Category Archives: Politique

Twizihize Isabukuru y’ubwigenge duharanira kwitorera abayobozi batunyuze mu 2017

TWIZIHIZE ISABUKURU Y’UBWIGENGE BW’ U RWANDA DUHARANIRA KWITORERA ABAYOBOZI BATUNYUZE MU 2017.

1.Birakwiye kandi biratunganye kwizihizanya ishema ryinshi isabukuru y’Ubwigenge bw’U Rwanda ku ncuro ya 54. Buri munyarwanda wese, aho ari hose ,akwiye rwose kwerekeza umutima ku mateka y’igihugu cye, akibuka uko cyavuye mu maboko y’Umukoloni, kigahabwa ijambo mu ruhando rw’amahanga, akibukana icyubahiro kandi akishimira Abalideri bitanze ngo ubwigenge bw’u Rwanda bugerweho barimo Nyaguhorayibukwa Gregoire KAYIBANDA na bagenzi be.

2.Ukwigenga k’u Rwanda si amateka akwiye gucamo Abanyarwanda ibice. Utazi aho yavuye ntamenya aho ageze n’aho yerekera. Uwiha guhinyura ubwigenge bw’u Rwanda cyangwa kubunenga ari mu ruhande rw’ikinyoma. Ukutigenga k’u Rwanda nta wundi kwari gufitiye inyungu uretse Umukoloni na gashakabuhake.

Ku isabukuru nziza nk’iyi birakwiye kwibukiranya ibihe by’ingenzi cyane by’amateka yacu tutagomba kwibagirwa.

3.Nyuma y’Italiki ya mbere Nyakanga 1962, abategetsi ba Repubulika ya mbere n’iyakabiri bakoze uko bashoboye bubaka ibikorwa byinshi by’iterambere ryafashije abaturage mu buryo bwinshi: amashuri,amavuriro, imihanda, amazi meza, amashanyarazi, amasoko, ibibuga by’indege, amazu y’ubuyobozi, n’ibindi. Kubihakana ni ukwirengagiza nkana amateka y’u Rwanda.

4.Kuva ku munsi w’ubwigenge kugera mu 1990, abayobozi b’igihugu cyacu bakoze n’amakosa atari make kandi akomeye yaje kugira ingaruka zikomeye mu gusenya ibyiza bari bararushye bubaka. By’umwihariko ntibashoboye gukumira no guhashya burundu amacakubiri ashingiye ku irondakoko n’irondakarere yabangamiye cyane ukwishyira n’ukwizana kwa bamwe mu benegihugu. Kubyirengagiza byasa no guhingira ku rwiri.

5.Naho guhera taliki ya 1/10/1990 igihugu cyinjiye mu ntambara y’amasasu isenya kandi ikica yatangijwe ku mugaragaro n’Ishyaka FPR-INKOTANYI. Guhera uwo munsi ntitwahwemye kwicirwa abacu no gusenyerwa ibyiza by’iterambere. Jenoside, itsembatsemba. ….byatutumazeho abantu hasigara « imfungwa, imfubyi n’amatongo « !

6.Nyuma ya Nyakanga 1994 , FPR yifatiye ubutegetsi bwose, iyoboresha igitugu n’iterabwoba rikaze, yibagiza Abanyarwanda igisobanuro cy’ubwigenge baronse taliki ya 1 Nyakanga 1962 n’ukwisanzura kwa buri munyarwanda kwari ngombwa.

7.Hari ibikorwa by’iterambere bitari bike FPR yubatse muri iyi myaka 21 imaze ku butegetsi. Kutabyemera ni ukwigiza nkana cyangwa kwitiranya ibibazo.Ikibazo nyamukuru si ibikorwa byiza biriho kandi bigaragara, ikibazo ni ukumenya neza uwo bifitiye akamaro, no kumenya niba bizaramba!

8.Kuri iyi Sabukuru ngarukamwaka y’ubwigenge bw’u Rwanda, biragaragara kandi ko ikibazo cy’amacakubiri ashingiye ku irondakoko n’irondakarere ntaho cyagiye. Leta ya FPR-INKOTANYI ntiyashoboye kuyakumira no kuyarandura burundu. AHUBWO ndetse bigaragarira bose ko Ubutegetsi bw’igitugu bwa FPR bwakomeje kuyacirira, kuyahembera no kuyongerera ubukana. Ibyemezo byinshi bifatwa n’ubutegetsi bikitwa « Gahunda za Leta » nibyo bishyidika icyo kibazo.

9.Ishyaka ISHEMA ry’u Rwanda rirahamagarira Abanyarwanda cyane cyane urubyiruko kutibagirwa ko ubwigenge bw’igihugu(Independence) n’ « Ukwishyira ukizana kwa buri mwenegihugu (Freedom) arizo ndangagaciro zisumba izindi zituma abaturage bashobora kubana mu gihugu kimwe, bareshya kandi batekanye. Bityo rero ubutegetsi bwose bwimika ubusumbane, ivangura n’iterabwoba bukaba budashobora kugeza igihugu ku iterambere rirambye kandi risangiwe.

10.Aho niho Ishyaka ISHEMA ry’u Rwanda rihera ryemeza ko igihugu cyacu gikeneye Abalideri bashya( Nouvelle Génération) , batagize uruhare mu byaha bikomeye byasenye u Rwanda, cyane cyane ibyaha byo kumena amaraso no gusahura umutungo w’igihugu.

11.Turasaba Abanyarwanda bose kwizihiza Isabukuru y’ubwigenge baharanira mu buryo bwose bushoboka KUZITABIRA amatora ateganyijwe mu 2017 na 2018, bityo bakazitorera Umukuru w’igihugu ndetse n’Intumwa za rubanda zitaboshywe n’imyumvire ishaje yo gutegekesha iterabwoba, ikinyoma no gukubira ibyiza byose by’igihugu mu maboko y’Udutsiko duheeza abandi benegihugu, bagahindurwa Abagereerwa n’Inkomamashyi mu gihugu cyabo. Rubanda igomba kandi kwitegura bihagije kuzarengera amajwi yatanze mu gihe hagira ubagaruraho ka kageso ka « TORA AHA » cyangwa ako kwiba amajwi.

12. Niyo mpamvu twafashe icyemezo cyo gufata inzira tugatahuka mu Rwatubyaye bitarenze ukwezi k’Ugushyingo (11) 2016 kugira ngo dufatanye n’Abanyarwanda bari mu gihugu muri iyo gahunda nziza yo » Kwunga abenegihugu kugira ngo dufatanye kwiyubakira U Rwanda-Moderne « (TOGETHER TO MODERNIZE RWANDA).

