{UAH} RWANDA NATIONAL CONGRESS SPLITS

Africans always take one step forward, followed by three giant steps
backwards.And so it is with Rwanda. It seems owl-eyed warlord Paul
Kagame is trying to do what blood-soaked grim-reaper Kayibanda
Museveni has attempted to do in Uganda with the old political parties,
especially with the UPC, in his frantic attempts to neuter the party
by co-opting traitor James Akena into the bosom of the NRA. This time,
Kagame seems to be dangling the carrot of elections in order to lure
some gullible members of the Rwandan National Congress into his
political trap. We never seem to learn, and make the same mistakes
time and again.

Bobby

(NEW) RWANDA NATIONAL CONGRESS

In a meeting of the Political Bureau last month a decision was taken
by a "majority vote" to go ahead with elections in August, 2016,
despite dissenting opinion from Dr. Gerald Gahima, Joseph Ngarambe and
Jonathan Musonera to the effect that holding elections without first
discussing and resolving the major problems facing the organization
would destroy it. Dr. Gerald Gahima resigned from a sham electoral
committee which Lt. Gen. Nyamwasa controls. Members of the Bureau of
the Executive Committee had not, as practice has been, even had the
courtesy to discuss the impending decision on election matters with
the Coordinator. Subsequently, they sought but failed to deny him a
chance to make his opposition to elections in turmoil known to the
meeting of the next Political Bureau meeting.

Through the disruptive influence of Lt. Gen. Kayumba Nyamwasa and his
Tutsi military allies, and the acquiescence of Hutu elements in the
Bureau of the Executive Committee, a proposal for the reformed statute
of the organization was deemed unimportant and shelved, without giving
a chance to the Executive Committee, the Political Bureau and RNC
members to discuss it.

Lt. Gen. Kayumba Nyamwasa has now crowned himself the Chairman of the
Electoral Commission so that he can decide on the outcomes of the
August 2016 elections which, among other things, are intended to expel
those with dissenting views and install puppet subordinates over whom
he has absolute control.

This sad and shameful sequence of events demonstrates that the will of
a loud minority, and the silence of a submissive majority, has now
become the main driving force, replacing the spirit of debate and
compromise that has brought us many achievements in the last five
years.

Given the above prevailing circumstances, we the undersigned have
decided as follows:

1. We apologize to our members, partners and Rwandans in general that
this sad and regrettable state of affairs exists in an organization
with a great promise to the Rwandan people and the Great Lakes region.
2. The Rwanda National Congress must now undertake deep reforms to
restore its dignity and trustworthiness, under the name the NEW RWANDA
NATIONAL CONGRESS (New-RNC); in French, NOUVEAU CONGRES NATIONAL
RWANDAIS; and in Kinyarwanda, IHURIRO RISHYA, with exactly the same
vision, objectives and strategies as inspired by Rwanda Briefing of
August 2010, and enshrined in the RNC Founding Proclamation of 12th
December, 2010, and the RNC Thirteen Strategies Policy Document of
2011.
3. A Steering Committee is now established to run the affairs of the
New-RNC for a period not exceeding thirty (30) days, within which
period the new structures and leadership will be decided upon through
consultation. Its members are Dr. Theogene Rudasingwa (Chairman),
Joseph Ngarambe (Vice Chairman) and Jonathan Musonera (Secretary).
4. All members of RNC automatically become members of the New-RNC,
with all rights and obligations, but each one is free to decide to opt
out. All members of the New-RNC will sign the New-RNC Code of Conduct.
5. With immediate effect we are parting with Lt. Gen. Kayumba
Nyamwasa, his allies, and all members of the Bureau of the Executive
Committee who have submitted to his will.
6. All Chairmen in regions remain in office, but they have seven (07)
days during which they have to decide on their affiliation with
New-RNC. Mr. Chikuru Mwanamayi is appointed the Chairman of Belgium;
Mr.Emmanuel Nshimiyimana the Chairman of Brussels; and Mr. Eric Nkombe
the Chairman of France.
7. The New-RNC adopts the new statute as proposed by the committee
that was chaired by Dr. Gerald Gahima, pending its discussion within
the New-RNC leadership and members. A New-RNC logo will be
communicated as soon as possible.
8. There are no elections expected within the New-RNC until further
notice, in any case not earlier than 2018.
9. The New-RNC stands by the letter and spirit of all decisions
undertaken so far under the umbrella of the opposition platform
(FDU-Inkingi, AMAHORO PC, PS-Imberakuri, and PDP-Imanzi), but will
temporarily exempt itself from the proceedings of the platform in
order to reorganize first.
10. The New-RNC parts with Radio Itahuka, and will therefore not be
responsible for its editorial content and activities. The New-RNC will
now broadcast through another channel to be communicated as soon as
possible.

