Press release on PBF support to AU in Burundi: UN Peacebuilding Fund Finances African Union Human Rights Observers in Burundi (04.05.2016)

Burundi Violence

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, May 4, 2016Thirty-two (32) African Union human rights observers will be able to continue their work in Burundi for another six months after the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund (PBF) transferred $2.26 million to the African Union Commission late last week, the AU and the PBF announced today.

This is the first time the PBF provides direct support to the African Union Commission and it represents a move toward strengthened cooperation between the UN and the AU in peacebuilding, in line with the resolutions adopted by the UN General Assembly and Security Council last week, calling on the UN to strengthen its cooperation with the AU and other regional organisations.

In this latest round of financing, the PBF also supports the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Burundi with just over $300,000 for training and joint monitoring missions with the AU.

The observers were deployed in response to the decisions of the African Union Peace and Security Council of 14 May 2015 and 13 June 2015, expressing its concern with the increased cases of human rights abuses in Burundi. They are tasked with observing, monitoring and documenting human rights violations in the country as well as human rights advocacy with the government.

The observers have been deployed since July 2015 with funding support from the European Union, which is also supporting the AU military experts in Burundi. The PBF funds cover 32 human rights observers’ presence from April to September 2016. Their deployment is the second step in the AU’s planned deployment of 100 human rights observers and 100 military experts.

This support builds on existing PBF financing for human rights in Burundi. Human rights have been one of the key areas of PBF support to Burundi from the initial stages of PBF engagement in 2008. The AU and the PBF welcomed this fruitful cooperation and hope that the presence of the AU human rights observers will help to reduce the violations of human rights in Burundi.

IGP Kayihura have set Besigye under House-Arrest again today; This comes as a result of the defying the Interim Orders of the banned Defiance Campaign!

Road Block at Kasangati 22.02.2016

After a few days of ability too move freely the buck stops and the Police Force have again sieged the Kasangati compound of Dr. Kizza Besigye the former Presidential Candidate of Forum for Democratic Change. This comes after the FDC have shunned the Interim Order of 29th April as they planned to pray at their offices for the future of the country. “For God and For Country” this is illegal by the maneuvers of the Police today.

So that the Police Force already had taken many of major leaders and affiliated FDC members around the FDC Headquarters in Najjankumbi in Kampala. As I have taken notes on earlier today. But the movement from the Police to seal of the compound of Dr. Kizza Besigye is the latest, not surprising as the Police have a special unit soon made for him alone.

Dr. Kizza Besigye is yet again not allowed to have a life and be an ordinary person as IGP Kale Kayihura and his Police Force together with DPC Kasangati James Kawalya will make sure that he does not leave the compound; yet again!

This is just a mockery of justice as the Interim Orders made by the Deputy Justice Steven Kavuma/Stephen Kavuma is not justified.

Kasangati 03.05.2016

As these orders from both the Deputy Justice and the Inspectorate General of Police have breached this two articles of the Uganda Constitution of 1995:

“27.    Right to privacy of person, home and other property.

1)     No person shall be subjected to—

(b)       unlawful entry by others of the premises of that person.

(2)     No person shall be subjected to interference with the privacy of

that person’s home, correspondence, communication or other property”

That is not what the State does when they are interfering with the communication and the correspondence of the actions of Dr. Kizza Besigye, they are breaching it again and again. To a point that this passage of the Constitution is useless, because Besigye is not allowed to walk out or be part of Political Party by the orders of Police chief today. Here is what piece of legislation that the Police Force is breaching when they stop the administration:

29.   Protection of freedom of conscience, expression, movement, religion, assembly and association.

(1)    Every person shall have the right to—

(c)       freedom to practise any religion and manifest such practice which shall include the right to belong to and participate in the practices of any religious body or organisation in a manner consistent with this Constitution

(d)       freedom to assemble and to demonstrate together with others peacefully and unarmed and to petition; and 

e) freedom of association which shall include the freedom to form and join associations or unions, including trade unions and political and other civic organization”.

So with these breaches and the stops proves how little both the value of the constitution of 1995 is right now for the NRM Regime, as they can take these rights away every time it is needed or can help them to shut down the opposition. The FDC is now practically a unlawful organization who is not allowed to function or have their Political work in the country.