13. Turarikiye Abanyarwanda batuye mu gihugu cy’Ububiligi kuzitabira Igiterane kidasanzwe cyo kubasezeraho tuzakora ku cyumweru taliki ya 31 Nyakanga 2016. Icyo giterane kizabera mu mujyi wa Buruseli, icyumba tuzahuriramo muzakimenyeshwa bidatinze.

14. Twifurije umunsi mwiza umunyarwanda wese, ari uri mu gihugu cyangwa hanze hacyo, ari ufashwe neza n’ubutegetsi buriho cyangwa uwo bwagize nyagupfa, …iyi sabukuru y’ubwigenge ibabere UMUNSI W’AMIZERO : Dore impinduka ngiyi yaje kandi nta kigishoboye kuyisubiza inyuma.

Uwemera nahaguruke aze dufatanye urugendo.

Harakabaho u Rwanda rwigenga
Harahakabaho Abanyarwanda batewe ishema no guharanira ukwishyira ukizaza kwa buri mwenegihugu.

Padiri Thomas Nahimana,
Umuyobozi w’Ishema Party
Umukandida wa Opozisiyo mu matora y’umukuru w’igihugu yo mu 2017

ITANGAZO: ISHYAKA ISHEMA RY’U RWANDA RIRAMAGANA POLITIKI Y’ ICURAMATIKU Y’ISHYAKA PSD.

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Dr Visenti Biruta, umukuru wa PSD arasabwa kwihanangiriza Visi Perezida w’ishyaka ryabo.

Nyuma yo kwitegereza neza imikorere ishaje ishingiye kuri politiki yo gucura amatiku, kugambana, gusebanya no kwiyoberanya y’ishyaka PSD nk’uko bigaragazwa n’ibikorwa bya Visi Perezida waryo, Bwana Olivier NDUHUNGIREHE, Komite Nyobozi y’Ishyaka ISHEMA ry’u Rwanda yifuje gutangariza rubanda ibi bikurikira:

1.Abanyarwanda benshi bashobora kwibuka uko Ishyaka ISHEMA ry’u Rwanda ryatangiye taliki ya 28 Mutarama 2013, n’Indangacaciro zihanitse ryahisemo kubakiraho.

2.Ntawe uribagirwa ko kuva mu ntangiriro, Ishyaka ISHEMA ry’ u Rwanda ryerekanye ubushake bwo guca ukubiri na «politiki ishaje» ubwo ryemezaga ku mugaragaro ko ridakeneye kubakira inzego z’ubuyobozi bwaryo ku bantu bafite «ibiganza bijejeta amaraso».

3.Muri urwo rwego, abayobozi bose b’Ishyaka ISHEMA, guhera ku Makipe kugera kuri Komite Nyobozi, batoranyijwe hashingiwe ku kuba bafite «ibiganza byera» ku bibazo by’ingenzi byasenye igihugu cyacu cyane cyane jenoside yakorewe Abatutsi n’ubundi bwicanyi bwarimbuye abenegihugu batagira ingano.

4.Ibwiriza risobanutse kandi rizwi neza n’abayobozi bose b’ISHEMA ry’u Rwanda ni uko uwagaragarwaho n’icyaha cyo kugira uruhare muri jenoside yakorewe Abatutsi cyangwa mu bwicanyi ubwo aribwo bwose agomba «kwamburwa inshingano». Nguwo umwihariko w’ Ishyaka ry’Abataripfana.

5.Bityo rero, turamagana imikorere mibisha n’imyitwarire ya gicancuro y’umugabo witwa NDUHUNGIREHE Olivier, Visi Perezida wa PSD, udatinya gukoresha umuyoboke w’ Ishyaka rya PSD, Bwana HABIMANA Come wahinduye izina akiyita Benoit UWIMANA wigeze gutoranyirizwa kuyobora ikipe imwe y’Ishyaka ISHEMA i Buruseli. Bwana NDUHUNGIREHE ari muri gahunda yo gushuka rubanda mu kwerekana ko bwana HABIMANA Come ari umuntu w’intangarugero n’umuvugizi w’ishyaka ISHEMA atabanje kwiga ngo asobanukirwe imvo n’imvano yo kuba uwo muntu yarakuwe mu nzego z’ubuyobozi bw’ Ishyaka.

6.Koko rero Ishyaka PSD rishobora kwinjiza mu nzego zaryo abo rishatse bose rititaye ku bweramutima bwabo ariko nirimenye ko nta shyaka rikorera mu rindi. Nta jambo na rito abayobozi ba PSD bafite ku Ishyaka ISHEMA ry’u Rwanda, kereka niba umurongo mushya wa politiki bihaye ari « uguharabika» Ishyaka ry’Abataripfana.

7.Muri urwo rwego, turasanga ibikorwa Bwana NDUHUNGIREHE Olivier, Visi Perezida wa PSD, ahugiyemo byo « kwitwikira Ambasade y’u Rwanda iri i Buruseli », agacura kandi agakwirakwiza, mu bitangazamakuru no ku mbuga nkoranyambaga amavidewo «atekinitse» yuzuye ibinyoma bigamije kudusebya no kutugambanira, bikwiye gufatwa nk’ibikorwa by’ubushotoranyi n’igitero tugabweho n’Ishyaka PSD.

8.Turasaba Perezida wa PSD, Bwana Vincent BIRUTA, gutanga ibisobanuro bikwiye, Abanyarwanda bakamenya neza niba koko amatiku NDUHUNGIREHE ahugiyemo ari ubutumwa yahawe n’Ishyaka rya PSD.

9.Twongeye kandi kwizeza Abanyarwanda ko Ubushotoranyi bwa Nduhungirehe n’Ishyaka PSD bitazaturangaza cyangwa ngo bitubuze gusohoza inshingano twihaye yo gusanga Abanyarwanda bari mu gihugu ngo dufatanye kwimakaza politiki nshya yubakiye ku ndagagaciro z’UKURI, UBUTWARI N’UGUSARANGANYA ibyiza by’igihugu.

Harakabaho Repubulika y’u Rwanda,
Harakabaho Demokarasi
Harakabaho ISHEMA ry’u Rwanda.

Chaste GAHUNDE, Umunyamabanga Nshingwabikorwa,
ISHEMA .

ADELAIDE: Padiri Thomas Nahimana mu ruzinduko rwo gusezera abo muri Australia mbere yo kujya gukorera politiki mu Rwanda .

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Nk’uko ubuyobozi bw’ Ishyaka ISHEMA ry’u Rwanda bwabitangaje nk’umwe mu myanzuro ya Kongere yabereye i Buruseli kuva taliki ya 15 kugeza ku ya 17 Mutarama 2016, gahunda yo kujya gukorera politiki mu Rwanda no kwitabira amatora yo mu 2017 na 2018 ntikuka. Niyo mpamvu Padiri Thomas NAHIMANA, Umukandida w’Ishyaka Ishema n’a Nouvelle Génération atangiye ingendo zo gusezera , ubu rero akaba yarangije gusesekara mu gihugu cya Australia.

