http://www.inyenyerinews.org/amakuru-2/government-chief-whip-andrew-mitchell-finally-resigns/ Government chief whip Andrew Mitchell finally resigns October 19, 2012 By Rwema IT Webmaster 1 Comment In a letter to the Prime Minister, Mr Mitchell admitted swearing at officers when he told them: "I thought you guys were supposed to f***ing help us". However, he continued to strongly deny calling the police "plebs" or "morons" but accepted that he was no longer "able to fulfil my duties". The announcement came a month after the chief whip was involved in an angry confrontation with Downing Street police officers which has led to him being openly mocked by his colleagues. Mr Mitchell's departure from the Government will spark a mini reshuffle – just weeks after Mr Cameron promoted Mr Mitchell in a shake-up of the Cabinet in September. It threatens to call into question the Prime Minister's judgement in staunchly defending Mr Mitchell for several weeks. The chief whip, who is responsible for enforcing Conservative Party discipline in the Commons, is understood to have considered his position after being openly criticised at a meeting of Conservative MPs on Wednesday evening. Mr Mitchell's deputy, John Randall, is said to have threatened to resign earlier this week over the issue. Mr Mitchell waited for David Cameron to return from Brussels last night before resigning in a face-to-face meeting at Chequers, the Prime Minister's official country residence. In his resignation letter to the Prime Minister, Mr Mitchell said: "Over the last two days it has become clear to me that whatever the rights and wrongs of the matter I will not be able to fulfil my duties as we would both wish. Nor is it fair to continue to put my family and colleagues through this upsetting and damaging publicity." The resignation calls into question Mr Cameron's decision to publicly and repeatedly defend Mr Mitchell for several weeks after details of his outburst were leaked. Senior ministers had privately concluded last month that the chief whip's position was untenable as his confrontation continued to overshadow the Government's political agenda. In his letter accepting the chief whip's resignation, Mr Cameron accepted that the resignation was now "necessary". "I regret that this has become necessary, and am very grateful for all you have done, both in Government and in Opposition," he said. "As you have acknowledged, the incident in Downing Street was not acceptable and you were right to apologise for it." The incident which sparked Mr Mitchell's resignation occurred on Wednesday September 19th, when he was attempting to cycle out of Downing Street. An official police record of the incident, subsequently leaked to The Daily Telegraph, showed that he refused to comply with police officers, angrily swore at them and was then threatened with arrest after he called them "plebs" The police log stated that officers had asked Mr Mitchell to dismount from his bicycle and wheel it through a pedestrian exit. However, the log then said: "There were several members of public present as is the norm opposite the pedestrian gate and as we neared it, Mr Mitchell said: 'Best you learn your f—— place…you don't run this f—— government …you're f—— plebs.'" The officer noted that members of the public looked "visibly shocked" by Mr Mitchell's language and the Chief Whip was warned that he if he continued to swear he would be arrested under the Public Order Act. The police record notes: "Mr Mitchell was then silent and left saying 'you haven't heard the last of this' as he cycled off." In his resignation letter to Mr Cameron, the chief whip gave his most fulsome explanation of his version of events. He said: "I have made clear to you – and I give you my categorical assurance again – that I did not never have and never would call a police officer a 'pleb' or a 'moron' or used any of the other pejorative descriptions attributed to me. "The offending comment and the reason for my apology to the police was my parting remark, 'I thought you guys were supposed to f***ing help us.' It was obviously wrong of me to use such bad language and I am very sorry about it and grateful to the police officer for accepting my apology." It is understood that Mr Mitchell, who was nicknamed "thrasher" at school, will make a statement to Parliament on his resignation next week. He was previously International Development Secretary and one of the Government's most steadfast backers of the policy to continue increasing public spending on overseas aid. His promotion to chief whip appeared to seal his place at the heart of Mr Cameron's team – despite Mr Mitchell's position as campaign manager for David Davis