FDC Najjankumbi 03.05.2016 P2

Because they are not allowed to pray, that is part of the “freedom to practice” as every person supposed to have the right too.. the same right is to demonstrate, or the ENGLISH different where I am from and the ones that Stephen Kavuma and Kale Kayihura is reading. They are might learned in specialized and coded English that says something else than what I am reading, because the constitution is the LAW that supposed to set the BAR and level for Justice in a country. Henceforth the Constitution of Uganda, the Constitutional law of the nation. The Republic and the Constitution that gives the land the rule of law; and gives the rights to the citizens, so they can be lawful persons and make sure that the government does not act unjust towards them!

This action today is again and again taken the opportunity to House Arrest Dr. Kizza Besigye while the NRM Regime, their Police State and the reality of the thieving regime does not even honor the laws they got credit to make 21 years ago. The Police Force does not care about the general laws, they use the Public Order Management Act and the other laws that fits the authorities, even if they does not work in the manner the Constitution sets the precedence for the legal authority and the rights a civilian or citizen might have. Something that Dr. Kizza Besigye supposed to have and is now again taken away. Peace.  

Sudan: UN expert calls for a positive environment for a free and inclusive national dialogue (29.04.2016)

Sudan Newspapers

GENEVA, Switzerland, April 29, 2016The United Nations Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in the Sudan, Aristide Nononsi, urged the Sudanese Government “to enable a conducive environment for a free and inclusive national dialogue by respecting the basic fundamental rights of Sudanese people, including the rights to freedoms of expression and association, and of the press.”

“I remain concerned about a number of human rights issues in the country,” Mr. Nononsi said at the end of his second mission to the Sudan. “I continue to hear about cases of arbitrary arrests and detention, as well as allegations of ill-treatment and travel ban on human rights defenders and political activists by security forces, including the National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS).”

The Independent Expert raised concern with the relevant authorities about the arrest and detention without charges of four pastors in Khartoum since mid-December 2016 as well as those of five students from the University of Khartoum since 13 April 2016.

“I was informed that the first case was transferred to judicial authorities who have charged the four pastors with criminal offenses. I was also informed that the case of the students will be shortly handed over to the relevant judicial authorities for prosecutions,” he noted. “I call on Sudanese authorities to ensure that the right to a fair trial and due process is guaranteed to these individuals.”

Mr. Nononsi also drew attention to the ongoing censorship of newspapers, and increased restrictions on journalists from freely expressing their opinion. “I raised the suspension since mid-December 2015 of the Al-Tayar newspaper with the authorities, and I strongly recommended that the appeal of Al-Tayar newspaper against NISS’ decision to suspend its operations is guaranteed an independent judicial review along with provision of adequate compensation,” he added.

The Independent Expert recalled that, in recent weeks, the authorities prevented four Sudanese human rights defenders from attending the pre-briefing session of the Universal Periodic Review* in Geneva

“I would like to emphasize the important role played by human rights defenders and journalists, and stress the need for the Government of Sudan to allow them to carry out their activities in an open, safe and secure environment,” the human rights expert said.

(*) NOTE TO EDITORS: The Universal Periodic Review (UPR) is a unique process which involves a review of the human rights records of all UN Member States. The UPR is a State-driven process, under the auspices of the UN Human Rights Council, which provides the opportunity for each State to declare what actions they have taken to improve the human rights situations in their countries and to fulfil their human rights obligations. As one of the main features of the Council, the UPR is designed to ensure equal treatment for every country when their human rights situations are assessed. The ultimate aim of this mechanism is to improve the human rights situation in all countries and address human rights violations wherever they occur.

Statement from Ingrid Turinawe after being released from Kasangati Police Station tonight! (09.04.2016)

Ingrid Turinawe 09.04.2016

Dear IGP Kale Kayihura, kindly put for us at least a mat or a blanket in this Kasangati police female cell. This cement is very cold For sure. Also fix this door. U can cut a piece of iron sheet, use it to fill these open spaces. It wl reduce the mosquitoes and insects which invade us at night. This roof is leaking. Kindly replace it. Manya Sebo, we are also human beings like you.  Meanwhile, I have a question, really, why did you arrest me today?.  Dear comrades, I have just been released from Kasangati police cells. No charges, no bond, no gate pass.

The UN Secretary-General message on the International Day of Reflection on the Genocide in Rwanda (07.04.2016)

UN 07.04.2016 Rwanda

Rwanda President Paul Kagame on France arrogance (Youtube-Clip)

Interesting view right? The Sovereign principle in perspective and the question of justification and jurisdiction towards the criminal action against humanity and human rights, an how deal with it? If Rwandan should be going to Court in France, shouldn’t French men who commited crimes in Rwanda; go to court in Rwanda? It is questiones worth asking and consider.

Peace.