Hateganyijwe ko agomba kuganira n’Abanyarwanda, Abarundi n’Abanyekongo kuri ubu buryo bukurikira :

I. Kuri uyu wa Gatanu taliki ya 29/04/2016 , guhera saa kumi n’imwe z’umugoroba kugera saa tatu z’ijoro ( 17h-21h) azaganira n’abatuye ADELAIDE.

Icyumba bazahuriramo kiri muri:

Mawson Lakes Hotel &Function Centre

10 Main Street,

Mawson Lakes, SA 5095

II. Ku wa Gatandatu taliki ya 30/04/2016 , azaganira n’abatuye MELBOURNE, guhera saa kumi n’ebyiri z’umugoroba. ICYUMBA tuzahuriramo muzakimenyeshwa.

III. Insanganyamatsiko y’ikiganiro : « Ibanga ryo gusezerera ingoma y’ igitugu no gushyiraho ubutegetsi butanga amahoro ».

Ushaka amakuru arambuye yerekeye gahunda y’uru ruzinduko n’ibiganiro binyuranye bizakorwa , yahamagara tel no : (+61) 432 547 257.

Twizeye ko muzaza muri benshi kuganira no kugira inama uyu munyapolitiki wa Nouvelle Génération.

« Nta wundi ubitubereyemo ».

Emmanuel Mugenzi ,

Komiseri ushinzwe Australia na New Zealand

ISHEMA Party.

WE CONDEMN AND SHALL REMAIN MOBILIZED AGAINST THE MALICIOUS REFERENDUM

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Paris, December 22nd 2015.

1.We have been monitoring closely the malice, tricks, and maneuvering by which Paul Kagame has initiated the constitutional reform and rigged a referendum with the sole aim to allow himself to run again as a presidential candidate come 2017, and with the intention to stay in power until his death.

2.It is extremely saddening to see how the citizens have been forcefully pushed into polls without getting the answers and explanations on articles to be amended and why this should be the case. Furthermore, the project of the constitutional reform was never made public for the citizens to debate. What a terror!

3.The malicious referendum designed and ordered by Paul Kagame himself took place on the dates of 17th and 18th of December 2015. The members of ISHEMA party wanted to participate with two main objectives:

First, we viewed it as the opportunity to get our hands on the constitutional reform project which was up to then held a top secret. Reliable information at our desk noted that the Rwandese Patriotic Front (RPF) clique wanted an « empty project » to be voted first before other disfranchising articles would be added into the constitution.

Second, we aimed at sensitizing the people of Rwanda on the importance of casting their vote and take it as an opportunity to initiate changes they need, want and deserve. It was our due time to express our opinion about the malicious referendum by proudly voting “NO” to the project.

4.The members of ISHEMA Party led by Reverend Father Thomas NAHIMANA went to the Rwandan Embassy in Paris, France, while our partners from the New Generation Coalition led by Jean Damascene Ntaganzwa gathered at the Rwandan Embassy in the Netherlands, all to see themselves refused access to the polling rooms, being told their names were not on the voters’ lists. This is an additional and utmost testimony that the RPF discrimination politics remains standing where some citizens are deprived of their right to vote mentioned in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights of which Rwanda is a signatory since April 1975.

5.Members of our Party and other citizens within Rwanda reported to us that on their arrival at the polling stations, they saw their names marked as if they had already voted. Trying to find out why, they were forced back home and told that the amendment must be a hundred per cent voted favorably.

I. We, the Leading Team of ISHEMA Party gathered in our extraordinary meeting in Paris on December 20th 2015 declare the following:

1.No more doubt, Paul Kagame is fully responsible

It is highly immoral to make the world believe that the people of Rwanda want Paul Kagame to remain their leader after 2017. On the contrary, the dictator Paul Kagame made himself author of the project to amend the constitution so that he can stay in power possibly until 2034. For this, two pieces of evidence are overwhelming:

Paul Kagame has never dissuaded those he calls “supporters who want him to stay” although he was well aware that such an action violates the constitution he has himself pledged to protect. Who else can doubt Kagame’s lack of values that must characterize a good leader?

Paul Kagame missed a golden opportunity to stop such a malicious project when the two Chambers of the Parliament tasked him to set up the commission for the constitutional reform. In his person and with no gunpoint at him, Paul Kagame set up the commission to violate the constitution and ordered the plan to follow. He has thus committed the highest act of treason against the Rwandan nation. Kagame shall therefore be held responsible for all the consequences our country is expected to face resulting from his unquenchable thirst for power.

2.This malicious referendum is a curse for Rwanda:

By changing the 2003 Constitution and especially its article 101 that set provisions for peaceful power transfer by preventing anyone to stick with the power after two terms in office;

By forging in the new constitution the article 172 that considers Paul Kagame as an idol president who can only leave the presidency upon death;

3.Rwanda is entering the « Fourth Republic » which reinforces the regime of terror and dictatorship and which has more than much in common with the monarchy abolished since 1961. Under this new monarchy all the powers are put in the hands of the single man, Paul Kagame who believes he cannot leave the power unless he is killed. It should be recalled that the third republic started with the constitution of 2003 that purposely neglected the ARUSHA peace accords that, however, set ways to power sharing as a mean to build sustainable peace among Rwandan citizens.

4.This malicious referendum dispels out all the lies of the RPF:

From now onwards all the claims that president Paul Kagame is a “Supernatural and extraordinary” African Leader who loves democracy and concerned by his people’s peace, security and development are buried. Kagame has finally and truly revealed his real nature: a super dictator with an unending thirst of power. This malicious referendum of his comes as if it was meant to indicate that peaceful political changes are impossible but the determination of peace-lover citizens is still well alive and shall not delay to show. Unfortunately this malicious referendum full of disrespect and provocation towards Rwandans can give a strong reason to those who believe only in armed struggles to resolve the issues. As such, struggles would destroy our country and further deteriorate the already suffering social cohesion.

II. For the abovementioned and other non-listed reasons, we urge all Rwandans;

1.To organize and protest against the malicious referendum that seeks to enthrone the dictator who hails himself into an idol

2.To unanimously stand with all means against the dictator Paul Kagame whose interest is to keep Rwandan citizens into conflicts, wars and poverty which in turn do not allow them to achieve the true welfare and sustainable peace and development.

3.To garner all what it will take and set up the Popular Court of Justice with the mission of trying Paul Kagame over the act of high treason he committed against our nation by this malicious referendum.

4.To start concrete acts of civil disobedience against the regime of Paul Kagame which has no longer any relationship with the people especially now that the malicious referendum has taken the power from the people’s hands in favor of a dictator whose the sole objective is to protect his own interests at expense of the Rwandan’s welfare and all the region’s security.