in the last Conservative leadership contest. It is understood that the Chancellor recommended that Mr Mitchell be moved to the chief whip's position in last month's reshuffle. However, the row over his confrontation with police had wider political significance as it led to accusations that senior Conservative politicians are out of touch with the general public and was seized upon by Ed Miliband to launch class-based attacks on the Prime Minister. A friend of Mr Mitchell said on Friday night: "He is not blaming Labour – they were doing their job. He is not blaming anybody. A situation appears and it became impossible for him to continue in his job." Michael Fabricant, a former Conservative whip who has been openly critical of Mr Mitchell, said: "I spoke to Andrew yesterday about this and I was frank. This has been playing out like a long Greek tragedy and I hope that now he will take a break and rebuild his strength. He is a very able individual and I am sure he will return to public life in due course." The resignation was welcomed by representatives of the Police Federation, which represents rank-and-file officers, although there was some anger that he is refusing to accept the Downing Street officers' version of events. Stuart Hinton, secretary for Warwickshire Police federation who met Mr Mitchell last week to discuss the affair, said: "He has made the right decision. He has fallen on his sword and it is time to move on." Labour criticised the Prime Minister for looking "profoundly weak" by backing the chief whip for weeks. Michael Dugher, a shadow Cabinet Office minister, said: "After weeks in complete denial, Andrew Mitchell has finally bowed to public pressure. "David Cameron is left looking profoundly weak and totally out of touch, doing everything he could to hold on to Andrew Mitchell only for his Chief Whip to bow to the inevitable given the understandable public anger." Sir George Young, who quit as leader of the House in last month's reshuffle, was appointed Government chief whip to replace Mr Mitchell. Source: The Telegraph

Rwanda: Isomwa ry'urubanza rwa Ingabire ryasubitswe

Umva BBC-Gahuza: http://www.bbc.co.uk/gahuza/audio_console.shtml?programme=glak1630 Isomwa ry'urubanza rwa Ingabire ryasubitswe Ibiherutse kuvugururwa: 19 ukwa cumi, 2012 - 16:37 GMT Facebook Twitter Send to a friend Print page Ingabire muri sentare kuwa 18/1012, asomerwa urubanza ku ngingo yeregeye mw'itegeko rihana ingengabitekerezo ya jenoside Umucamanza yavuze ko iri subikwa ritewe n'uko hatabonetse umwanya uhagije wo guhuza imyanzuro y'ikirego Ingabire yatanze mu rukiko rw'ikirenga asaba ikurwaho ry'ingingo zimwe zo mu itegeko rihana ingengabitekerezo ya jenocide. Umucamanza yavuze ko iyi tariki ya 19 yashoboraga kubahirizwa iyo ikirego cya Ingabire kiba cyabonye umwanzuro ku itariki ya 5 nk'uko byari biteganijwe ariko urubanza rukaza kwimurirwa ku itariki ya 18. Ku mucamanza rero ngo igihe cy'umunsi umwe nticyari gihagije ngo imanza zombie zigereranywe dore ko zinafitanye isano . Mu birego 6 by'ubushinjacyaha harimo icy'ingengabitekerezo ya genocide kandi ingingo zigihana ni zo Ingabire yari yasabiye kuvanwaho . Zimwe mu ngingo zihana iki cyaha Ingabire avuga ko zirimo urujijo kandi ko zibuza ubwisanzure bwo kugira icyo uvuga kuri genocide bitiswe icyaha . Iyo rukiko rw'ikirenga rushyigikira icyifuzo cye rugategeka ko izi ngingo zikurwa mu itegeko byinshi byashoboraga guhinduka mu rubanza yarezwemo n'ubushinjacyaha . Ingabire Victoire umaze imyaka 2 muri gereza aracyashimangira ko afunzwe kubera ibitekerezo bye bya Politiki bidahuye n'iby'ishyaka riri ku butegetsi . Yagarutse mu Rwanda nyuma y'igihe kirekire aba mu gihugu cy'Ubuholandi avuga ko aje guhatana mu matora y'umukuru w'igihugu . Gusa yaje gutabwa muri yombi amatora ataraba aregwa ibyaha birimo iterabwoba ,guhungabanya umutekano w'igihugu ,amacakububiri n'ingengabitekerezo ya Genocide . Urubanza rwe rwakunze kubamo impaka nyinshi avuga ko afunzwe byo kumwumvisha ndetse urubanza ruri hafi kurangira afata umwanzuro wo kutagaruka mu rukiko yemeza ko ubutabera bwo m Rwanda butisanzuye byatuma bumaha ubutabera yifuza . Victoire Ingabire ni we mutegarugori wa mbere watangaje ku mugaragaro bwa mbere ko atavuga rumwe n'ubutegetsi buriho ndetse yiyemeza no kugaruka mu gihugu avuga ko agiye kwiyamamariza kuyobora igihugu . Gusa gukina politiki kuri we bisa n'ibitazamworohera kuko uretse igifungo kirekire ashobora guhabwa kubera ibyaha bikomeye ashinjwa, ishyaka rye FDU –Inkingi na ryo ntiriremererwa gukorea mu gihugu . Jean Claude Mwambutsa http://www.bbc.co.uk/gahuza/amakuru/2012/10/121019_ingabire.shtml

Rwanda on the Security Council: Enabling a Dictator or a Chance for Transparency?

