Good People !!!
Kagame speaks with double
mouth holding a double edged sword......
Which is which people............should
he be trusted???
Judy Miriga
Diaspora Spokesperson
Executive Director
Confederation Council Foundation for Africa Inc.,
USA
http://socioeconomicforum50.blogspot.com
Diaspora Spokesperson
Executive Director
Confederation Council Foundation for Africa Inc.,
USA
http://socioeconomicforum50.blogspot.com
Rwanda: Remain Focused, Kagame Tells RPF Leadership
9 August 2013
President Paul Kagame on Wednesday urged the RPF leadership to remain focused
on achieving even more to benefit all Rwandans. President Kagame was addressing
members of the RPF bureau politique at a meeting to select party representatives
for the upcoming legislative elections September.
"We can be happy about progress made but the road ahead is still long. We cannot lose strength. We must build upon our achievements and work hard for sustainability and continuity," he said Speaking on RPF ideology, President Kagame called on members to never lose sight of the responsibility to deliver for Rwandans.
"The foundation of RPF is about facing our challenges. RPF must set itself apart. We must ask more from ourselves. We must deliver on our promises and work together as one party to achieve our targets," he said.
"The struggle continues in different forms. We cannot afford to become complacent. Complacency will not solve genocide ideology or poverty. Complacency will not provide security for all Rwandans or build our future for us."
President Kagame pointed to the injustice and incoherence sometimes inherent in international assistance and urged RPF members to stand up for themselves and their nation.
"They say they want us to move forward but when we do, we are punished for it as if we have committed a crime. They tell us they are here to help us develop but when we take a step forward, we are told we are not meant to think for ourselves or do anything on our own.
"We should not allow ourselves to drift along. We should stop, think and be empowered to continue on the trajectory of progress."
In preparation for the upcoming election set for 16 September, today's RPF meeting approved the list of 72 members that will represent the RPF.
The remaining eight seats on the RPF tickets are reserved for four parties that are in coalition with the RPF. The meeting also approved an amended constitution for the RPF, established new autonomy for youth and women wings and approved the manifesto for the year 2013-2017.
The manifesto which builds upon the RPF achievements of the past twenty years aims to build a Rwanda defined by socio-economic development and inclusive governance that gives every Rwandan the right to shape their own future.
"We can be happy about progress made but the road ahead is still long. We cannot lose strength. We must build upon our achievements and work hard for sustainability and continuity," he said Speaking on RPF ideology, President Kagame called on members to never lose sight of the responsibility to deliver for Rwandans.
"The foundation of RPF is about facing our challenges. RPF must set itself apart. We must ask more from ourselves. We must deliver on our promises and work together as one party to achieve our targets," he said.
"The struggle continues in different forms. We cannot afford to become complacent. Complacency will not solve genocide ideology or poverty. Complacency will not provide security for all Rwandans or build our future for us."
President Kagame pointed to the injustice and incoherence sometimes inherent in international assistance and urged RPF members to stand up for themselves and their nation.
"They say they want us to move forward but when we do, we are punished for it as if we have committed a crime. They tell us they are here to help us develop but when we take a step forward, we are told we are not meant to think for ourselves or do anything on our own.
"We should not allow ourselves to drift along. We should stop, think and be empowered to continue on the trajectory of progress."
In preparation for the upcoming election set for 16 September, today's RPF meeting approved the list of 72 members that will represent the RPF.
The remaining eight seats on the RPF tickets are reserved for four parties that are in coalition with the RPF. The meeting also approved an amended constitution for the RPF, established new autonomy for youth and women wings and approved the manifesto for the year 2013-2017.
The manifesto which builds upon the RPF achievements of the past twenty years aims to build a Rwanda defined by socio-economic development and inclusive governance that gives every Rwandan the right to shape their own future.
Rwanda Invites DR Congo Justice Minister Over Extradition Request
By Times Reporter, 8 August 2013Justice Minister Johnston Busingye has invited his Congolese counterpart to Kigali to discuss Kinshasa's request for extradition of Congolese citizens formerly of the M23 rebel group.
In a letter to the Congolese Minister for Justice and Human Rights, Wivine Mumba, a copy of which this paper has seen, Busingye formally requested legal documents missing in the extradition request.
