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WORLD NEWSSaturday 19 December 2015

Rwandans vote to decide on Kagame’s term limits LATIN BRIEFS

President of Rwanda, Paul Kagame posts his ballot, in Kigali, Friday, Dec. 18, 2015. Rwandans are people’s choice. Ask peo- Sticker shock in
voting in a referendum to decide if President Paul Kagame should be allowed to extend his time ple why they want it,” he Argentina after
in power. Kagame, 58, is ineligible to run in 2017 because the Rwandan constitution limits a presi- said maintaining that it’s its devaluation
dent to two terms. the wish of the Rwandan
people that he extends BUENOS AIRES, Argentina
(AP Photo) his term. He said he would (AP) — Many Argentines
announce his candidature are expressing shock at a
The Associated Press year terms, which means endum as undemocratic “any time.” sharp rises in prices due to
KIGALI, Rwanda (AP) — he could possibly stay in and the U.S., a key Rwan- Ninety-two per cent of a major devaluation of the
Rwandans voted Friday in power until 2034. dan ally, has opposed Rwandans want President South American nation’s
a referendum to decide Kagame became presi- Kagame’s bid to stay in Paul Kagame for third currency. Supermarket
if President Paul Kagame dent in 2000 after being power. The Chairman of term, according to a sur- shoppers interviewed Fri-
should be allowed to ex- Rwanda’s de facto leader the National Electoral vey conducted by Ipsos, a day say they’ll have to buy
tend his time in power, a since the end of the coun- Commission Mbanda Kali- global research firm, that less of some products like
vote he will win, according try’s genocide in 1994. He sa said partial results will be was released this week. bread and even cut out
to pollsters. is credited with stabilizing released later Friday. “President Kagame is a some things like beef.
Kagame, 58, is ineligible to the country and promoting Many of the 6.4 million reg- hero and statesman like Gisela Guana says the rise
run in 2017 because the economic growth after the istered voters are expected former Tanzania President is “scary.” The 26-year-old
Rwandan constitution limits mass killings, but critics say to participate in the refer- Julius Nyerere,” says Dan maid says that earlier this
a president to two terms. he is an authoritarian ruler endum. Gatera, a voter in Nyama- week she could buy bread
But if Rwandans approve who does not tolerate op- Kagame voted at Rugunga ta, east of the country. for 13 Argentine pesos
the referendum, Kagame position and he is accused polling station in the capi- “The constitution should (US$0.92) per kilogram (42
would be able to run for of human rights abuses. tal, Kigali, accompanied not be used to limit presi- cents a pound). Now it’s 17
an additional seven-year Rwanda’s political oppo- by his wife and daughter. dents who have talents.” pesos (US$1.21)(55 cents a
term and then two-five sition criticizes the refer- “What is happening is Western diplomats voiced pound). The administration
concerns about the vote. of new President Mauricio
The European Union is wor- Macri on Thursday lifted
ried that the opposition was restrictions on buying U.S.
not given adequate time dollars. That triggered an
to campaign against the immediate devaluation of
referendum, said Michael about 30 percent vis a vis
Ryan, head of the EU del- the dollar. q
egation to Rwanda.
“There should have been Cuban migrants
adequate time for de- a topic at Central
bates, and educating American meet
people about the changes
made in the constitution,” SAN SALVADOR, El Sal-
Ryan told journalists. vador (AP) — Costa Rica
The Democratic Green plans to raise the problem
Party of Rwanda is the only of 5,000 Cuban migrants
opposition party which stranded within its borders
rallied Rwandans to vote when Central America’s
against changing the con- leaders meet in El Salva-
stitution to extend presi- dor. El Salvador’s foreign
dential term limits.q minister Hugo Martinez says
the Central American Inte-
Haiti group rejects president’s electoral commission gration System could take
up the topic at its meeting
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) includes runoff contender of October elections they the commission’s five mem- Friday.
— A major Haitian opposi- Jude Celestin says the pres- assert were rigged in the bers. Martelly announced Trade is supposed to be the
tion alliance is rejecting ident’s plan for a commis- government-backed can- the panel on Thursday. focus, but he says perhaps
the government’s efforts sion to evaluate the widely didate’s favor. The opposition is demand- the region’s leaders can
to calm protests that have criticized election process The group complains that ing resignations at Haiti’s find a solution that allows
cast a shadow over the is meant as merely a “cos- President Michel Martelly electoral council. It’s also the Cubans to continue on
Dec. 27 presidential runoff metic solution.” didn’t seek consensus with encouraging protesters to their journey north. q
vote. The group has demanded senators and opposition “remain mobilized” until
The “Group of Eight” that an independent review leaders before choosing the impasse is resolved.q