Burundi: “Actions speak louder than words” – Tom Malinowski (Youtube-Clip)

“In a press conference issued on this Saturday morning by Tom Malinowski, an assistant Secretary, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor concerning his visit in Burundi where he met with different officials, Tom declared his position about the procrastination of the government to execute their” (Iwacu Web TV, 2016).

Burundian Police Officer shoots with a AK-47 at a Demonstrator (Youtube-Clip)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OB2XLp7L01w

This can’t be justice! This is just wrong. At every action, it is usually a reaction; But going to the step of killing a demonstrator while you are a Police Officer; is using the state-violence and killings that are totally wrong as the civilian are not allowed to do violence. Violence is never the answer for creating a profonud peace between different groups in society; while the state have some rights in keeping the border and the country peaceful with the means of organized violence through ordinary police procedure and a national army .

Still, this killing proves how easy it is for the CNDD-FDD and President Nkurunziza to kill the opposition. So the men and woman who is not in favor of the Government of Burundi right now is in danger. Watching  clips like this shows the dangerous situation in Burundi. Also it gives way to understand why so many Burundians have fled to the countries around and their dire situation.

All this happens because ONE man don’t want to step down and give other people the possibility to be the Executive in Burundi, President Nkurunziza have the blood of the demonstrators on his hands and that can not be washed away. That is staines that are stuck between his fingers, even if he never have pulled a trigger after the Presidential Election in 2015. Peace.

The Oppression of the Opposition in Rwanda; the recent story of Victorie Ingabire Umuhoza; and today’s kidnapping of the person delivering food to her in prison!

The crackdown on Opposition in Rwanda is well known abroad and the FDU (Forces Democratiques Unifies) leader Victorie Ingabire Umuhoza who was in the late 2013 through a trial sentenced to jail for 15 years. She is deemed as a political prisoner and gotten the court rigged for her sentence and jailed as certain opposition of the RPF and the Presidency of Paul Kagame. Reason why the world knows little of this is because of the stranglehold the Government of Rwanda has over the media and information.

Important information about the trial of 2013:

“Gatera Gashabana stated that the witness would testify Michel Habimana discharge but this was refused by the MP. This prompted Ingabire to no longer submit to the Court. Another witness wanted his testimony to be heard without being present to the Court for its safety and this was refused. Me Ian Edward has meanwhile raised the crime of genocide denial. He reported that Ms. Ingabire said that there was a genocide of Tutsis but also Hutus are killed and this comes from their own ideas and this is allowed in the Rwandan law ; thereto, Me Ian added that Ingabire should not be prosecuted for it” (LIPRODHOR, 2013).

She appealed in December 2013:

“The Supreme Court has turned down Victorie Ingabire’s appeal against an 8-year sentence handed to her by the High Court last year” (AllAfrica, 2013). “The judge, stating that Ingabire should be serving a 27-year jail term, claimed to have shown her leniency due to the fact that this was her first conviction and because her family was based in the Netherlands” (…)”Ingabire’s trial – which saw her accused of offences related to terrorism, genocide ideology, discrimination and disseminating rumours aimed at inciting the public against the existing leadership – took place between September 2011 and April 2012, and has attracted a considerable amount of criticism from international non-governmental organization” (Joyes, 2016). ” Considering accusations against her, various identified irregularities and ignorance of due process, it has been clear that Rwandan justice system has been used by the Rwandan government as a tool to oppress legitimate and peaceful exercise of freedom of expression and freedom of association” (…)”Freedom of expression and associations are important base and foundations of a democracy. Their absences undermine one of important fundamental rights of people. This situation not only has the potentiality to cause insecurity and conflicts, in Rwanda as result of consequences of oppression, it also affects the country ability to achieve its various social and economic potentialities as result of participation of its people in environment of freedom and rule of law” Said GCRHR coordinator” (Kamuzinzi, 2016).

The Application to the African Court:

“In the year 2000, she became the leader of a political party known as Rassemblement Républicain pour la Démocratie au Rwanda (RDR) (The Republican Movement for Democracy in Rwanda). She had been a member of the party since 1998” (…)”Sometime later, a merger between this party and two other opposition parties (The ADR and the FRD) led to the creation of a new political party known as Forces Democratiques Unifiees (FDU Inkingi) led by the Applicant till date” (…)”In the year 2010, after spending nearly seventeen years abroad, the Applicant decided to return to Rwanda, according to her Counsel, to contribute in nation building” (…)”She did not attain this objective because as from 10 February 2010, charges were brought against her by the judicial police, the Prosecutor and Courts and Tribunals in Rwanda” (…)”On 21 April 2010, the Applicant was remanded by the police and placed under detention” (African Courts, 2014).