http://tcf.org/blogs/botc/2012/10/rwanda-on-the-security-council-enabling-a-dictator-or-a-chance-for-transparency Rwanda on the Security Council: Enabling a Dictator or a Chance for Transparency? Posted by Therese Postel October 19, 2012     Permalink Yesterday, Rwanda was elected to a two-year term as a non-permanent member of the Security Council. They ran uncontested as the representative from the African continent, but their election and term on the Council will not be without significant controversy. While many still regard Rwanda as a triumphant story of successful reconciliation after unspeakable tragedy, troublesome allegations of political suppression and illegal support of rebel groups in the Democratic Republic of Congo  (DRC) have recently marred the reputation of Rwanda in the international community. President Paul Kagame has been lauded around the world for his efforts in moving Rwanda past the genocide and civil war that ravaged his country eighteen years ago. Kigali, the Rwandan capital, is quickly becoming known as the "safest" city in Africa. Rwanda has made impressive strides toward the Millennium Development Goals in the past decade, especially in education and child mortality, and the country touts the highest percentage of female parliament members in the world. The resounding applause for the Rwandan government under President Kagame and the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF), however, seems to be dying down as of late. In 2010, President Kagame won reelection with an unbelievably high 93 percent of the vote, but this landslide election was secured only through the exclusion of the three major opposition parties.  The leaders of two of these parties were sentenced to prison, and the third remains in exile. There also has been a concerted campaign against journalists throughout the country. Most ominously, a new report has been compiled by the UN Group of Experts detailing support from Rwanda and Uganda for M23, a rebel group that operates in eastern DRC. Rwanda has roundly dismissed the allegations, but if they are true, it is a serious violation of the UN arms embargo on insurgent groups in eastern DRC. The report accuses Rwanda and Uganda of directly supplying troops to M23 for assaults in July.  These charges are not new—in fact, the United States, United Kingdom, and other European Union members suspended military aid to Rwanda in June as these allegations surfaced in the first report by the UN Group of Experts. Understandably, there is concern regarding Rwanda's election to the Security Council. The Democratic Republic of the Congo vociferously objected to Rwanda joining the Council, given the accusations that Rwanda supplies M23 and harbors rebels that continue to destabilize the DRC. Many countries, especially the DRC, believe that Rwanda will use its position on the Security Council to "argue its case," and that no action can be taken to halt outside support of rebel groups such as M23. However, there is an optimistic lens through which to look at Rwanda's position on the Security Council. As Richard Gowan of NYU suggests, it will more difficult for Rwanda to continue to "hide its activities," both in the DRC and domestically. Rwanda would be reluctant to play a "spoiler" role in the Security Council with the eyes of the United States, as well as the international community, on it. Perhaps a stint on the UN Security Council, its first since the Rwandan genocide in 1993–94, is exactly what Rwanda and President Kagame need to root out the corruption, political suppression, and human rights abuses that have plagued the country over the past few years.