"In keeping with Rwandan as well as international legal guidelines for extradition, there are basic requirements to allow complete identification of the suspects and enable relevant host institutions to make an accurate decision on this application."
"I also hope the Congolese justice minister will accept our invitation to Kigali to further discuss their request," said Busingye.
The documents requested include records of the suspects, charges and evidence against them, as well as legal references forming the basis of prosecution of each suspect.
The subjects crossed into the country in March to escape schism in M23 group and are currently interned in a temporary facility in accordance with international laws applicable to persons who have fled an armed conflict.
The subjects for extradition are ex-leader of M23 Jean-Marie Runiga and former military commanders Baudouin Ngaruye and Eric Badege. Kinshasa sent its extradition request to Kigali last month.
Government of Rwanda (Kigali)
Rwanda's Foreign Minister Discusses DRC Extraditions, Fdlr and Evicted Rwandans From Tanzania
8 August 2013press release
Kigali — "Rwanda is abiding by international standards but the process takes
time," said Rwanda's Foreign Minister Louise Mushikiwabo at a press briefing
held this morning.
She was responding to a question about a request for extradition from the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) for four former members of the M23 group who sought refuge in Rwanda earlier this year.
"The Ministry of Justice has received the papers and is currently reviewing the documents to see if they are complete. Extradition is not a simple matter where you send a letter and then the people are sent over. It is a serious legal process and we must make sure that everything is done right.
One of the challenges we must address is how to extradite people to a country that still has the death penalty when we abolished it. However, rest assured that we are abiding by international law," said Mushikiwabo.
On wider discussions on the DRC, Mushikiwabo said that the International Conference for the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) Summit held last week called on the DRC government to resume Kampala peace talks as well as naming FDLR, a negative force.
This combined with individual country commitments in the UN Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework for the DRC and the Region showed that regional efforts and as well as a commitment to addressing root causes gives hope of a lasting solution for sustainable peace in the region. "As we do our part, Rwanda requests that that there are no other threats to our territory."
The Minister was also pressed about relations with fellow East African Community member Tanzania.
"We are neighbours and so we have to live in peace. We are in the same block and much is to be gained from this.However, the tension that arose from the suggestion to Rwanda negotiate with FDLR would be met with the same reaction were it from anyone else. FDLR committed genocide in Rwanda. They should be the whole world's enemy. That's how serious crimes of genocide are; we are not talking of a mutiny or a rebel group.
They committed genocide in Rwanda and have continued their deadly work in the DRC. Some say most FDLR are too young to have been in the genocide but the ideology, indoctrinated since birth, has no age. Rwanda will never sit at a table with them and rejects any suggestion to do so. FDLR should disarm, reject genocidal ideology and return to Rwanda."
On the Rwandans evicted from Tanzania, Minister Mushiwabo said that while these things are usually discussed amoung countries, Rwanda is ready to receive any Rwandan who crossed the border.
"We have already started to receive them, with more crossing every day. I want to reassure Tanzanians living in Rwanda that no harm will come to them. We are all part of the East African Community and as such any Tanzanian should feel welcome."
She was responding to a question about a request for extradition from the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) for four former members of the M23 group who sought refuge in Rwanda earlier this year.
"The Ministry of Justice has received the papers and is currently reviewing the documents to see if they are complete. Extradition is not a simple matter where you send a letter and then the people are sent over. It is a serious legal process and we must make sure that everything is done right.
One of the challenges we must address is how to extradite people to a country that still has the death penalty when we abolished it. However, rest assured that we are abiding by international law," said Mushikiwabo.
On wider discussions on the DRC, Mushikiwabo said that the International Conference for the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) Summit held last week called on the DRC government to resume Kampala peace talks as well as naming FDLR, a negative force.
This combined with individual country commitments in the UN Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework for the DRC and the Region showed that regional efforts and as well as a commitment to addressing root causes gives hope of a lasting solution for sustainable peace in the region. "As we do our part, Rwanda requests that that there are no other threats to our territory."
The Minister was also pressed about relations with fellow East African Community member Tanzania.