In February 2016:

“Her lawyer Gatera Gashabana wrote in letters to the head of the Bar in Rwanda that “on 5 February 2016, I went to the prison to meet with my client to prepare for the hearing before the African Court on Human and People’s Rights based in Arusha (Tanzania) on 4 March 2016.” He went on to say he was told that before any visit all his documents had to be checked and that this hindrance would make it impossible to prepare for the upcoming hearing. He demanded an end to “these excessive demands and intimidations,” according to the letters released by Ingabire’s opposition United Democratic Forces (UDF) party, which is not officially recognised in Rwanda”  (AFP, 2016).

Today – FDU Supporter jailed for bring food to imprisoned Vicoire Ingaire:

“Boniface Twagirimana, FDU-Inkingi 1st vice-president of the political party of the imprisoned Victoire Ingabire, is alerting the Rwandan and international community that 15 minutes ago, Ms Gasengayire Leonille, the person in charge of bringing food to the prisoner from outside, has just been kidnapped by RPF security forces which were waiting for her inside the prison at lunch time. When she entered the prison compound, she was told to get in a civilian car with number plate RAA442M which took her rapidly to an unknown destination” (Twagirimana, 26.03.2016).

Afterthought: 

As much as the Government of Rwanda trying to silence the opposition and the leader of Victorie Ingaire Umuhoza of the FDU who has been jailed and sentenced since 2010 after her arrival back from diaspora in the Netherlands. The last straw and the recognition of the African Court, a African Court that the Government of Rwandan the Rwandan Patriotic Front and their President Kagame tries to distance themselves from or discontinue themselves from.

The proof here is how far the Rwandan Government stifle the opposition and to what extent they don’t value the democratic values, as they even now goes to the point of kidnapping the person who feeds a opposition leader in jail; who is sentenced for 15 years in jail and has not gotten her appeal accepted and also gotten refused to go to African Court on Human Rights in Arusha, Tanzania. This might be the reason for why the Rwandan Government trying to distance themselves from the African Courts as they don’t want the outside to understand their dealings or get grips to the sovereignty.

The state might be sovereign still they will have to be responsible from the actions. That is why they have ratified certain statues and Human Rights laws, even charters as they want to be legitimized internationally and that is why the Rwandan Official defended their case this week. But this kind of imprisonment of an opposition leader and using genocide as a motive for taking her in and letting her rot in prison. As she just returned from Netherlands to do her duty and for her party, not to destroy the RPF or the Government, but create and prove democratic values, as President Kagame neglect and doesn’t care about it, only that he have power and holds on to it by any means. Peace.

Reference:

African Courts: ‘Application No. 003/2014 -Ingabire Victoire Umuhoza v. The Republic of Rwanda’

AFP – ‘JAILED RWANDAN OPPOSITION LEADER’S LAWYER SAYS DENIED ACCESS’ (16.02.2016) link: http://www.newstimeafrica.com/archives/41785

AllAfrica – ‘Rwanda: Ingabire Loses Appeal, Sentenced to 15 Years’ (13.12.2013) link: http://allafrica.com/stories/201312160001.html

LIPRODHOR – ‘In the trial of Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza, his lawyers suggest the innocence of their client’ (29.04.2013) link: http://www.liprodhor.org/en/2013/04/dans-le-proces-de-mme-ingabire-umuhoza-victoire-ses-avocats-evoquent-linnocence-de-leur-cliente/

Joyes, Ben – ‘Rwandan Supreme Court Increases Sentence Against Victoire Ingabire’ (14.03.2016 link: http://arcproject.co.uk/2013/12/rwandan-supreme-court-increases-sentence-against-victoire-ingabire/

Global Campaign for Rwandans Human Rights (GCRWHR) / Kamuzinzi – ‘Rwanda: Opposition leader conviction extinguishes some hope of political freedom and put Rwanda on a dangerous path’ (13.12.2013) link: http://www.inyenyerinews.org/democracy-freedoms/rwanda-opposition-leader-conviction-extinguishes-some-hope-of-political-freedom-and-put-rwanda-on-a-dangerous-path/

South Sudan opposition commanders arrive in Juba (Youtube-Clip)

“Twenty two senior commanders of South Sudan’s armed opposition have arrived in the country;s capital, Juba. They were received by fellow commander and Chief mediator, Taban Deng Gai and the Government spokesperson, Michael Makuei. The chairman of the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission says the creation of the transitional government in South Sudan is long overdue” (CCTV, 2016).