Kabarebe, Rwanda and Congo's killing fields

http://world.einnews.com/article_frame/119698086   NEWSMAKER: Kabarebe, Rwanda and Congo's killing fields Reuters –  40 mins ago Email Share0 Print * UN report says Rwandan minister as masterminded Congo rebellion * Kabarebe is President Kagame's right-hand man * Rwanda denies involvement in recent Congo conflict Oct 19 (Reuters) - Swept up in the mid-1990s in a conflict that has killed an estimated 5 million people, former child soldier Gabriel struggles to reconcile his feelings towards the man who led him into battle, James Kabarebe. "He was very disciplined. He looked after us child soldiers. He took time to speak to us," Gabriel, who was 12 when he became a fighter, said of Kabarebe, Rwanda's defence minister, who was accused by the United Nations this week of fomenting war in neighbouring Congo. "But when someone comes and makes war, and uses child soldiers, he can't leave anything but bad memories behind him," said the former fighter, who asked that his name be changed to protect his identity. Right-hand man to Rwandan President Paul Kagame, Kabarebe, 53, for two decades has been a central figure shaping the often violent history of the Central African region. He is celebrated as a hero at home for helping lead the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) advance that stopped the 1994 Rwandan genocide in which some 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus were massacred by the army and Hutu extremist militias. The war lifted Kagame to power in Kigali, and Kabarebe along with him. Across the border in the vastly larger Democratic Republic of Congo, however, Kabarebe is almost universally reviled for his role in destabilising the mineral-rich but almost ungovernable country at a cost of several million lives. Rwanda vigorously denies the latest allegations contained in the report of a panel charged with monitoring Congo's arms embargo, which said Kabarebe has armed and given military backing to the M23 rebel movement. Fighting between M23 and Congo's army has displaced nearly a half million people. The Tutsi-dominated insurgency, which took up arms in April, is expanding its control over parts of North Kivu province with additional financing from Rwandan businessmen trading in smuggled Congolese minerals, the report stated. Earlier findings in an interim report by the experts led to a freezing of some foreign aid by the United States, Britain, the European Union, Sweden and the Netherlands. Repeated attempts by Reuters to obtain comment from, or interviews with, Rwandan officials about the report's allegations failed to elicit a response. Phone calls and text messages to the defence minister, his spokesman, and his chief of staff all went unanswered. A Rwandan government spokesperson twice declined Reuters' requests for comment. "SMART AND ABLE" But those who know Kabarebe and how operates say the U.N.'s findings do not come as a shock. "I'm not the least surprised...He's smart. He's able. And heaven knows he knows the territory," said Daniel Simpson, who was the U.S. ambassador to Kinshasa in 1996. That was the year Kabarebe led a mixed force of gumboot-wearing Rwandans and ragged Congolese recruits 1,500 km (900 miles) across Congo, then known as Zaire, to topple longtime dictator Mobutu Sese Seko. Kigali accused Mobutu of harbouring the instigators of the Rwandan genocide, who had continued to launch raids into Rwanda from Congolese territory. The rebel army met little resistance as Mobutu's forces crumbled, but it left a trail of massacred Rwandan Hutu refugees in its wake, according to a comprehensive U.N. report on the violence published in 2010. Initially welcomed by the cheering residents of the crumbling riverside capital Kinshasa, Kabarebe was even named head of the army by Mobutu's successor, Laurent Desire Kabila, the father of current president Joseph Kabila. The alliance didn't last as Kabila - known popularly as Mzee, the Swahili word for "elder" - balked at Rwanda's pervasive influence in his new government. "They behaved like conquerors. Mzee Kabila didn't like their behaviour here," Congolese general Jean-Claude Kifwa, who knew Kabarebe at the time, said in an interview. "Rwanda is poor compared to Congo. They took the chance to pillage, to enrich themselves." The inevitable falling out came in 1998 with Kabila's order expelling Rwandan troops from Congolese territory. A few weeks later, Kabarebe secretly flew back across the country in a daring operation to seize Kinshasa with a few hundred men. Though the plan was foiled when Angolan troops intervened in support of Kabila, it marked the start of a war whose aftershocks are still felt a decade on and which researchers estimate has cost the lives of more than 5 million people. "FIGHTING FOR THE BOSS" A 2003 peace deal that officially ended the conflict left Congo with an army cobbled together from dozens of armed groups, among them several with ties to Rwanda. "He has contact with Congolese officers everywhere," Kifwa said of Kabarebe. In media interviews since the U.N. experts interim report revealed Rwandan links to the rebels, Kabarebe has said he used these contacts in an attempt to stop the M23 mutiny in its infancy. However, the experts say he has instead provided the group with direct military support, facilitated recruitment, transferred weapons and ammunition, and encouraged Congolese soldiers to join the insurgency. "M23's de facto chain of command...culminates with the Rwandan Minister of Defence General James Kabarebe," said the experts, who monitor compliance with U.N. sanctions and an arms embargo on the Congo. If the U.N. report is correct and Kabarebe is indeed orchestrating the M23 rebellion, it is unlikely he is acting alone, said Gerard Prunier, an academic who has written histories of both Rwanda's genocide and the war in Congo. "Kabarebe is a fairly simple person. He's always fighting for the boss...It's totally unthinkable, given the tight control Kagame has, that he would go into this on his own."

