Organization For Peace, Justice and Development in Rwanda, (OPJDR) Inc.

Excellency General Major Paul Kagame President of Republic of Rwanda PO Box 15 Kigali Rwanda.

Organisation Pour la Paix, la Justice et le Développement au Rwanda, (OPJDR) Inc.

March 20, 2010 N° 20/P/PK/310

Ref: Rwanda’s Political Climate Excellency President; Following our letter of last February 8th expressing our concerns on the Rwanda’s political climate degradation, it is with further consternations that we call upon your authority to put both your ruling party, Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF) and your government to exercise restrain against political oppositions parties and rather promote a genuine democratic process critical to the next August 2010 presidential elections. In light of persistent intimidations and pressures to political oppositions, the Organization for Peace Justice and Development in Rwanda (OPJDR).Inc.; a Human Rights Organization, as many other close observers of Rwanda strongly fear that this degradation of political atmosphere in Rwanda could degenerate in another human tragedy. In this crucial time, your leadership is quite essential in siding on the right path for the Rwandans people for a stronger future where each Rwandan would feel included in the political democratic process and steer Rwanda from another calamity. OPJDR deplores many of the government or leading party, RPF’s sponsored actions to silence political opposition leaders including the following:    

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Just this week the Social Party – Imberakuri (SP-I) led by its President and Founder, Bernard Ntaganda has faced some significant aggressions sponsored by your own RPF’s party according to the SP-I party’s press release (N° 002/P.S.IMB/010) of March 16th, 2010: RPF’s leaders have asked the PS-Imberakuri’s leadership to resign or face consequences RPF and the government have visibly encouraged and sponsored the break-up of the SP-I party into factions. While other political opposition parties such as the Green party and the Unified Democratic Forces (FDU) are not even allowed to have meetings to elect their leading committee’s, it is very interesting to see how the government give authorization to one of the runaway faction of the PS-Imberakuri to meet expeditiously and declare the forming of the new committee that exclude those who have not accepted to dissolve the party’s leadership. This renegade faction of the PS-Imberakuri party is also given ample times on the airwaves of the government official radio (Radio-Rwanda) to conduct their political compaign that is essentially filled with hate speeches toward the other PS-Imberakuri political leadership. Furthermore, both the Green party and the UDF party have yet to be given permissions to assemble and successfully register when their respective leadership indicate to have satisfied all necessary government requirements.

OPJDR • BP 3026 • Manchester, NH • 03105 / PHONE: (603) 361-6473 www.opjdr.org. OPJDR is non-profit and apolitical. Its mission is to promote the respect of human rights and Cultural, educational, and economic development in the Great Lakes Region of Africa.

OPJDR urges your government to work on the right side of the Rwandan history in promoting civil liberties and political rights. We call upon your authority to do everything possible to ensure full respect for the rule of law and human rights, build a free, credible, and transparent electoral process through advocating the expression of peaceful criticism and dissent. Our organization further believes that not only the government needs to ensure a transparent electoral and democratic process with a broader participation of its people but it should also work on a true process of dialogue to reconcile the nation. We thank you for your understanding and cooperation in this matter and hope to hear from you soon.

Sincerely. Pascal Kalinganire Coordinator General

C.I.: Excellency Mr.President Bingu wa Mutharika African Union President and President of Malawi African Union Headquarters P.O. Box 3243 Roosvelt Street (Old Airport Area) -W21K19 Addis Ababa - Ethiopia Tel: (251) 11 551 77 00 Fax:(251) 11 551 78 44 Honorable Hillary Clinton Secretary of State US State Department Washington, DC 20520 Honorable W. Stuart Symington US Ambassador in Rwanda 2657 Avenue de la Gendarmerie - Kacyiru Tel: (250) 596 400 Extension: 2553 Fax: (250) 596 771 / 596 591 P.O. Box 28 Kigali - RWANDA Honorable Mr. Tony Blair Africa Governance Initiative P.O. Box 60519 London - W2 7JU United Kingdom [email protected]

OPJDR • BP 3026 • Manchester, NH • 03105 / PHONE: (603) 361-6473 www.opjdr.org. OPJDR is non-profit and apolitical. Its mission is to promote the respect of human rights and Cultural, educational, and economic development in the Great Lakes Region of Africa.

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