Calling upon Rwanda’s Media Council to Suspend RUSHYASHYA Newspaper

The Democratic Green Party of Rwanda calls upon Rwanda's Media High Council to suspend immediately RUSHYASHYA Newspaper and consider further punishments due to their constant malicious campaign against the good name of the party and its members.

The Democratic Green Party of Rwanda calls upon Rwanda's Media High Council to suspend immediately RUSHYASHYA Newspaper and consider further punishments due to their constant malicious campaign against the good name of the party and its members.

RUSHYASHYA Newspaper started this malicious campaign in December 2009 and we had decided to ignore all their propaganda but of late, they have made us question the real motives behind this propaganda.

This Kinyarwanda language Newspaper in its current issue : Vol.100, of 8-20 February 2011 on its second page, writes that the Democratic Green Party of Rwanda works with RUD-URUNANA (Rally for Unity and Democracy- a party accused of having links with FDLR -Democratic Liberation Forces of Rwanda-which the UN and US have put on lists of terrorists groups), in mobilising a rebel armed group to attack Rwanda. This malicious campaign is aimed at tarnishing the good image of the Democratic Green Party of Rwanda. We have never worked or collaborated with RUD-URUNANA. The Newspaper did not even bother to consult with us.

The same Newspaper in its Vol.99 of 20-30 January 2011, made a list of organisations and individuals whom it claims will be making Kayumba and Karegyeya's Government and put the Democratic Green Party of Rwanda on it. Again this Newspaper did not consult us before publishing such malicious information, yet in professional journalism, they were obliged to do so.

The Democratic Green Party of Rwanda, had a press conference on 24th December 2009 and made it clear that Lt.Gen Kayumba Nyamwasa and others were not our members, a press release was issued and is available on the party website. We would like to re-affirm our position once again that we have not worked or collaborated with the above mentioned people and we are not part or members of the Rwanda National Congress. We are independent. This is a malicious campaign aimed at putting innocent Rwandans in trouble for no good reason.

The Rwandan Media High Council has an obligation to counsel and ensure respect of the law and professional ethics in print and broadcast media as well as the internet. It has done this before to several other Newspapers and RUSHYASHYA should not be an exception. We would like to urgently appeal to the Media High Council to take serious measures against RUSHYASHYA Newspaper and hand them an immediate suspension and consider a court order for definite suspension.

Issued on 10th February 2011

Frank HABINEZA

Founding President

Democratic Green Party of Rwanda