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Investigation Demanded into Rwandan Party Officialâs Death

   Peter Clottey 14 July 2010
   Rwandan  President  Paul Kagame addresses the crowd at Amahoro Stadium
   in  Kigali  during  the  Liberation  Day  ceremonies  marking the 16th
   anniversary of the end of the Genocide, 04 Jul 2010

Photo: AP

   Rwandan  President  Paul Kagame addresses the crowd at Amahoro Stadium
   in  Kigali  during  the  Liberation  Day  ceremonies  marking the 16th
   anniversary of the end of the Genocide, 04 Jul 2010

   The  chairman of Rwandaâs opposition Democratic Green Party has called
   on   President   Paul   Kagameâs   government   to  begin  a  thorough
   investigation into the murder of the vice president of his party.

   Frank  Habineza  said, despite repeated appeals to the government, the
   Minister  of  Interior  has  refused  to  give  the opposition leaders
   protection  after  they received several threats ahead of the upcoming
   presidential election scheduled for 9^th August.

   âIt is very sad and shocking that we heard that our vice president was
   murdered, his head was almost cut off, and he was also kind of stabbed
   in  the  chest.  We would like now to call upon the Rwandan government
   and  the  national  police to carry out (a) thorough investigation and
   let  us  know  who  is  behind  this  killing and bring to justice his
   murderers,â he said.

   The   opposition  party  reported  its  vice  president,  Andre  Kagwa
   Rwisereka,  missing  a day before he was found dead near his abandoned
   car.

   Rwandaâs   police  said  they  have  launched  an  investigation  into
   Rwiserekaâs  death  despite  not  fully  knowing the motive behind the
   opposition leaderâs death, although they said they suspect robbery.

   Police spokesman Eric Kayiranga was quoted as saying Rwiserekaâs âbody
   was  found this (Wednesday) morning three kilometers (about two miles)
   from  where his car was found, along with a large knife which may have
   been used in the killing. It was a kind of macheteâ.

   But,  opposition  leader  Habineza  said  the police have so far given
   contradictory reports.

   âWe have been getting conflicting reports so we havenât gotten a clear
   message   from   the   police.   But,  they  are  still  carrying  out
   investigations.  There  are some people who say it was robbery, but we
   understand  that  it  was  not robbery because yesterday (Tuesday) his
   car,  which  was  push(ed) into the wetland, the police found out that
   his house keys were there inside the car,â Habineza said.

   He   dismissed   allegations   that   Rwisereka  was  fleeing  Rwandan
   authorities  into  neighboring  Burundi saying the opposition leaderâs
   passport was found in his bedroom.

   Observers  say  the  opposition leaderâs death could heighten tensions
   ahead of the presidential vote.

   Several  human  rights  organizations  have accused President Kagameâs
   government  of  strongly  repressing  dissenting  views  ahead  of the
   upcoming election, a charge the government denies.

   Rwandan  government  officials  were  not  immediately  available  for
   comments despite repeated attempts.

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