in Butare hospital mortuary before the burial. Everyone knows what happened. A high ranking Government official should stop making such baseless claims.

The First Vice President went missing on 13th July 2010. His car was dumped in a wetland of river Mukula, about 3 Kms away from Butare town-Southern Rwanda. The car was not damaged, the National police managed to drive it to police headquarters in Butare. The Founding President of the party Frank HABINEZA, got permission to view the car. Inside the car, police had found in his house keys, national identity card, drivers license and of course the car key.

On 14th July 2010, his body was found almost 2 Kms away from the place his car was dumped. It was in a walking distance to the National University of Rwanda. Several eye witnesses visited this place including people from the BBC and Human Rights Watch. The Minister should stop misleading the ongoing investigations. He should consult with the National Police which has a copy of the Autopsy report.

We call upon the Rwandan Government to quicken these investigations and bring to justice these criminals. We also call upon the International community to urgently consider our request for an independent inquiry. This will help a lot in establishing the real causes and motives behind the death of our Vice President.

The absence of a thorough investigation into the death of our First Vice President will remain a stumbling block to the democratic process and economic development of Rwanda. It would continue to spread a spirit of fear in the Rwandan community.

Now that the Presidential elections are over, we need to have sustainable peace and sustainable development ; we need to solve all these pending problems in order to properly move forward. The election was conducted in such a way that many Rwandans were covered in a big blanket of fear. The absence of the real opposition in the elections remains a fundamental concern that the Government of Rwanda should not attempt to ignore. The International Community should not abandon the people of Rwanda in this very hour of great need.

Issued on 11th August 2010

Frank HABINEZA
Founding President
Democratic Green Party of Rwanda
Immediate contact : +4915129025311

by Victoire Ingabire, FDU-Inkingi.

“Endorsing the results of this masquerade would be to reward violence as means to access and maintain power in Rwanda.”
Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza
Chair of FDU Inkingi.

No legitimacy to shame results of sham elections.

Endorsing the results of this masquerade would be to reward violence as means to access and maintain power in Rwanda. This will be a slap in the face of the democratic forces that we represent in our efforts to convince Rwandans and the youth in particular that peaceful and democratic competition is possible in Rwanda.

Rwandans will lose all confidence in the international community and in the democratic process.

We consider the present administration as lacking political legitimacy as they did not get a proper mandate of the people received through a free fair and transparent process of electing their leader.

We urge the international community, the bilateral partners and Donors to reject the sham electoral process and its outcome and to put pressure on the Rwandan Government to organise new free, fair and transparent polls.

Mrs. Victoire INGABIRE UMUHOZA
FDU INKINGI
Chair.