FDU-INKINGI
Chair.
August 11, 2010
“Sadam HUSSEIN organised elections in Iraq in 2002, which the US government rightly dismissed pointing out that « You can't have free elections when the electorate goes to the polls in the knowledge that they have only one candidate, that candidate routinely murders and tortures opponents of the regime ». Some of the voters marked the polling cards with blood to show their loyalty to Sadam Hussein. Sadam Hussein won the elections with 100% score”. We expect the same response from the international community with regard to the elections in Rwanda.
As everyone is aware the pre-elections period was marred by political violence including assassinations of the first Vice President of the Green Democratic Party of Rwanda and a journalist critical of government; arrests and torture of opposition members; banning of critical newspapers. Three opposition parties were excluded from the electoral process by means of administrative barricades and politicised legal endless proceedings. FDU INKINGI was never allowed to go through the registration details and its Chair, Ms. Victoire INGABIRE UMUHOZA is still under extended house arrest charged with fabricated crimes. Most of her executive colleagues have been arrested, tortured and later bailed. Ms. Beatrice UWIMANA, a party member in Kigali is still missing since 24th June 2010 while Mr. Martin NTAVUKA, is in Kigali Prison.
The Green Democratic Party of Rwanda has not been registered either. It has been decapitated with the assassination on the 13th July of its 1st Vice President KAGWA RWISEREKA. Mr. Bernard NTAGANDA, President of the Socialist Party (Parti social IMBERAKURI), is still in detention.
Many political activists are languishing in prison because of allegations of illegal protests or possession of democracy printed T-shirts.
People of Rwanda cannot be held hostage and denied their political and civil rights under the suggested economic miracles and stability brought about by the incumbent’s. The same incensing propaganda was used in favour of the then President before the war and the genocide in Rwanda.
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.
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