"We are neighbours and so we have to live in peace. We are in the same block and much is to be gained from this.However, the tension that arose from the suggestion to Rwanda negotiate with FDLR would be met with the same reaction were it from anyone else. FDLR committed genocide in Rwanda. They should be the whole world's enemy. That's how serious crimes of genocide are; we are not talking of a mutiny or a rebel group.
They committed genocide in Rwanda and have continued their deadly work in the DRC. Some say most FDLR are too young to have been in the genocide but the ideology, indoctrinated since birth, has no age. Rwanda will never sit at a table with them and rejects any suggestion to do so. FDLR should disarm, reject genocidal ideology and return to Rwanda."
On the Rwandans evicted from Tanzania, Minister Mushiwabo said that while these things are usually discussed amoung countries, Rwanda is ready to receive any Rwandan who crossed the border.
"We have already started to receive them, with more crossing every day. I want to reassure Tanzanians living in Rwanda that no harm will come to them. We are all part of the East African Community and as such any Tanzanian should feel welcome."
Rwanda's Foreign Minister Discusses DRC Extraditions, Fdlr and Evicted Rwandans From Tanzania
8 August 2013Related Topics
press release
Kigali — "Rwanda is abiding by international standards but the process takes time," said Rwanda's Foreign Minister Louise Mushikiwabo at a press briefing held this morning.
She was responding to a question about a request for extradition from the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) for four former members of the M23 group who sought refuge in Rwanda earlier this year.
"The Ministry of Justice has received the papers and is currently reviewing the documents to see if they are complete. Extradition is not a simple matter where you send a letter and then the people are sent over. It is a serious legal process and we must make sure that everything is done right.
One of the challenges we must address is how to extradite people to a country that still has the death penalty when we abolished it.
However, rest assured that we are abiding by international law," said Mushikiwabo.
On wider discussions on the DRC, Mushikiwabo said that the International Conference for the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) Summit held last week called on the DRC government to resume Kampala peace talks as well as naming FDLR, a negative force.
This combined with individual country commitments in the UN Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework for the DRC and the Region showed that regional efforts and as well as a commitment to addressing root causes gives hope of a lasting solution for sustainable peace in the region. "As we do our part, Rwanda requests that that there are no other threats to our territory."
The Minister was also pressed about relations with fellow East African Community member Tanzania.
"We are neighbours and so we have to live in peace.
We are in the same block and much is to be gained from this.However, the tension that arose from the suggestion to Rwanda negotiate with FDLR would be met with the same reaction were it from anyone else. FDLR committed genocide in Rwanda. They should be the whole world's enemy. That's how serious crimes of genocide are; we are not talking of a mutiny or a rebel group.
They committed genocide in Rwanda and have continued their deadly work in the DRC. Some say most FDLR are too young to have been in the genocide but the ideology, indoctrinated since birth, has no age. Rwanda will never sit at a table with them and rejects any suggestion to do so. FDLR should disarm, reject genocidal ideology and return to Rwanda."
On the Rwandans evicted from Tanzania, Minister Mushiwabo said that while these things are usually discussed amoung countries, Rwanda is ready to receive any Rwandan who crossed the border.
"We have already started to receive them, with more crossing every day. I want to reassure Tanzanians living in Rwanda that no harm will come to them. We are all part of the East African Community and as such any Tanzanian should feel welcome."
Rwanda: Convicted Ex-Prime Minister Jean Kambanda Publishes Damning Portrait of Rwanda Tribunal
7 August 2013
Arusha — Writing from his prison cell in
Mali, former Rwandan Prime Minister Jean Kambanda has released a book that
paints a damning portrait of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda
(ICTR).
Kambanda, who was given a maximum sentence
of life despite pleading guilty, claims he was victim of a confidence trick by
the ICTR prosecution.
The book of some 400 pages is titled in
French "Rwanda face à l'apocalypse" and is published by Belgian publishing house
E.M.E. "Sources d'Homme". Kambanda, a former head of the Banques Populaires du
Rwanda, was Prime Minister of the government in place during the Rwandan
genocide.