5.We exclusively call on the armed security forces to ignore Paul Kagame’s manipulations that since long sought to enrich only one man in his person, to kill and to impoverish the armed forces ranks and their colleagues. We urge them to reflect on their mission that aims at neither less nor more than protecting the national sovereignty, order and security of the people of Rwanda. They should stay away from any acts of torturing, terrorizing, mistreating and killing citizens, bearing in their mind that those crimes will soon or later be punished under national or international laws. Shouldn’t they learn from Rwanda’s far and recent past history?

III. To the international community, we recommend

1.To diplomatically, financially and militarily isolate Paul Kagame and his clique. More than enough evidence testifies that the arms and other military materials sold to Kagame in the name of Rwanda are used to terrorize the people and destabilize the security of the whole great lakes region of Africa.

2.To support the political opponents to Kagame’s regime for organization and mobilization so that they keep up their mission to sensitize the Rwandan citizens on peaceful power transfer, good governance and how to reach a government formula that guarantees the true national reconciliation, sustainable peace and shared economic development.

3.To support the Rwandan Consensus Convention which will permit the dialogue between the government of Rwanda and the opposition leaders as well as all key players in national social, economic and political arenas with the sole aim to reach a government of consensus that will prevent further bloodsheds likely to result from Kagame‘s stubbornness and animosity against the open and free political space.

4.To set up an international neutral armed body for protection of the members of the opposition during the presidential campaign and elections of 2017. We request that the international community observers and the Rwandan opposition members be integrated within the national elections commission in order to scrutinize and take part in the planning and the oversight of the elections given the commission’s loss of credibility observed during electoral processes and especially in the most recent malicious referendum.

Conclusion

As Rwandan citizens we must understand that the real change in our country will take place once we decide to contribute. Nobody else shall do it on our behalf.

For that aim, ISHEMA Party decided to organize its congress that will be held from 15th to 18th of January 2016 in order to finalize the plan of the journey to exercise our civic and political rights in Rwanda. Our congress will also take appropriate measures to face the difficult situation Rwanda is entering due to the recent malicious referendum.

Long live the Republic that respects democratic values

Long live Rwandans mobilized to abolish the dictatorship

Be abolished forever this Fourth Republic built on the malicious referendum

Done at Paris, on December 22nd, 2015

In the name of the leading team of ISHEMA Party,

Chaste GAHUNDE, Executive secretary.

IYI REFERENDUM IFIFITSE, TURAYAMAGANYE KANDI TUZAYIRWANYA

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IYI REFERENDUM IFIFITSE, TURAYAMAGANYE KANDI TUZAYIRWANYA

Paris, Kuwa 22 Ukuboza 2015

Tumaze igihe kirekire dukurikiranira hafi uburiganya, amayeri, uburyarya n’ubuhemu bwakoreshejwe na Perezida Paul Kagame mu guhindura Itegekonshinga u Rwanda rwagenderagaho kuva mu mwaka wa 2003 no gushyiraho itora rya Referendum IFIFITSE hagamijwe gusa kurengera inyungu z’umuntu umwe ngo ushaka kuzava ku ntebe y’umukuru w’igihugu ari uko apfuye.

Twatewe agahinda n’uko rubanda ishorwa mu matora, itabanje gusobanurirwa neza ingingo zigomba guhindurwa n’izigomba kuzisimbura dore ko umushinga w’Itegekonshinga rishya utigeze ushyirwa ahagaragarara ngo Abanyarwanda bawuganireho.

Iyi Referendum ififitse yagenwe kandi igategekwa na Pahulo Kagame yabaye ku itariki ya 17 na 18 Ukuboza 2015 yitabiriwe n’abarwanashyaka b’ishyaka ISHEMA hagamijwe ibintu bibiri bikurikira:

Icyambere kwari ukugira ngo tubashe kubona uwo mushinga w’itegekonshinga rishya wagizwe ubwiru. Twamenye neza ko abagize Agatsiko bafite umugambi mubisha wo kubanza gutoresha rubanda umushinga utazwi kugirango nyuma y’itora bazabone uko bongera muri iryo Tegekonshinga izindi ngingo z’urukozasoni zikumira uburenganzira bw’abenegihugu, akaba ariyo mpamvu batashatse kugaragaza umushinga mbere kugira ngo rubanda itawamagana rugikubita.

Icyakabiri twashakaga gukomeza gushishikariza Abanyarwanda kumva neza ko itora ari akadirishya dushobora kwifashisha duhindura ibintu mu gihugu mu gihe benshi bafata icyemezo cyo kureka kwituramira no kwanga gutoreshwa ku gahato. Twifuzaga rero kurangiza inshingano yacu nk’abenegihugu kandi tukagaragaza ko tudashyigikiye uburiganya bwa Paul Kagame dutora OYA.

Abarwanashyaka b’Ishyaka ISHEMA barangajwe imbere na Padiri Thomas Nahimana bagiye kuri ambassade y’u Rwanda i Paris kimwe n’abafatanya bikorwa bacu muri “Nouvelle Generation” bayobowe na Ntaganzwa Jean Damaseni bagiye kuri Ambasade y’u Rwanda mu Buholandi bangiwe gukandagiza ikirenge mu byumba by’itora, babwirwa ko batari kuri liste y’abemerewe gutora. Ibi byabaye intangamugabo y’inyongera ihamya ko iyi Referendum yarimo uburiganya bukabije kandi ko politiki ya apartheid ya FPR ivangura abana b’u Rwanda ikomeje guca ibintu , aho bamwe bamburwa uburenganzira bukomeye cyane bwo gutora.

Abarwanashyaka bacu babarizwa mu turere dutandukanye tw’igihugu kimwe n’abandi benegihugu batagira ingano batugejejeho inkuru y’uko bagiye gutora maze bagatungurwa no gusanga imbere y’amazina yabo handitse ko batoye, babaza impamvu yabyo bagasubizwa mu rugo ku ngufu babwirwa ko iyi Referendum igomba gutorwa na YEGO ijana ku ijana.

Twebwe Abataripfana bayobora Ishyaka ISHEMA ry’u Rwanda twateraniye mu nama idasanzwe yabaye tariki ya 20 Ukuboza 2015 i Paris, dutangarije Abanyarwanda ibi bikurikira :

Nibimenyekane kandi urujijo ruveho:

Kubeshyera abaturage ngo ni bo bashaka ko Paul Kagame akomeza kubategeka nyuma y’umwaka wa 2017 ni ikinyoma cyambaye ubusa n’ubushinyaguzi buteye isoni. Ahubwo Umunyagitugu Paul Pahulo Kagame ni we wenyine ku giti cye wakoresheje iterabwoba rikaze ategeka ko habaho iyi Referendum ififitse hagamijwe guhonyora Itegekonshinga ryo mu 2003 kugira ngo yemererwe kongera kwiyamamaza mu mwaka wa 2017 kandi azagume ku butegetsi kugeza nibura mu mwaka w’2034. Hari ibimenyetso bibiri simusiga byerekana ko ari we ushaka kwizirika ku butegetsi ngo akazabukurwaho n’urupfu gusa.