We have not come to the above decisions easily. On the contrary, it
has been agonizing months in which we have had to consider the main
purpose of our struggle, the interests of our members, and those of
our partners and Rwandans in general.

We face a formidable yet declining enemy in the form of President Paul
Kagame's dictatorial regime. President Kagame is armed, rich,
dangerous and poised to extend his rule indefinitely in 2017. Our
ideas and practice must be such that we face his RPF dictatorship with
superior ideas, disciplined practice, and an efficient organization
that networks with the whole Rwandan society.

However, removing President Paul Kagame from power, though necessary,
is not sufficient to justify any means and more sacrifices by Rwandan
people unless the pursuit and exercise of power in Rwanda by cliques
is uprooted decisively and completely.

There is a lot of urgent and difficult work to do immediately that
should be our priority. All Rwandans, Africa and the international
community have to be mobilized to stop President Paul Kagame from
becoming life President in 2017. Rwandans must pool their energies and
those of neighbors in the Great Lakes region to prevent another costly
regional war through a negotiated, peaceful, political settlement. An
international conference on Rwanda, among all Rwandan opposition
groups and civil society, must be convened to deliberate on a
post-Kagame future on Rwanda, notably on the future of security
institutions, truth and reconciliation, democracy with Rwandan
safeguards, and regional peace and security. The networks of
collaboration and coordination among Rwandan opposition groups and
civil society must be strengthened.

We must rededicate ourselves to uncovering all crimes committed by RPF
in Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo from 1990 until now,
shed light on the crimes committed by the MRND regime including those
of 1973, and bring to light the crimes committed by MDR PARMEHUTU
during its reign. Those involved in shooting down the presidential
plane in 1994, killing President Juvenal Habyarimana of Rwanda and
President Cyprian Ntaryamira of Burundi, will have to account. In
telling the whole truth, and expecting every Rwandan to tell the
truth, the aim is not to punish, but to heal and restore from trauma.
A general amnesty whose terms will be negotiated with all national
stakeholders will provide the necessary framework so that Rwanda may
begin to forgive, reconcile, unite and heal at last. We must have the
courage to remember together all victims of injustice. That journey
must begin with us here, and now.

The New-RNC is an umbrella, broad-based organization for all Rwandans
to exert pressure and advocate for democratic change through peaceful
means.

It has to hit the road again running, reforming and reorganizing as it
undertakes the tasks before it. It cannot afford to be disrupted by
factions, distracted by legalism and bureaucracy, intimidated by
militarism, nor tolerate toxic indiscipline especially in the upper
echelons of its leadership.

The New-RNC must directly reach out to all its members and the whole
Rwandan society, by cutting out all bureaucracy, and gradually
transform itself into a modern networked organization that is capable
of winning by being nimble and agile.

Only through a permanent victory of all for all can the true meaning
of Rwanda's political independence be finally realized, the blood of
millions of Rwandans atoned for, and the sacrifices of freedom
fighters before us retain the catalytic value of creating a free,
just, united, peaceful, democratic and prosperous Rwanda.

Let us go forward with a spirit of love as brothers

--
Disclaimer:Everyone posting to this Forum bears the sole responsibility for any legal consequences of his or her postings, and hence statements and facts must be presented responsibly. Your continued membership signifies that you agree to this disclaimer and pledge to abide by our Rules and Guidelines.To unsubscribe from this group, send email to: ugandans-at-heart+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com