BBC News - Andrew Mitchell resigns over police comments row

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-19922026 Andrew Mitchell resigns over police comments row COMMENTS (380) Mr Mitchell has been under pressure over the remarks for weeks Continue reading the main story Related Stories Profile: Andrew Mitchell Mitchell resignation letter Andrew Mitchell resignationLive Andrew Mitchell has quit as government chief whip after weeks of pressure over an argument with police officers in Downing Street. He has admitted swearing at officers in the incident but again denied calling police "plebs". He told David Cameron - who has stood by him - that "damaging publicity" meant he could no longer do his job. Commons leader Sir George Young will be the new chief whip, Downing Street said. Mr Mitchell's resignation is a victory for the Police Federation and Labour who have led calls for him to go. But it spells the end of a 25 year political career for the Sutton Coldfield MP, who was promoted from international development secretary to chief whip in September's cabinet reshuffle. BBC Political Editor Nick Robinson said Mr Mitchell told the prime minister about his decision in person, at Mr Cameron's country residence Chequers. The prime minister has accepted his resignation. 'Learn your place' In his resignation letter, Mr Mitchell says "it has become clear to me that whatever the rights and wrongs of the matter I will not be able to fulfil my duties as we both would wish. Continue reading the main story " Start Quote David Cameron is left looking profoundly weak and totally out of touch" Michael DugherShadow Cabinet Office Minister "Nor is it fair to continue to put my family and colleagues through this upsetting and damaging publicity". He repeats his "categorical assurance" that he did not call police officers "plebs" - as alleged in the police report on the incident. But he adds: "The offending comment and the reason for my apology to the police was my parting remark 'I thought you guys were supposed to f***ing help us'. "It was obviously wrong of me to use such bad language and I am very sorry about it and grateful to the police officer for accepting my apology." Mr Mitchell - whose job was to maintain discipline on the Conservative benches - was thrust into the spotlight when The Sun accused him in a front page story of calling police "plebs". His outburst came after armed police turned Mr Mitchell away from the main Downing Street gate, instead directing him to the smaller pedestrian gate. He is reported to have used foul language and told the officer at the gates to "learn your place" and "you don't run this government". 'Complete denial' The officer concerned reported the incident to his superiors and the official police log, which appeared to contradict Mr Mitchell's story, was later leaked to the media. Mr Mitchell came under intense pressure from the Police Federation - which represents rank-and-file officers - and which refused to accept his version of events. The MP stayed away from the Conservative Party conference in an attempt to defuse the row, but despite the support of backbench Tory MPs it became clear when Parliament returned from recess on Monday that it was not going to go away. Mr Mitchell's fate is believed to have been sealed on Wednesday, when deputy chief whip John Randall reportedly had to be talked out of quitting in protest at his determination to cling on, following a stormy prime minister's question time. In his letter of reply to Mr Mitchell, Mr Cameron said he "understood" why Mr Mitchell was resigning, adding: "I regret this has become necessary." Shadow cabinet office minister Michael Dugher, for Labour, said: "After weeks in complete denial, Andrew Mitchell has finally bowed to public pressure. "What people will want to know is why, when the entire country could see that what Mr Mitchell did was wrong, the prime minister totally failed to act. "David Cameron is left looking profoundly weak and totally out of touch, doing everything he could to hold on to Mr Mitchell only for his chief whip to bow to the inevitable given the understandable public anger." Nick Robinson said Mr Mitchell's decision to quit was a "serious setback" for David Cameron as he had held on to the chief whip instead of sacking him straight after his angry clash with a policeman on the gates of Downing Street. Mr Mitchell will not be doing interviews but he told our correspondent he will seek to deliver a personal resignation statement in the Commons early next week. Your comments (380) More on This Story Related Stories Profile: Andrew Mitchell 19 OCTOBER 2012, UK POLITICS Mitchell resignation letter 19 OCTOBER 2012, UK Andrew Mitchell resignationLive 19 OCTOBER 2012, UK __._,_.___ Reply via web post Reply to sender Reply to group Start a New Topic Messages in this topic (1) Recent Activity: Visit Your Group THAT WHO KEEPS SILENT IN THE MIDST OF TYRANY IS AS GUILTY OF OPPRESSION AS THE TYRANT HIMSELF. Please use the following link: https://ffdrwanda.org/Donate.html  to DONATE to the struggle for democracy in Rwanda. Youthdemocrats is an Internet Forum aiming at furthering the  activities of the Foundation for Freedom and Democracy in Rwanda, Inc. We expect postings of only the highest quality, appropriate to the  ongoing struggle for Freedom, Democracy and Justice in Rwanda, rather  than personal messages. 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