(1) Pahulo Kagame ntiyigeze na rimwe yamagana abo we yita ko bamuhatira gukomeza kubayobora nyuma y’umwaka wa 2017 kandi ntiyari ayobewe ko bihabanye n’amahame ya demokarasi ari mu Itegekonshinga ryo 2003. Aha byagaragaye ko abuze indangagaciro z’umuyobozi mwiza kandi ushishoza.

(2)Pahulo Kagame yari abonye umwanya mwiza wo guhagarika uwo mushinga mubisha wo kwica itegekonshinga igihe imitwe yombi y’Inteko Ishingamategeko imusaba gushyiraho Komisiyo yo guhindura itegekonshinga. Pahulo Kagame we ubwe, nta we umuhagaze hejuru, ni we washyizeho komisiyo yo guhonyora itegekonshinga ayiha n’umurongo ngenderwaho. Ng’uko uko Perezida Pahulo Kagame yakoze icyaha gikomeye cyane cyo kugambanira igihugu yica Itegekonshinga yari yararahiriye kurinda no kurengera bityo akaba agomba kubazwa ibibazo byose u Rwanda rugiye kugira bitewe n’inyota ye idashira y’ubutegetsi.

2. Iyi Referendum ififitse ikoze ishyano :

(1) mu guhindura Itegekonshinga ryo mu 2003 cyane cyane mu ngingo yaryo y’101 yashimangiraga inzira iboneye yo gusimburana ku butegetsi mu mahoro ibuza umuntu uwo ariwe wese gufata ubutegetsi nk’akarima ke bwite yiyamamariza manda zirenze ebyiri ku mwanya w’umukuru w’igihugu;

(2) mu kwandika ingingo nshya(172 ?) yemeza Paul Kagame nka Perezida w’Ikigirwamana uzakurwaho n’urupfu gusa;

(3) yinjije u Rwanda n’Abanyarwanda muri Repubulika ya kane izanye amatwara y’igitugu n’iterabwoba bikaze, ikaba ifite byinshi ihuriyeho n’ingoma ya cyami na gihake twari twarasezereye mu 1961, kuko ubutegetsi bwose busubijwe mu biganza by’umuntu umwe rukumbi ariwe Paul Kagame, ngo uzakurwaho n’uko yishwe! Twibutse ko Repubulika ya gatatu yatangijwe n’Itegekonshinga ryo mu 2003 ryirengagije nkana “Amasezerano y’amahoro ya Arusha” yo mu 1993 ryagombaga gushingiraho kandi nyamara yarateganyaga inzira iboneye yo gusaranganya ubutegetsi mu rwo gushimangira amahoro arambye mu Bana b’u Rwanda.

3.Iyi Referendum ififitse ibaye ikimenyetso simusiga kinyomoza ibinyoma byose FPR yari yarabeshye amahanga:

Ibyo kwamamaza hose ko Paul Kagame ari umutegetsi w’akataraboneka muri Afurika, ukunda demokarasi, ushishikajwe n’iterambere ry’abaturage bose kandi ushyize imbere umutekano w’igihugu, BIRAYOYOTSE. Kagame arashyize agaragaje isura ye nyakuri: Umunyagitugu kabuhariwe, ufite inyota y’ubutegetsi irenze igipimo. Iyi Referendum ye ififitse ije isa n’ishaka kwereka Abanyarwanda ko impinduka inyuze mu nzira zitamena amaraso idashoboka. Nyamara aribeshya, ingufu z’ubushake bwa rubanda ntaho zagiye kandi amaherezo azabyibonera. Gusa iyi Referendum yo gusuzugura no gushotora Abanyarwanda ikinguriye inzira abumva nta kindi gisigaye uretse kwitabaza intambara ya gisilikari itazabura gusenya umuryango nyarwanda kurushaho.

KUBERA IZO MPAMVU ZOSE N’IZINDI TUTARONDOYE:

Turasaba Abanyarwanda aho bari hose ibi bikurikira:

1.Gukora imyigaragambyo karundura, mu Rwanda no mu mahanga, yamagana iyi Referendum ififitse ije gushimangira ubutegetsi bw’igitugu n’iterabwoba bw’umuntu umwe ushaka kwigira Ikigirwamana.

2.Guhagurukira rimwe maze mu nzira zose zishoboka bakamagana umunyagitugu Pahulo Kagame ushaka ko bahora mu mwiryane n’intamabara z’urudaca zituma bicwa, bicirwa ababo, batindahazwa ntibagere ku mibereho myiza, amahoro n’amajyambere arambye.

3.Gukora ibishoboka byose bagateranya “Urukiko rwa rubanda” rugacira Paul Kagame urubanza ku cyaha gikomeye cyane cyo kugambanira igihugu no gutatira indahiro yakoze yo kurengera Itegekonshinga ryo mu 2003.

4.Gutinyuka bagatangira ibikorwa bifatika byo kwanga kumvira no kwigomeka ku butegetsi bw’igitugu butagifite icyo bupfana na rubanda kuko iyi Referendum ififitse yongeye kwerekana ko Rudanda yambuwe ubutegetsi bidasubirwaho bukaba buri mu maboko y’umunyagitugu umwe ubukoresha uko yishakiye mu kurengera inyungu ze bwite no kubangamira inyungu rusange z’u Rwanda n’Akarere k’Ibiyaga bigari.

5.By’umwihariko turasaba ingabo z’igihugu n’inzego zishinzwe umutekano kwima amatwi umunyagitugu wigwijeho imitungo, akabakenesha, agahiga kandi akica bagenzi babo abarenganya, ariko akaba ashaka ko bakomeza kuba ibikoresho yifashisha mu migambi ye mibisha. Nibibuke ko icyo biyemeje ari ukurinda ubusugire bw’igihugu n’umutekano wa rubanda, bazibukire rwose kwijandika mu bwicanyi, ubugizi bwa nabi n’ibindi bikorwa byose byo guhohotera abaturage bashobora kuzaryozwa bikagira ingaruka zikomeye no ku babakomokaho. Ese amateka y’u Rwanda , aya kera n’aya hafi , ntacyo abigisha ?

Turasaba ibihugu by’amahanga n’umuryango mpuzamahanga:

1.Guha akato no gufatira Perezida Pahulo Kagame ibihano byihuse byo mu rwego rw’ubukungu, urwego rw’ubutwererane, n’urwego rwa gisirikare. Cyane cyane tuributsa ko ibikoresho bya gisirikare bigurishwa ku Rwanda nta kindi bimaze uretse gukandamiza rubanda no guhungabanya umutekano w’akarere kose.

