Orchestrated chaos hits Rwanda Human rights umbrella CLADHO

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EXCLUSIVE: Orchestrated chaos hits Rwanda Human rights

 umbrella CLADHO

By editor On 15 Feb, 2013 At 07:50 PM | Categorized As News | With 0 Comments

By Robert Mugabe

newsdesk@greatlakesvoice.com

The Umbrella of Leagues for Defence of Human Rights (CLADHO) is up in arms with Rwanda government over the new incoming executive committee which the Rwanda Governance Board [RGB] says 'is a political threat.'

Paris based rights organization federation FIDH has been many times critical to CLADHO out-going board for conspiring with government to suppress other member associations who truly advocate for human rights.

Last week, Paris based advocacy group called in to CLADHO offices to express their happiness about the new committee and asking when the new executive secretary is coming in to establish.

Six months ago, when the outgoing committee was preparing to leave and handover to the newly elected committee, Rwanda Governance Board which is the civil society regulator sent in a letter No.22/RGB/CEO/S/NGO,FBO,PPS/SH/2012 of 13 July 2012 halting the handover and prolonged the mandate of the outgoing committee for six months.

RGB said their office would investigate the misunderstandings between the newly elected members and some few organizations that make up CLADHO.

After six months, RGB wrote another letter No 007/RGB/CEO/AD/2013 of 13 January 2013 authorizing the handover saying there was nothing of concern on a legal litigation filed by the two associations who complained of the elections procedures. The new letter stopped the transitional period thus ordering handover not later than 25 January 2013.

Instead of out-going committee calling for hand over, they rather ignored it until the new elected executive committee decided to call for a general assembly to witness the hand over only to be suspended by RGB last weekend.

On 9^th Feb 2013, the two committees had agreed and booked a meeting room at Alpha Hotel ready to handover, RDB CEO Professor Anastase Shyaka, called the two parties on their mobile phones saying that handover was not possible and they shouldn't consider any meeting.

Great Lakes Voice is aware that at the Alpha Palace Hotel, the head of Civil Society department in RGB, Sheikh Swalleh Habimana said the CEO had sent him to make sure the handover doesn't take place.

Two out of eight associations making up CLADHO have launched a law suit doubting the procedure election was conducted. However, these two associations participated in the election and one of their candidates was voted as assistant general secretary.

Sources in CLADHO administration, say the two associations were influenced by the corrupt officials in the umbrella who are so much worried of internal audit they also lied to state security to shun away the most critical minded people in the incoming committee.

Sheikh Swaleh Habimana, head of civil society and political parties department in RGB said CLADHO has a case in court; the legal suite was filled by two member organization namely Kanyarwanda and RWAMREC. "RGB has a mandate to oversee the situation and decided to suspend the handover pending the court decision. Very soon, we're to give the final decision," Habimana said.

But, Delphin Munanira, chair of the incoming committee wondered; "how RGB makes contradictions about this matter, reveals some other hidden interests in this issue. RGB decided to suspend the incoming committee and extended the out-going committee period in office when the institution alone is not a court, it raises concerns.

I am wondering how RGB acted as a court to suspend the handover. The issue again is how RGB does listen to two associations out of eight. "

"In the meeting, Sheikh  Swalleh Habimana told us he was sent by RDB CEO (Anastase Shyaka), also who was ordered by Local government Minister, who was also ordered by the head of the state," Mihigo Bienvenu who attended 09 Feb 2013 meeting which was halted by Sheikh Habimana.

Government sources insist that Sheik Habimana was not sent by head of state to halt the handover.

As Habimana points out the issue of the legal suite, he doesn't explain RGB letter authorizing CLADHO to get out of transition saying RGB is satisfied with the investigations then handover should be carried out only to be halted again with RGB CEO.