Rwandan opposition
candidate charges interference in campaign
KIGALI, 13 August 2003 A candidate in Rwanda's August 25 presidential election said the ruling party is using unfair tactics to frustrate his campaign efforts. But the electoral commission has denied the charge. KIGALI: Faustin Twagiramungu is one of four candidates vying for the
position of president, a post currently held by President Paul Kagame of the
ruling Rwandese Patriotic Front. Kagame is also running for president, as are
Alivera Mukabaramba and Jean Nepomuscene Nayinzira.
Twagiramungu said it is difficult for him to campaign
effectively. He said he has been prevented from holding public rallies until
recently, and claims that government agents are assaulting and detaining his
supporters.
"People who support us in different corners of the
country are not in safety. They are being threatened. The only propaganda would
be for the president, not for the competitors of his campaign," he said.
Twagiramungu also claims that the Tutsi-led ruling party
is warning that if Rwandans elect a Hutu such as him, there may be a repeat of
the 1994 genocide in which up to one million people were killed when Hutu
extremists indiscriminately killed members of the Tutsi ethnic group and
moderate Hutus.
The chairman of the National Electoral Commission of
Rwanda, Chrisologue Karangwa, disputes Twagiramungu's claims, insisting the
campaigns are free and fair.
Karangwa also denies that government or party agents
have been harassing the candidates' supporters. "I can assure you, in our
commission, we follow everything within this campaign time. Neither Twagiramungu
nor other candidates is intimidated or his supporters are intimidated. The
commission is taking every measure to assure every candidate that he can have
his rights in this campaign time," he said.
Karangwa said it is Twagiramungu who is basing his
campaign on ethnic politics by telling Hutus to take back power. "He's saying
that the RPF [Rwandese Patriotic Front] is using that way [ethnic politics].
That is the contrary of what is being done here in our country."
The August 25 election will be Rwanda's first since the
1994 genocide. After the violence, the RPF took power to deal with the
genocide's aftermath and restore order.
Since then, arrangements have been made to allow for
multi-party elections. But despite these changes, observers are worried that
these elections may not be free and fair.
(Voice of America News) |