After his arrest in Nairobi on July 18, 1997, Kambanda was flown to Arusha,
Tanzania, where the ICTR is based. He writes that he was then installed in a
"sumptuous villa", where he stayed for two weeks and was subjected daily to 16
hours of questioning by a prosecution team. On August 3, he was transferred to
the ICTR Detention Facility. "From August 3 to 27, 1997, I stayed in my cell
without ever leaving it for a single minute," he writes. "This ordeal had
physical and psychological effects from which I still suffer today."The next day, he was taken to Dodoma in central Tanzania accompanied by two investigators for the prosecution, Pierre Duclos and Marcel Desaulniers, ironically referred to as "my two guardian angels". Still there was no indictment, he complains.
"From the time of my arrest to my initial appearance nearly nine months later, I remained under the exclusive responsibility of the Office of the Prosecutor, with the full knowledge of the judges," says Kambanda. "This despite the fact that my lawyer and organizations like Amnesty International had alerted them." According to his book, the Registry refused to assign him the lawyer of his choice, Johan Scheers of Belgium, who was nevertheless on its list. "The person said to be my lawyer, Oliver Michael Inglis of Belgium, was in fact imposed by Deputy Prosecutor Bernard Muna," Kambanda claims. He says that during his rare sessions with Inglis, prosecutor Pierre Duclos would sit nearby and request the minutes at the end of the meeting.
As a "hostage of the prosecution", "in conflict with the Registry", without proper legal assistance and with the judges "turning a blind eye", Kambanda claims he had no choice but to plead guilty. Above all, he says, Deputy Prosecutor Bernard Muna had promised to obtain from the judges a reduction in his sentence and to relocate his family who were living at the time in Côte d'Ivoire. If the former Prime Minister is to be believed, the prosecution even put pressure on his family after they arrived in Egypt so that he not retract his confession. He claims that representatives of the Office of the Prosecutor threatened to abandon his wife and children in the desert if he withdrew his guilty plea.
"What could I do? (... ) I thought and I still think that I had to concede on everything so that one day I would be able to deliver freely my own testimony, for the sake of History. That is the only reason I pleaded guilty to all charges."
On May 1, 1998, Kambanda pleaded guilty to all six charges brought against him. However, on September 4, 1998, he was sentenced to life in jail. Feeling betrayed, Kambanda filed an appeal and stopped cooperating with the prosecution. He claims two envoys from the Office of the Prosecutor, Gilbert Morizette and France Thibodeau, went to see his family, who had just got asylum in the United States, and put new pressure on them. He claims they tried to persuade his wife to telephone him and tell him to maintain the guilty plea before the Appeals Chamber.
"This idea I rejected," says the former Rwandan Prime Minister. "I also informed the ICTR Prosecutor that if such pressure continued to be put on my family, I would tell them to request protection from the judicial authorities of their host country. This threat put a stop to all the prosecution's pressure on my family."
Today he admits only the failure of his government to ensure the security of all Rwandans at that time. "As a human being, I have not committed any crime against any individual," he writes. "I plead guilty to leading a government that was unable to protect its people, all its people, and not for any criminal act that I personally committed or ordered." Kambanda also claims that "this government did everything that it could". ER/ JC
Rwanda Contacts DRC Over Smuggled Minerals
By Ivan R. Mugisha, 6 August 2013The government of Rwanda has contacted their counterparts in the Democratic Republic of Congo over the tonnes of smuggled minerals from the neighbouring country.
The minerals which, according to the State Minister in charge of Mining, Evode Imena, constituted 8.4 metric tonnes of wolfram, tin and coltan, were seized in June as they were being smuggled into the country from DRC.
"We have communicated to the government of DRC. Rwanda Revenue Authority delivered a letter to the customs of DRC and we are waiting for their response," Imena, said in an interview last week, adding that the response will determine when the minerals will be handed back.
Unkonwn value:
The interception of the minerals was first announced last month by Louise Mushikiwabo, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, during her address to the UN Security Council in a debate on the security situation in the Great Lakes Region.
The value of the minerals is not known. "Once they (Congolese) are ready, we shall inform you of when we shall hand over the minerals," Imena added. According to the state minister, the minerals constitute the three so-called "conflict minerals" of tin, wolfram and coltan and are currently stored at the Revenue Protection Department in Rusizi District.
