8 March 2010

Mr José Manuel Barroso President of the European Commission Baroness Catherine Ashton The High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy

Political Tensions in Rwanda and Threats to Green Party Personnel

Dear President Barroso Dear Baroness Ashton

We are becoming increasingly concerned about the obstructions that are being placed in the path of the Rwandan Greens and other opposition Parties ahead of the Presidential elections due to be held in August. We also have fears for the personal security of one of our Green colleagues in Rwanda. Other Opposition leaders are also being intimidated. Ms Victoire Ingabire, Chairperson of the UDF-INKINGI who recently returned from exile in The Netherlands, is reportedly under Rwandan police investigation

Persistent attempts by the Democratic Green Party of Rwanda to obtain the necessary permission to register the Party with the national authorities have been repeatedly blocked by a mixture of bureaucratic obstructions and anonymous threats of violence.

The President of the party, Frank Habineza has recently received death threats, with reports in a local newspaper stating he will be killed within 60 days. A copy is attached with an unofficial translation. He has been obliged to write an open letter to the Minister of Internal Security seeking assurances for his safety.

Rue Wiertz • 1047 Belgium . Tel.: +32-2-2843045 • Fax.: +32-2-2307837 Allée du printemps • B.P. 1024 • 67070 Strasbourg cedex • France • Tel.: +33-3-88175880 • Fax.: +33-3-88352777 www.greens-efa.org

Green MEPs raised these matters with the Commission in the EP Development Committee and were assured that the EU Mission in Rwanda was aware of the situation and would continue to monitor the situation. However, and especially in view of the very recent threat to Mr Habineza's life, we would like to urge you to ask the Mission to give much higher priority to these problems. We would like you, on behalf of the EU, to express to the Rwandan government the need for a guaranteed political space for opposition voices, free from intimidation, with appropriate protection from security forces for individual party activists.

We look forward to your urgent acknowledgement that you have taken action on this problem.

Yours sincerely

Rebecca Harms Co-president of the Green/Efa Group

Daniel Cohn Bendit Co-president of the Green/Efa Group

Monica Frassoni European Green Party Co-spokespersons

Philippe Lamberts European Green Party Co-spokespersons

Rue Wiertz • 1047 Belgium . Tel.: +32-2-2843045 • Fax.: +32-2-2307837 Allée du printemps • B.P. 1024 • 67070 Strasbourg cedex • France • Tel.: +33-3-88175880 • Fax.: +33-3-88352777 www.greens-efa.org