2. Gutera inkunga abanyapolitiki batavuga rumwe na Leta ya Kagame kugira ngo barusheho kwisuganya no gukomeza inshingano biyemeje yo gutoza rubanda ibijyanye n’impinduka zinyuze mu mahoro no gushyiraho ubutegetsi buharanira koko kwimakaza ubumwe bw’Abanyarwanda n’amajyambere arambye kandi asaranganyijwe.

3. Gushyigikira ibiganiro hagati ya Leta ya Kagame n’abatavuga rumwe na yo hagamijwe kwirinda ko imivu y’amaraso yongera kumeneka mu Rwanda dore ko Kagame yafunze urubuga rwa politiki akaba atemera ko abandi benegihugu bagira uburenganzira bwabo mu miyoborere y’igihugu bikaba nta shiti bizakurura intambara tutifuza.

4. Guteganya umutwe w’ingabo zishinzwe kurinda umutekano w’abayobozi ba Opozisiyo biyemeje kwiyamamariza kuyobora u Rwanda mu mwaka wa 2017 .Turasaba kandi ko intumwa za ONU n’intumwa za Opozisiyo nyarwanda zazinjizwa muri komisiyo y’amatora kugira ngo zikurikiranire hafi imitegurire y’amatora kandi zikumire uburiganya bwaranze iyi Komisiyo mu matora yose yabanje no mu gihe cy’iyi Referendum ififitse iheruka.

UMWANZURO:

Nk’abenegihugu b’abanyarwanda, nitwumve ko impinduka mu gihugu cyacu izagerwaho ari uko twebwe ubwacu twahagurutse tukagira icyo dukora. “Nta wundi ubitubereyemo” rero.

Muri urwo rwego, Ishyaka ISHEMA ry’u Rwanda ryiyemeje gutumiza Kongere yaryo izaba guhera taliki ya 15 kugeza ku ya 18 Mutarama 2016 hagamijwe kunoza gahunda yo kujya gukorera politiki mu Rwanda no gufata ingamba nshya zijyane n’ibihe bitoroshye iyi Referendum ififitse itwinjijemo.

Harakabaho Repubulika ishingiye ku mahame ya demokarasi isesuye,

Harakabaho Abanyarwanda bahagaze bwuma bahangamura ingoma y’igitugu.

Harakazimira bufuni Repubulika ya kane yubakiye kuri Referendum ififitse.

Mu izina ry’Ikipe Nyobozi y’Ishyaka ISHEMA,

Chaste GAHUNDE, Umunyamabanga Nshingwabikorwa.

RWANDA REFERENDUM: NE PAS ALLER VOTER, C’EST VOTER EN FAVEUR DU « PRÉSIDENT A VIE »!

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RWANDA REFERENDUM: NE PAS ALLER VOTER, C’EST VOTER EN FAVEUR DU « PRÉSIDENT A VIE »!

Entretien entre l’Abbé Thomas Nahimana, Leader du Parti ISHEMA et la Tribune Franco-Rwandaise(TFR).

TFR : Que pensez-vous du Référendum constitutionnel organisé par le Régime de Kagame en vue de lui permettre de briguer un 3^e mandat présidentiel ?

TN : Le problème n’est pas le Référendum en soi qui est un instrument légal et légitime. Ce Référendum devrait être une belle opportunité pour le peuple rwandais d’exprimer sa volonté contre la dictature insensée et en faveur de la démocratie. Force est de reconnaitre que ce que Paul Kagame et sa clique organisent ne peut pas être un vrai Référendum lorsque le peuple appelé aux urnes ne peut pas voter librement mais plutôt est forcé d’avaliser une loi contre-nature qui va instituer une « présidence à vie » pour un individu qui se croit au- dessus de toute loi, fut-elle constitutionnelle. Mais il nous faut faire la part des choses : aucun cadeau n’étant pas attendu de la part de Paul Kagame et sa clique, il revient au peuple et aux Leaders de l’opposition d’organiser la résistance, par tous les moyens, y compris le vote lui-même.

Jadis un Referendum avait banni la monarchie et instauré la République, il y a 54 ans de cela. Aujourd’hui, avec le 2^e ce Référendum de l’histoire du Rwanda, Paul Kagame n’est pas en train de briguer un troisième mandat présidentiel mais plutôt plusieurs. L’article 167 de la nouvelle Constitution- qui a plutôt les allures d’une vraie « Charte de la tyrannie »- lui donne la voie libre pour rester au pouvoir au moins jusqu’en 2034 ! Cet homme qui se croit à tort être un roi indispensable et irremplaçable devient ainsi un réel danger public, national et international. C’est au peuple rwandais -avec l’aide de la communauté internationale- de prendre ses responsabilités et de rappeler à l’ordre son « homme fort », avant qu’il ne soit trop tard.

TFR : TFR a été informé d’un incident survenu ce matin à l’ambassade du Rwanda à Paris alors que vous vous apprêtiez à voter.

A. Pouvez-vous nous parler de cet incident ?

TN : En réunion des Partis politiques de la coalition dite de « La Nouvelle Génération », nous avons décidé d’aller nous acquitter de notre devoir civique de voter NON à la révision constitutionnelle. Je me suis donc rendu à Paris ce jeudi 17 décembre 2015 accompagné de quelques membres de notre parti. Arrivé à l’ambassade, 12 Rue Jadin, nous nous sommes entretenus avec les policiers français qui assuraient la sécurité du coin, puis avons sonné à la porte. J’ai décliné mon identité et ai présenté mon passeport rwandais. J’ai en outre signalé que j’étais Leader politique issu de l’opposition rwandaise. L’agent d’ambassade qui ne pouvait pas cacher son trouble n’a pas voulu nous laisser entrer prétextant que nous ne figurions pas sur la liste électorale. Pourtant, il n’avait pas cette liste sous la main. Nous avons souhaité vérifier si nous n’étions pas réellement inscrits sur cette liste. Il a carrément refusé ! Devant cette porte de l’Ambassade, sous les yeux de policiers français médusés, nous avons eu un échange houleux avec ce Monsieur et nous avons pu expérimenter le MEPRIS que les agents de Paul Kagame vouent au peuple rwandais en général et aux membres de l’opposition en particulier. C’est très grave.

Je signale qu’un pareil incident est également survenu dans la matinée à l’ambassade du Rwanda au Pays-Bas où Jean Damascène Ntaganzwa Vice-président du Parti UDFR-Ihamye et ses compagnons se sont vu refuser le droit d’entrer à l’ambassade pour voter. C’est dire que l’opposition rwandaise n’a plus le droit de voter. Si les agents du FPR osent nous traiter de la sorte en France et au Pays-Bas, avec quels mépris et méchanceté traitent-ils le peuple sous leur griffes à l’intérieur du Rwanda ?