The Deputy Commissioner General of RRA, Richard Tusabe, said that the smuggled minerals were seized by a Rwandan surveillance team along the DRC border, although the smugglers were not captured. "They abandoned the minerals and ran away. We do not have any details on who they are," Tusabe said, adding that: "We will sustain surveillance to stop smugglers."
In November 2011, Rwanda handed 82 tonnes of smuggled tin, coltan and wolfram back to DRC .
Rwanda: Clinton Visits Rwanda
The New Times, 5 August 2013
Former US President Bill Clinton arrived in Rwanda last evening for a two-day visit during which he will tour several projects under the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) and ... read more »
Photo: Tami Hultman
Bill ClintonRwanda Focus (Kigali)
Rwanda: Clintons Tours Foundation Projects
By Jean Damascène Niyitegeka, 5 August 2013
The former American President Bill Clinton together with his daughter Chelsea
are on a two-day visit to Rwanda visiting projects supported by the Clinton
Foundation. The trip aims at highlighting the Foundation's work in economic
growth and empowerment, equality of opportunity and health access in Rwanda.
One of the projects Clinton visited is the purification of dirty water within only 30 minutes. Water and Sanitation Hygiene is the project funded by Procter & Gamble, the Clinton Global Initiative and World Vision.
Together with students and parents from Groupe Scolaire Camp Kanombe, Clinton witnessed how within 30 minutes the small packet transforms brown, dirty and dangerous water to become safe for drinking. The process consists of mixing a product which costs Frw 25 with dirty water.
"It is amazing," Clinton said after having tried it himself. "This is the simplest, cheapest and quickest way of saving the people's lives."
He added that hundreds of people die due to diseases originating from the dirty water consuming. Unicef estimates that nearly 2000 children die every day from diarrhea, more than HIV/AIDS and malaria combined.
The one-year project is meant to provide clean water to more than 260,000 residents from Bugesera and Gatsibo districts that were chosen due to their vulnerability in access to clean water.
"These are products which are used by people who do not yet have access to clean water. However, we do not mobilize them only to use this product but we leave the place after setting up the clean water points", said Theoneste Nkurunziza, the project manager from World Vision.
The organization has also trained more than 120 communities on the benefits of sanitation, resulting in 12,308 households building their own improved latrines, completed more than 10,121 hand-washing facilities serving more than 40,000 people.
"When you bring clean water into a community, it has an immediate impact," remarked George Gitau, the World Vision country director. "The number of child deaths and malnutrition drop, the number of girls able to attend the school rises and we see more women able to participate in the economy."
Bill and Chelsea Clinton have been building their longstanding commitment to Africa through the work of the Clinton Foundation, providing investment, opportunity and health access to underserved communities.
In 2012, both they traveled to Africa to visit Clinton Foundation sites in South Africa, Mozambique, Rwanda and Uganda.
The Bill, Hillary & Chelsea Clinton Foundation works to improve global health, strengthen economies, promote health and wellness, and protect the environment by fostering partnerships among governments, businesses, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), and private citizens to turn good intentions into measurable results.
Since 2001, the Clinton Foundation's work has resulted in more than 5 million people benefiting from lifesaving HIV/AIDS treatment; more than 18,000 U.S. schools building healthier learning environments; more than 55,000 micro-entrepreneurs, small business owners, and smallholder farmers improving their livelihoods and communities; and more than 248 million tons of CO2 being reduced in cities around the world.
One of the projects Clinton visited is the purification of dirty water within only 30 minutes. Water and Sanitation Hygiene is the project funded by Procter & Gamble, the Clinton Global Initiative and World Vision.
Together with students and parents from Groupe Scolaire Camp Kanombe, Clinton witnessed how within 30 minutes the small packet transforms brown, dirty and dangerous water to become safe for drinking. The process consists of mixing a product which costs Frw 25 with dirty water.
"It is amazing," Clinton said after having tried it himself. "This is the simplest, cheapest and quickest way of saving the people's lives."
He added that hundreds of people die due to diseases originating from the dirty water consuming. Unicef estimates that nearly 2000 children die every day from diarrhea, more than HIV/AIDS and malaria combined.
