'Climax of Violence Must Come to an End', Demands Rwandan Opposition (GRAPHIC PHOTOS)

Alysha Atma Salem-News.com African Affairs Correspondent

The assassination of a Vice Presidential candidate and growing unrest, lead to less patience over unmet demands.

Vice President Mr. Andre Kagwa Rwisereka Courtesy: globalgreens.org. Also note; each waving flag leads to the Website for the respective political parties.

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - Members of the Democratic Green Party (DGP) confirmed for Salem-News.com that on July 15th 2010, the National Police Spokesperson, Sup. Eric Kayiranga made known the arrest of Thomas Ntivuguruzwa.

Graphic Andre Kagwa Rwisereka
autopsy photos. Full size images:

He is the last known person to have contact with First Vice President Mr. Andre Kagwa Rwisereka.

“The DGP welcomes the National Police’s efforts and hopes that this suspect will not divert the police investigations but lead us to the killers of our Vice President and their real motives”.

The First Vice President went into political exile in the early 1960’s, living in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Here, he obtained a degree in Education and became one of the senior members of the ruling Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF).

He is strongly recognized for his efforts to liberate Rwanda. Later, as a prominent businessman in Butare town, he was among the founding members of the DGPR in Kigali.

The First Vice President went missing July 13th, 2010, he was then found dead the following day with his head almost completely severed. He is survived by four children.

A spokesperson for the Permanent Consultative Council of opposition parties in Rwanda (PCC), expressed deep concern and shock by the death of the First Vice President, 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 and the murder of the journalist Jean-Léonard Rugambe and all other allegations of tortures or death threats to opposition members”.

Every week the list of the assassinated and exiled continues to grow, blacklisting of media and the oppression of political members have steadily risen incessantly.
June 24th, 2010 Mr. Jean-Léonard Rugamage, Rwandan Editor of Umuvugizi Newspaper, shot dead in front of his home. Opposition members arrested, mistreated and tortured; Mr. Andre Kagwa Rwisereka.

June 21st, 2010, Gisenyi, Northern Rwanda of Denis Ntare Semadwinga, former Chief of Staff to General Laurent Nkunda; assassinated.

June 19th, 2010, Johannesburg, a Rwandan former Army Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Kayumba Nyawasa survived an assassination attempt.

June 13th, 2010, Sibomana Rusagwa Amiable Private Secretary for the Founder President of PS Imberakuri, was reported missing whereabouts are still unknown.

Umuseso and Umuvugizi, two local newspapers have been suspended while all the editing team of Umurabyo newspaper are now in police custody.

With only weeks before the presidential elections, the Rwandan opposition is facing overwhelming concerns.

The founding President of PS (Social Party) Imberakuri is currently in a Kigali maximum prison for politically motivated crimes. Most of his colleagues were also arrested and then released on bail, revealing to the told court and prosecution that they had been tortured while in detention.

The DGP has been prevented from registering several times, its most recent attempt on June 4th 2010 never received response from Gasabo District. The request to the Ministry of Local Government in charge of political parties was asked to intervene though a response has never been met. “DGP continues to request for participation and hopes still that the Government will respond positively to our earlier requests”.

The Fdu Inkingi is not yet registered, facing a very 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 also has tried several times to register but continues to be denied participation.

In a statement issued earlier in the week, Mrs. Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza, stated:

“We call upon the Government of Rwanda to use all means possible to ensure that there is peace and tranquility in Rwanda, especially before and after the August Presidential elections. We also call upon the Rwandan Government to allow the opposition parties the ability to register and work freely, release Maitre Bernard Ntagnda of PS Imberakuri and waive all criminal charges leveled against opposition members”.

Joining the appeal of the opposition members, Former Prime Minster Faustin Twagiramungu is adamant in demanding answers and clarification from the Rwandan government. Mr. Twagiramungu reiterates already declared cries for the International Community to change its complacent attitude; he requests the European Union and to the United States of America to end their support of the Kigali regime.

In doing so to freeze the intended 5.3 million Euros granted to the Rwandan Electoral Commission and the withdrawl of the Presidential Advisory Council, PAC. Whose members include former British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, the powerful American Pastor Rick Warren of Saddleback Church, Dr. Cletus Niyikiza of GlaxonSmithKline (Vice President of Worldwide Research & Development) of Rwandan origin, and Dr. Liliane Ubarijoro, Professor at the prestigious McGill University in Canada, also of Rwandan origin.

“The murder of the Vice President of the Green Party of Rwanda, Mr. André Kagwa Rwisereka, is yet another proof that General Kagame’s regime has definitely reached the point of no return in its political repression. I am personally appalled by this murder and wish to pay my last tribute to that martyr of democracy, extending my sincere and deepest sympathy to his family. All my condolences are also aimed to the Chairman of the party Mr. Frank Habineza, all members and party activists, and all youth partaking in opposition to General Paul Kagame’s dictatorship. You have my full support in this heroic struggle inside the country, which undoubtedly will lead to final victory.
“I unreservedly condemn this despicable and cowardly act that reminds us of the violence that prevailed in Rwanda in 1993 and 1994, violence that was a prelude to the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi and opponents of President Juvenal Habyarimana’s regime. At the same time I also condemn the arbitrary arrest of journalist Sayidat Mukakibibi of Umurabyo newspaper who joined in prison the Managing Editor of the newspaper, Ms Agnes Uwimana Nkunsi I reiterate my appeal to all my compatriots to refrain from the electoral farce scheduled for August 9, 2010. I urge them to stay in their homes as their only peaceful means to express their rejection of the dictatorial regime of Paul Kagame”. -
Faustin Twagiramungu

Sources:

Faustin Twagiramungu, Former Prime Minister

Democratic Green Party of Rwanda – Frank Habineza

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Alysha Atma spends many hours working on projects that support and benefit the beleaguered people of African nations who spend way too much time off the western media's radar. This writer explains that she is a culmination of all her experiences, most importantly knowledge she says, and all that she still needs to learn; lessons of love, laughter and the extraordinary giving of both young and old. She says she has the enormous fortune of learning from the best; every person around her, and the amazing strength and fortitude of those she has never met but will always strive to listen to. "I continue to work and write because I believe in the power of community and the power of one, both contradictory to each other and yet can move together in a very powerful way. I feel a responsibility to use my place, freedoms and connections here in the US to stand up and yell for those who need my voice and actions. I have seen such strength in my fellow humans that I cannot even begin to comprehend, they have traveled distances, have gone without food, water, shelter and safety for days and weeks at a time. I have a responsibility as a fellow human to put our common humanity before anything else. Everyone deserves to look towards tomorrow, to dream of a safe future and to have a peaceful present." You can write to Alysha Atma at: alyshann78@comcast.net

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Thursday, July 22, 2010