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RELEASED IN PART
1.4(D)
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E73ADD 281550Z /38
0 281541Z AUG 95
FM AMEMBASSY KIGALI
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1244
RWANDA COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
CONFIDENTIALKIGALI 002755
E.O. 12356: OADR
TAGS: PGOV, RW
SUBJECT: NATIONAL ASSEMBLY REMOVES PRIME MINISTER
REF:
1.
REPORTING
1.4(D)
-- ENTIRE TEXT. OADR: FOREIGN GOVERNMENT
INFORMATION.
2. AT ABOUT 1500 LOCAL TIME AUGUST 28 THE RWANDAN
PARLIAMENT REMOVED PRIME MINISTER TWAGIRAMUNGU FROM
OFFICE. THE PARLIAMENT HAS BEEN MEETING IN REGULAR
SESSION. AN ANNOUNCEMENT WAS PASSED OVER RADIO RWANDA AT
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KIGALI 02755 281549Z
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE
REVIEW AUTHORITY: JOHN L MILLS
DATE/CASE ID: 14 MAY 2007 200103014
UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED
NOON SUMMONING ALL PARLIAMENTARIANS TO SESSION AT 1500
SHARP. THEY ARRIVED TO FIND THE PRESIDENT OF THE
REPUBLIC, WHO CONVENED THEM IN SPECIAL SESSION, TOLD THEM
THAT HE HAD LOST CONFIDENCE IN THE PRIME MINISTER AND
ASKED THE PARLIAMENT TO VOTE THE GOVERNMENT OUT OF
OFFICE. THE PARLIAMENT QUITE PROMPTLY COMPLIED AND BY
1545 THE PARLIAMENT HAD RETURNED TO ITS ORDINARY SESSION.
THE VOTE WAS 55 TO 0, WITH 6 ABSTENTIONS. RADIO UNAMIR
REPORTED THE VOTE AT 1630, INTERVIEWING THE MINISTER OF
INFORMATION, WHO CITED TWAGIRAMUNGU'S "FAILURE TO COMPLY
WITH THE ARUSHA ACCORDS" AMID "SECURITY PROBLEMS" AS THE
REASONS FOR HIS FALL.
3. THE ENTIRE GOVERNMENT FALLS WITH THE PRIME MINISTER,
BUT MINISTERS REMAIN IN PLACE AWAITING THE NEW
GOVERNMENT. VICE PRIME MINISTER KANYARENGWE HEADS UP THE
CARETAKER REGIME. THE PRESIDENT HAS 15 DAYS TO NAME A
NEW PRIME MINISTER.
HAD RECEIVED ADVANCE WORD OF THIS MOVE EARLIER IN
THE
ING AUGUST 28. ACCORDING TO MINISTER OF HEALTH
COLONEL/DOCTOR JOSEPH KAREMERA, THE TARGETS OF RESHUFFLE
ARE THE PRIME MINISTER HIMSELF, THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE,
AND THE MINISTER OF THE INTERIOR, WHO ARE BLAMED BY THE
RPF AND THEIR ALLIES IN GOVERNMENT FOR THE FAILURE OF THE
JUSTICE AND PRISON SYSTEMS.
5. KAREMERA TOLD
THAT THE PRESIDENT WOULD OFFER THE
POST OF PRIME MINISTER TO TWAGIRAMUNGU'S PARTY, THE MDR.
WE HAVE NO WAY OF PREDICTING HOW LONG THE FORMATION OF A
NEW GOVERNMENT WILL TAKE, OR IF THE MDR WOULD SIMPLY
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KIGALI 02755 281549Z
OFFER TWAGIRAMUNGU AGAIN.
6. COMMENT. THE RWANDAN PATRIOTIC FRONT CONTROLS
PARLIAMENT THROUGH ETHNIC ALLIANCES WITH OTHER PARTIES,
SO THE PRESIDENT'S REQUEST TO DISMISS GOVERNMENT WOULD
CERTAINLY HAVE WON PARLIMENTARY APPROVAL. IT IS IRONIC
THAT THE PRIME MINISTER, MINISTER OF JUSTICE AND MINISTER
OF INTERIOR SHOULD BE BLAMED FOR FAILURE OF THE JUSTICE
SYSTEM SINCE IT WAS PARLIMENT'S REFUSAL TO ACCEPT THE
UNCLASSIFIED
1.4(D)
UNCLASSIFIED
TWAGIRAMUNGU GOVERNMENT'S RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE SUPREME
COURT, FORMATION OF THE HIGHER MAGISTRATES COURT AND THE
USE OF FOREIGN MAGISTRATES THAT HELD THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM
IN POLITICAL DEADLOCK. IT WOULD BE EVEN MORE IRONIC IF
WESTERN PRESSURE THAT THE GOVERNMENT DO SOMETHING ABOUT
THIS DEADLOCK PROVIDED THE EXCUSE TO FIRE THE
GOVERNMENT'S STRONGEST CHAMPIONS OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND
EQUITY FOR ALL RWANDANS. HOW THIS ALL PLAYS OUT DEPENDS
ON WHO IS CHOSEN TO FORM THE NEW GOVERNMENT.
7. KIGALI IS CALM. THERE IS NO REASON TO EXPECT TROUBLE
SINCE NEITHER THE PRIME MINISTER OR ANY OF HIS ALLIES HAS
A STRONG POLITICAL BASE IN KIGALI OR ANY RECOURSE TO
FORCE TO CHALLENGE THE DECISION. RAWSON
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