B. Pourquoi avoir tenu à participer à ce que vos collègues de l’opposition considèrent comme une mascarade ?

TN : Je crois que nous, membres de l’opposition rwandaise de l’extérieure, devrions changer de mentalité et abandonner la politique de la chaise vide qui ne conduit qu’a l’échec et la désolation.

Une élection est toujours une opportunité offerte au peuple. Vous pouvez en faire ce que vous voulez : en profiter ou la laisser filer ! Qualifier une élection de « mascarade » sans même s’être donné la peine d’y participer est un signe de plus d’immaturité politique notoire. Bien pire, faute de motivation ou par peur du risque, certains politiciens prennent le raccourci de prêcher le boycott alors même qu’ils n’envisagent aucune voie de sortie ! Cela ne s’appelle pas faire de la politique, c’est de la lâcheté pure et simple qui conduit à un suicide politique en bonne et due forme ! A quoi servirait-il de s’esquinter en jouant en dehors du terrain ? Allez donc marquer vos très beaux buts, très loin en dehors du terrain !!! On ne peut boycotter un processus électoral auquel on ne participe pas activement. L’opposition burundaise en a fait les fraies à plusieurs reprises ! Et il y en a qui ne comprennent toujours pas ! Arrêtons d’abuser de la patience du peuple en racontant n’importe quoi !

Sachons au moins une chose : le droit de vote est un droit très sacré. Rappelons-nous que, au Rwanda comme ailleurs, des hommes et des femmes respectables se sont battus bec et ongles jusqu’à verser leur sang pour acquérir ce droit. Ainsi, quand un régime même criminel comme celui du FPR appelle le peuple aux urnes, ne pas aller voter est un CRIME CIVIQUE ! Nous savons bien que le FPR organise des élections non pas par conviction démocratique mais parce que, pour une fois, il est liée par des obligations internationales. C’est l’unique opportunité dont le peuple dispose pour administrer une bonne fessée au Dictateur ! Appeler le peuple à ne pas aller voter, c’est faciliter la tâche au Dictateur qui ne manque pas d’avoir très peur du changement à chaque échéance électorale. En l’occurrence, ne pas aller voter NON c’est jouer le jeu de Paul Kagame qui attend toujours d’être sauvé par la lâcheté et la couardise des Leaders politiques de l’opposition qui préfèrent fuir le champ de bataille ! En effet, si 20 % de la population se déplace pour voter (pour Kagame), les élections sont validées au détriment des 80 % de lâches qui ont décidé de rester à la maison. Par leur non-engagement, les 80 % de lâches auront réellement validé le STATU QUO ! A qui cela profite-t-il donc ?

C. Quelle action comptez-vous entreprendre pour dénoncer cette violation flagrante de votre droit d’expression ?

TN : Ce qui est sûr c’est que nous ne resterons pas les bras croisés ! Une réunion d’urgence du Bureau politique du Parti ISHEMA se tiendra ce dimanche 20 décembre 2015, à 20h et décidera d’une vraie stratégie d’action pour les jours avenir. Avec les partis de « La Nouvelle Génération », nous serons à mesure d’organiser une réplique appropriée, et nous vous laisserons le soin de l’apprécier en ses effets. Au-delà d’un Référendum truqué, la politique doit continuer.

D. Pouvez-vous expliquer à nos lecteurs votre décision de retourner au Rwanda, le 28 janvier 2016, afin de vous présenter comme candidat à l’élection présidentielle de 2017 contre le Président sortant Paul Kagame ?

TN : Que voulez-vous que j’explique ? Paul Kagame ne partira pas s’il n’est pas évincé ? Or, il n’y a que deux voies pour réussir une telle éviction : la voie des armes et celle des urnes. N’étant pas armés pour le moment, notre coalition de partis de « La Nouvelle Génération » a stratégiquement opté pour la voie des urnes. La voie de la non-violence reste pour nous la meilleure des options. De fait, nous ne sommes pas aveugles, nous n’ignorons pas que cette voie est trop dure au vu des crimes et agissements dont notre adversaire est capable. En revanche, nous ne sommes pas du nombre de ceux qui cherchent le salut dans la fuite, voilà tout.

E. Pensez-vous comme certains que votre candidature sert à légitimer des élections gagnées d’avance par Kagame ?

TN : Seuls les lâches, les amateurs et les propagandistes du FPR peuvent adopter un raccourci aussi mortifère ! Aucun politicien avisé ne peut succomber à une telle erreur de jugement. Ceux qui professent une telle contre-vérité sont mathématiquement du camp de Paul Kagame et ils ont pour mission de tuer dans l’œuf toute tentative d’organisation de l’Opposition. Comment le Dictateur Kagame pourra-t-il déguerpir si personne ne l’évince ? Ne me croyant être ni lâche, ni amateur, ni propagandiste du FPR, je vais donc mon chemin. Seule l’histoire jugera notre action.

Pour de vrai, ceux qui « légitiment des élections gagnées d’avance par Kagame » sont les lâches qui laissent Kagame seul dans le jeu et n’essaient aucunement de lui barrer la route. En cela, je salue avec respect le courage et l’action de Madame Victoire INGABIRE UMUHOZA qui doit être libérée sans délai et sans condition aucune. Et je m’inscris avec fierté dans la continuité de l’engagement citoyen qu’elle a entrepris.

Vive la République,

Que Vive le peuple rwandais.

Abbé Thomas Nahimana

Leader du Parti ISHEMA

Candidat de « La Nouvelle Génération »aux présidentielles rwandaises de 2017

Source :

http://www.france-rwanda.info/2015/12/rwanda-referendum-ne-pas-aller-voter-c-est-voter-en-faveur-d-une-presidence-a-vie-thomas-nahimana.html

Vient de paraître: La violence politico-militaire contre les femmes au Rwanda: de Ndabaga à Ingabire

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Emmanuel Ndahayo et Aimable-André Dufatanye, 2015, La violence politico-militaire contre les femmes au Rwanda, Préface de Martine Syoen, Lille, Éditions Sources du Nil, ISBN: 978-2-919201-24-2 ISSN: 2119-3584. Prix 20 euros (frais de port compris).Sortie en librairie le 27 février 2015. Vous pouvez réserver le vôtre en faisant la commande directement sur le sitewww.editions-sources-du-nil.fr ou en envoyant un e-mail àsources_du_nil@yahoo.fr.