The one-year project is meant to provide clean water to more than 260,000 residents from Bugesera and Gatsibo districts that were chosen due to their vulnerability in access to clean water.
"These are products which are used by people who do not yet have access to clean water. However, we do not mobilize them only to use this product but we leave the place after setting up the clean water points", said Theoneste Nkurunziza, the project manager from World Vision.
The organization has also trained more than 120 communities on the benefits of sanitation, resulting in 12,308 households building their own improved latrines, completed more than 10,121 hand-washing facilities serving more than 40,000 people.
"When you bring clean water into a community, it has an immediate impact," remarked George Gitau, the World Vision country director. "The number of child deaths and malnutrition drop, the number of girls able to attend the school rises and we see more women able to participate in the economy."
Bill and Chelsea Clinton have been building their longstanding commitment to Africa through the work of the Clinton Foundation, providing investment, opportunity and health access to underserved communities.
In 2012, both they traveled to Africa to visit Clinton Foundation sites in South Africa, Mozambique, Rwanda and Uganda.
The Bill, Hillary & Chelsea Clinton Foundation works to improve global health, strengthen economies, promote health and wellness, and protect the environment by fostering partnerships among governments, businesses, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), and private citizens to turn good intentions into measurable results.
Since 2001, the Clinton Foundation's work has resulted in more than 5 million people benefiting from lifesaving HIV/AIDS treatment; more than 18,000 U.S. schools building healthier learning environments; more than 55,000 micro-entrepreneurs, small business owners, and smallholder farmers improving their livelihoods and communities; and more than 248 million tons of CO2 being reduced in cities around the world.
Rwanda: Kagame, Clinton Launch Nutrition Initiative
6 August 2013Presidents Paul Kagame and former US president, Bill Clinton on Monday announced a nutrition initiative that will result in the establishment of the first factory for fortified baby food in the region.
Clinton was in Rwanda with daughter Chelsea for a two days' visit which is part of their African tour. At the launch of the initiative Clinton reaffirmed his belief in the success of the ongoing partnership with Rwanda. "I have an enormous amount of confidence in this project because this is Rwanda and I have never seen you fail," said Clinton
Emphasizing the importance of the initiative, Rwanda's President, Paul Kagame pointed to the need to end malnutrition everywhere. "Malnutrition is unacceptable in Rwanda and anywhere else in the world. The factory that will be producing the fortified nutritious food will benefit many more people in our region and will lead to the elimination of hunger and malnutrition and improve livelihoods," Kagame said
He added that addressing malnutrition should be seen as an integral part of achieving socio-economic development. "Combating malnutrition effectively should be part and parcel of poverty reduction and economic development. This partnership comes at an opportune moment when we are launching our second Economic Development and Poverty Reduction Strategy.
The plant to manufacture fortified baby foods will ensure that infants and mothers have access to healthy, nutritious food and will serve as an engine for economic development," Kagame said. Both President Kagame and Clinton concluded with a commitment to ensure the success of this initiative.
The first baby food factory will be built with world-class machinery, standards and quality that will produce the wholly nutritious food and ensure access for all Rwandan children.
The launch of the factory took place as part of Clinton and Chelsea Clinton's two day working visit to Rwanda which included a visit to a coffee roasting facility built in partnership with Clinton Hunter Development Initiative and Ministry of Agriculture.
Clinton and Chelsea Clinton ended the day with a dinner hosted by President Kagame and First Lady Jeannette Kagame at their residence.
Uganda: UN Rights Experts Call On Uganda to Repeal New Bill Restricting Public Assembly
9 August 2013Related Topics
Three
independent United Nations experts today called on the Government of Uganda to
repeal a new bill that places restrictions on the freedom of peaceful assembly
and of association, and to prepare a new version that complies with the
country's international human rights obligations.
The Public Order Management Bill, passed on 6 August, prohibits protests of
more than three people without prior police authorization, and authorizes police
to use guns when policing public events.
Maina Kiai, the Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association, stated that several provisions of the law constitute an undue restriction on the ability for individuals to take part in public assembly.
"Requiring prior authorization from the authorities to hold an assembly may result in an effective ban on certain gatherings, which violates Uganda's international obligations," he said in a news release.
