Chairperson – FDU-Inkingi
Kigali, January 28, 2010.
Rwandans,
Friends of Rwanda
It’s 49 years now since 28/01/1961 when Rwandans decided to be ruled democratically, a system of governance where they would be consulted and have the right to select leaders concerned with the population’s problems, not oppressing citizens, elect their representatives at the parliament, and political changes coming peacefully through elections at the will of those who choose the leaders. That’s the reason why for every Rwandan, this date is very important in the country’s history.
Nonetheless when we look back, we find that since Rwanda decided to become a Republic, which means to be ruled by the masses and concerned by their issues, as political regimes changed, there were political inner circles, that some called ‘Utuzu’, which concentrated political power into their hands, and left the population politically powerless, put in place oppressive laws, and even got some people killed because they were of different opinions from those prevailing in political leadership.
These situations occurred particularly through changes and manipulations of the fundamental laws of the country, those in power trying through that to remain in power indefinitely without the consent of the population, forcing Rwandans to vote for the power’s candidates into the parliament, which is no different from nepotism, constant interference of the government in the judiciary system and removal of all essence to justice, instead the latter becoming a political means to imprison or oppress those not needed anymore.
The worst being the fact that those in power controlled the security structures, instead of being at the service of the country and protect people’s rights, Rwandan security forces became instruments in the hands of inner circles’ politicians to oppress their parents, thus dictatorship rule becoming the standard norm of leadership.
Rwandans,
The times we are living in, no one should be ruled like an animal, though even a good livestock holder does not beat his cows!
The time for change is now for every Rwandan to get back their rights, so that no one continues to behave like a Land Lord (Umuhinza) or a King in the Republic and pursues oppressing Rwandans using the laws voted by his friends. We are in decisive times for leaders to agree or not if they are in a political regime working for the population, in position of authority where they were mandated by the masses. When you consider what is being done in the name of democracy in Rwanda, we have gone 50 years backwards.
The time is now for everyone to understand that there are no Rwandans who are more equal than others, with more rights than the rest, who have to walk proudly while others look down, or the right to speak out when others are denied expression, eat what they want when others are forced to farm products which won’t feed them, get access to education when poor Rwandans are kept ignorant, live in luxurious buildings when the rest is almost homeless, live in total security when others survive in constant insecurity.
These are the reasons we consider that we need an Inter-Rwandan Dialogue, for Rwandans to come together and discuss about positive achievements which would be praised, wrong doings which would be corrected, put an end to the system of dictatorship and the politics of revenge among Rwandans, and establish a framework of political leadership embedded with the masses’ concerns and protecting every citizen’s life and other human rights.
Finally I would ask all Rwandans, those inside and outside the country, those armed and those who are fighting for their rights peacefully, to understand that we all need to do everything possible to establish solid foundations to make Rwandans live together in harmony.
Thank you. And I wish you to enjoy Democracy Day.
Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza
Chairperson – FDU-Inkingi
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