Depuis quelques décennies les femmes rwandaises et celles de la région des Grands Lacs sont les cibles principales de la violence des stratèges des guerres nouvelles et des dictatures militaires. Beaucoup de femmes ont été tuées, d’autres ont été violées ou ont vu leurs familles exterminées. Pire encore, ces victimes, tant qu’elles vivent sous un régime qui protège les bourreaux, sont obligées de taire les atrocités qu’elles ont subi ou subissent encore. La plupart de ces femmes végètent sous le poids d’une souffrance psychologique atroce : celle de n’avoir pas pu faire le deuil des leurs. Ce livre essaie de porter la parole de ces nombreuses femmes, dont celles qui nous ont donné leurs témoignages mais justement qui, par peur d’être tuées, ne peuvent le faire à visage découvert.

L’ouvrage analyse également le fonctionnement et la nature du régime actuellement au pouvoir au Rwanda et la manière dont il traite la personne humaine et en particulier les femmes. Alors même qu’il se targue de garantir un chiffre très élevé de femmes au parlement, ce régime est mentionné dans plusieurs rapports internationaux, notamment de l’ONU (Mapping Report) comme ayant commis les crimes les plus horribles contre les femmes à l’Est de la RDC. Le régime n’a cessé d’user de la violence contre les femmes politiques ou journalistes pour peu qu’elles tentent de faire entendre une voix différente. Une partie de cet ouvrage est consacrée à Madame Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza, injustement condamnée à 15 ans de prison. Nous saluons la lutte pour la justice et la démocratie de celle dont on peut justement dire qu’elle représente la force tranquille de la non-violence active.

Les auteurs

Doctorant en sociologie politique, Emmanuel Ndahayo a survécu au génocide et aux crimes contre l’humanité commis au Rwanda et dans la région des Grands Lacs entre 1990 et 2003. Il est témoin de vagues de réfugiés rwandais, conséquence directe de la violence politico-militaire existant dans la région. En Allemagne, son pays d’accueil, il est membre du parlement du Landkreis de Düren.

Docteur en Logique & Epistémologie, de l’ENS de Lyon, Aimable-André DUFATANYE est actuellement Enseignant-Chercheur (MCF) à l’Université Catholique de Lyon. Il est également détenteur d’un Master de Management de la Qualité des Organisations, d’un diplôme de Droit Américain et d’un Master de Philosophie Politique. Il partage son temps entre l’enseignement, la recherche et le consulting en entreprise.

Source: http://editions-sources-du-nil.over-blog.com/2015/02/vient-de-paraitre-la-violence-politico-militaire-au-rwanda-de-ndabaga-a-ingabire.html

Western donors must also encourage Kagame to engage the diverse political views of the Rwandan diaspora.

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In her article, “Rwanda don’t let the good trump the bad”, Prof Susan Thomson advises ways through which Kagame can be dealt with:

An RPF rally in Gicumbi, Rwanda. August 2, 2010. Image: Graham Holliday.

There was no doubting that Paul Kagame’s Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) would handily win September’s parliamentary elections, which it did with 76% of the vote. His party has ruled the country since July 1994, when it successfully ended the genocide of more than 500,000 ethnic Tutsi. In theory, the RPF was contending with nine other parties. In practice, Rwanda’s nearly six million voters had little choice on the ballot. A total of 98% of the votes went to the RPF and its four coalition parties. The additional five parties were not allowed to participate.

Once-cozy relations with donors have begun to sour because of Rwanda’s increasing authoritarianism at home as well as its continued involvement in neighboring eastern Congo. The United Nations has systematically documented war crimes and other violations of international law by both the Rwandan army and its Congolese proxies. Since 2009, the RPF has worked with American and British public relations firms whose primary task is to drown out the voices of foreign critics and bury evidence of the RPF’s human rights abuses at home and in the Congo under rosy language about stability, economic growth, and commitments to help the poor. A democratic façade is essential to reassure foreign investors and Western donors that their money is being stewarded well.

This raises the question of how Rwanda’s donors can best work with the incumbent president, mindful that Kagame is constitutionally mandated to step down in 2017 with the next round of scheduled presidential elections. Rwanda’s main donors, notably the United States, the United Kingdom, and the European Union, must continue to nudge the RPF towards a real democratic opening. This must include more than the usual calls for free and fair elections or symbolic stoppages of their foreign aid, such as the Americans’ recent suspension of $200,000 in military aid due to Rwanda’s sponsorship of the now-defunct M23 proxy rebel group.

Rwanda’s influential friends—such as Britain’s Tony Blair and America’s Bill Clinton—must stop extolling president Kagame’s performance on economic policies so that they may hold his RPF government accountable for its lack of political freedoms and human rights abuses. Cutting aid in symbolic amounts will not result in policy changes, but conditioning aid could. Rwanda depends on foreign aid, which currently accounts for more than 40% of its budget. General support for the budget must be withheld until President Kagame demonstrates a sincere willingness to give his political opponents more space and adopts policies that reflect rather than exploit rural realities.

Donors must first evaluate the government’s ability to manage its only natural resources—people and land. The U.S. State Department estimates that by 2020, Rwanda will be home to some 13 million people. This will be the highest population density in Africa, with 225 people per square mile. Some 80 percent of Rwandans seek out their existence as subsistence farmers, living on less that $1.50 a day. The government requires rural farmers to grow coffee and tea instead of the crops they need to feed their families. A new land policy has decreased peasant holdings to less than half an acre, which is far from enough to produce crops for subsistence. International donors can withhold their general support to Rwanda’s budget to press for more equitable land and agricultural policies.

Rwanda’s donors can also encourage open dialogue and a culture of constructive criticism and debate of government policies amongst the political class. Foreigners write most of the academic and policy literature on Rwanda, because Kagame does not allow for thoughtful analysis that is remotely critical of his government’s current policies. Western donors can use their already-existing relationship with Rwanda’s Ministry of Education and other institutions of higher learning to sponsor and protect intellectuals whose ideas differ from those of the government as a way to spur openness and dialogue.

Western donors must also encourage Kagame to engage the diverse political views of the Rwandan diaspora. This is not to suggest that he reach out to those who claim that the RPF organized and implemented the genocide, or hold other extremist views. But he does need to acknowledge that sincere dissidents exist alongside political extremists. Kagame should not be allowed to lump together the good with the bad as a way to justify not including any outside or competing opinions in the Rwandan political sphere.

Without an open political sphere nudged and nurtured along by Rwanda’s Western donors, there will few other potential leaders to succeed Kagame in 2017; his rivals have died, are jailed, or have fled the country. Expect the lack of qualified political leaders to be Kagame’s rationale for amending the constitution to allow him to run for a third term.

Susan Thomson is assistant professor of peace and conflict studies at Colgate University. She has published articles in African Affairs, The International Journal of Transitional Justice and The Journal of Modern African Studies. She is also author of “Whispering Truth to Power: Everyday Resistance to Reconciliation in Postgenocide Rwanda” (Wisconsin UP, 2013).

Source: http://journal.georgetown.edu/2013/12/16/rwanda-dont-let-the-good-trump-the-bad-by-susan-thomson/