Mr. Kiai also stressed that "the requirement to list the names of all participants serves only to frighten people from expressing their right to peaceful assembly."
The Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, Margaret Sekaggya, noted that "police intimidation has no place in a free, open and democratic society" and that the use of firearms must be strictly safeguarded.
"The Law fails to limit firearm use; it must ensure they can only be used after exhausting all other possible means, in compliance with the UN Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Official," she stressed.
Ms. Sekaggy also voiced concern that this law is clearly aimed at obstructing the work of human rights defenders and those who legitimately wish to express their concerns with the Government.
"By excluding assemblies for social, religious, cultural, charitable, educational, commercial or industrial purposes, as well as meetings of any political party from its provisions, it is clear that this law is not intended to protect public safety during public events, but is designed to unduly limit those who wish to publicly defend their human rights," she said.
Also expressing concern was the Special Rapporteur on the right to freedom of opinion and expression, Frank La Rue, who warned that "the requirement for public statements not to contravene any laws is excessively vague. In fact, it may be used as a tool for censoring all sort of critical statements, undermining a crucial guarantee for democratic governance."
The experts, who are all appointed by the UN Human Rights Council, drew special attention to the fact that the bill may lead to criminal penalties against organizers of unauthorized assemblies, and vague provisions allow members of the public who are harmed by protests to sue organizers.
"Criminalizing public assemblies which are not authorized by the Government, and creating the risk of serious financial liability for their organizers, are unnecessary restrictions on human rights, and are not necessary to ensure public safety," they said.
The experts added that this latest legislative development is part of an "increasingly hostile environment" towards civil society and human rights defenders in Uganda.
Maina Kiai, the Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association, stated that several provisions of the law constitute an undue restriction on the ability for individuals to take part in public assembly.
"Requiring prior authorization from the authorities to hold an assembly may result in an effective ban on certain gatherings, which violates Uganda's international obligations," he said in a news release.
Mr. Kiai also stressed that "the requirement to list the names of all participants serves only to frighten people from expressing their right to peaceful assembly."
The Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, Margaret Sekaggya, noted that "police intimidation has no place in a free, open and democratic society" and that the use of firearms must be strictly safeguarded.
"The Law fails to limit firearm use; it must ensure they can only be used after exhausting all other possible means, in compliance with the UN Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Official," she stressed.
Ms. Sekaggy also voiced concern that this law is clearly aimed at obstructing the work of human rights defenders and those who legitimately wish to express their concerns with the Government.
"By excluding assemblies for social, religious, cultural, charitable, educational, commercial or industrial purposes, as well as meetings of any political party from its provisions, it is clear that this law is not intended to protect public safety during public events, but is designed to unduly limit those who wish to publicly defend their human rights," she said.
Also expressing concern was the Special Rapporteur on the right to freedom of opinion and expression, Frank La Rue, who warned that "the requirement for public statements not to contravene any laws is excessively vague. In fact, it may be used as a tool for censoring all sort of critical statements, undermining a crucial guarantee for democratic governance."
The experts, who are all appointed by the UN Human Rights Council, drew special attention to the fact that the bill may lead to criminal penalties against organizers of unauthorized assemblies, and vague provisions allow members of the public who are harmed by protests to sue organizers.
"Criminalizing public assemblies which are not authorized by the Government, and creating the risk of serious financial liability for their organizers, are unnecessary restrictions on human rights, and are not necessary to ensure public safety," they said.
The experts added that this latest legislative development is part of an "increasingly hostile environment" towards civil society and human rights defenders in Uganda.
"Unless this law is amended to comply with
Uganda's international legal obligations, it must be revoked. We are at the full
disposal of the Government of Uganda to provide any technical assistance it may
require to ensure this law meets international human rights law and standards,"
the experts said.
Independent experts or special rapporteurs
are tasked with examining and reporting back on a country situation or a
specific human rights theme. The positions are honorary and the experts are not
UN staff, nor are they paid for their work.
ATM Fraud - Bulgarians in Court Today for Ruling
Kampala High Court is today expected to
deliver its judgment in a high-profile case in which four jailed Bulgarians … see more
»
No comments:
Post a Comment