Rwanda Information Portal

Rwanda: Victoire Ingabire’s home under police siege

Since 08th October 2010 night, an impressive deployment of armed officers is cordoning all exits to the FDU INKINGI chairperson�s home. At least 3 security vehicles are blocking all access. The police spokesperson evasively dismissed the information and pretended that there is nothing unusual.� This kind of state intimidation has been observed prior to the arrest and incarcerations of other opposition leaders. On 21st April 2010, I was arrested but released on bail the following day. Since then, I am under strict and harsh orders to stay within the limits of KIGALI city. I have been regularly reporting to the prosecutor’s office and never been neither a flight risk nor a threat to the community.

I don’t know if this siege has to do with my never opening case pending in court or if it is related to the latest threats from General Paul KAGAME during the swearing in of his newly appointed cabinet. He said that the political space is fully occupied and insisted that if in Europe politicians are being prosecuted for speech related charges why anybody should be surprised whenever he stifles an opponent.� The New Times, a paper close to President Paul KAGAME, resumed the same day its crusade comparing my case with the one of Mr. Geert WILDERS, the Dutch politician and leader of the Freedom Party PVV. It cannot not be considered as a mere coincidence.

During a latest BBC interview however, the chief prosecutor had indicated that the case could not be heard in court as some crucial information was still lacking. My bail having been granted by a court of law, it is, under normal circumstances, a court which has the right to revoke it.

Ms. Victoire INGABIRE UMUHOZA
FDU-INKINGI
Chair.

October 11, 2010   1 Comment

Kagame mocks donors and says no to the opening of the political space in Rwanda

During the 6th October’s swearing-in ceremony of his Ministers, a very angry General Paul KAGAME stunned the audience by saying that there was no more political space left for the opposition and that he has no lessons to receive from perfidious donors. He was reacting to calls from foreign countries for more political space in order to defuse the current political stalemate. Mocking some western bilateral partners which are advising on governance issues while they are unable to appoint their own governments at home, the President divulges his strategy to listen to them but continue his plans or to tactically hibernate until they get tired and keep quiet. This follows his August speech when he loudly said that Africans did not need democracy. He cannot endlessly rubbish advises and calls from Rwandans and friends of Rwanda. Enlarging political space is a must for national reconciliation and durable peace in Rwanda.

The assumption that there is no more political space left is another step forward towards political exclusion of a large section of the population from the governance of their country. Exclusion has always been the root cause of cyclical violence, genocide and crimes against humanity that rocked the country and still hangs over the heads of future generations.

His public confessions on the particularly very difficult challenges he is facing to govern the country is not a secret. The answer is to go beyond political narrowness and not to threaten opponents and dissents or to belittle the good intentions of bilateral partners.

Democracy and justice are universal values. There is no room for a sub standard yardstick for Africa and Rwanda in particular. Rejecting all calls for more political space is putting at risk the future of our country.

We encourage all the good friends of Rwanda to tighten the pressure until democracy and justice are implemented in this country.

Ms. Victoire INGABIRE UMUHOZA

FDU-INKINGI

Chair


October 11, 2010   1 Comment