Hungry for Truth, Peace and Justice

Rwandan National Forum (RNF) Denounces Aggression Against Mrs. Ingabire

By Celestin Muhindura
President
The Rwandan National Forum Executive Committee
Wichita, Kansas
February 10, 2010

Subject: Aggression against Mrs. Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza, President of the United Democratic Forces (UDF)-Inkingi.

The Rwandan National Forum (RNF) denounces the act of aggression against Mrs. Ingabire, President of the United Democratic Forces (UDF)-Inkingi, and invites the International Community to defend the democratic process that is seriously jeopardized in Rwanda.

The world learned that, on Wednesday, February 3, 2010, Mrs. Victoire Ingabire, candidate of the UDF-Inkingi to the upcoming Rwandan presidential elections scheduled in August 2010 and her staff member Mr. Joseph Ntawangundi were attacked and brutally beaten in a broad daylight at the Kinyinya sector offices in the district Gasabo with no assistance from the administrative authorities nor from the police.

RNF strongly condemns this coward act of a regime that is trying to silence and intimidate the voice of the democratic opposition by all means, including using violence and terrorism. One would wonder why the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) and its leadership are calling people for elections if they can’t have a clean democratic process.

As of today, each and everyone who declared to take part in the upcoming elections is subject to daily aggression. Before Mrs. Ingabire was assaulted, the leader of the Democratic Green Party of Rwanda Mr. Frank Habineza was the first to experience this new way of handling democracy through intimidation by RPF’s mobs who invaded the rally that was convened to elect the national committee. The police did not help and the meeting was dismissed as was intended by the mobs sent by the RPF leadership.

This was followed by a legal maneuver initiated by the National Senate in fabricating allegations against Mr. Bernard Ntaganda, the leader of the Social Party (PS-Imberakuri) who is a declared presidential candidate who will bear the flag for his party.

These barbaric and terrorist acts uncover the tradition of the current Rwandan regime to mock the whole world without hesitation and to intimidate its citizens such as Mrs. Ingabire, Mr. Frank Habineza and Mr. Bernard Ntaganda by aggression and harassment on a daily basis for the simple reason they have manifested their intention to run for President.

This is also a clear signal that the next presidential elections will be marred by bloody violence if nothing is done to deter it, especially as long as General Paul Kagame, the Chairman of the Rwandan Patriotic Front, would prefer to remain in power ad vitam eternam in order to escape prosecution for his own war crimes.

Therefore the Rwandan National Forum (RNF) reiterates its urgent appeal to the International Community, especially the United States and the United Kingdom who have leverage on the current Rwandan government to stand on the side of democracy, not on the side of a dictator. As President Obama reminded us in his speech in Ghana, “… Africa doesn't need strongmen, it needs strong institutions... with strong institutions and a strong will, I know that Africans can live their dreams in Nairobi and Lagos; in Kigali and Kinshasa; in Harare and right here in Accra…”.

The time is long overdue for the current Kigali regime to abandon the logic of violence and give a chance to peace and democracy in Rwanda. That is why the regime needs to stop immediately all its ongoing harassments and seat together with its opposition to draft better procedures for the next presidential elections, including the establishment of a neutral national election commission (NEC).

Specifically, the Rwandan National Forum (RNF) invites Commonwealth countries which have recently welcomed Rwanda within their Organization, despite its numerous human rights violations, to take this opportunity to remind the Rwandan government to abide by the rule of laws; and if not, to face the exclusion from the Organization.

By Celestin Muhindura

President
The Rwandan National Forum Executive Committee
Wichita, Kansas

Related Materials:
REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT TO THE GHANAIAN PARLIAMENT

Rwanda: End Attacks on Opposition Parties

Open Letter to General Major Paul Kagame President of the Republic of Rwanda

Open Letter to Mrs. Domitila Mukantaganzwa, the Executive Secretary of the National Service of Gacaca Jurisdictions in Rwanda



Mrs. VICTOIRE INGABIRE UMUHOZA NARROWLY SURVIVES A LYNCH MOB AMBUSH MASTERMINDED BY THE REGIME

Assault against Mrs. Victoire Ingabire: RPF revives the accusation in a mirror

Mob attacks Rwandan opposition leader in capital

Rwanda Opposition Candidate Demands Protection Ahead of Election

Rwanda: Mrs. Ingabire and collaborators in prison?

posted by Mamadou Kouyate @ 3:46 PM