AFP/WNJ
12 November 2010
Rwanda's high court on Friday rejected an appeal against detention by opposition politician Victoire Ingabire, one of her lawyers said.
She is the leader of the Unified Democratic Forces (FDU) party, which has not been officially registered. Mrs. Ingabire was arrested again in Kigali in October, while she has been under house arrest and surveillance since April.
Her appeal "has just been rejected," lawyer Gatera Gashabana told AFP. "The first ruling is upheld. All that remains now is for us to fix a date for the substantive trial, as soon as possible."
Rwanda's prosecutor general, Martin Ngoga, claims to have evidence of Mrs. Ingabire's alleged illegal activities, including financial transfers to the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), a Hutu rebel movement based in neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo, and supporting a new armed group.
Mrs. Ingabire's FDU-Inkingi party says the Rwandan authorities are fabricating all the evidence with the goal of preventing her from participating in the political life.
12 November, 2010
10 November, 2010
Gen. Kagame's Former Bodyguard says Interhammwe President Worked for RPF/A in 1994.
Hirondelle News Agency
9 November 2010
Former close Protection Officer for Rwandan President Paul Kagame alleged before the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) Tuesday that President of Interahamwe militia of the ruling MRND party in 1994, Robert Kajuga worked for the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) now in power in Kigali.
‘'It is not only Kajuga who worked for the RPF but there were many others from the government.'' Aloys Ruyenzi, former close protection officer to President Kagame told the court in the defence case of the former MRND President, Mathieu Ngirumpatse.
When asked by Don Webster, the Prosecuting counsel to say more about Kajuga, Ruyenzi responded ‘'he was Tutsi working for the RPF to kill members of the population.''
Earlier during examination in chief by defence co-counsel, Frédéric Weyl, the witness explained ‘'RPF did not care to kill members of the population when they infiltrated Kigali town.''
He told the court that members of the RPF were sent to Kigali town to infiltrate into the population, at roadblocks and in the public transport where they carried out killings against the population in a bid to hold power by force.
‘'All the crimes perpetrated by RPF were attributed to the Rwanda government. They were people who lived and worked with me and when they come back from missions they would tell me about the killings they committed,'' Ruyenzi explained.
The trial continues Wednesday.
9 November 2010
Former close Protection Officer for Rwandan President Paul Kagame alleged before the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) Tuesday that President of Interahamwe militia of the ruling MRND party in 1994, Robert Kajuga worked for the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) now in power in Kigali.
‘'It is not only Kajuga who worked for the RPF but there were many others from the government.'' Aloys Ruyenzi, former close protection officer to President Kagame told the court in the defence case of the former MRND President, Mathieu Ngirumpatse.
When asked by Don Webster, the Prosecuting counsel to say more about Kajuga, Ruyenzi responded ‘'he was Tutsi working for the RPF to kill members of the population.''
Earlier during examination in chief by defence co-counsel, Frédéric Weyl, the witness explained ‘'RPF did not care to kill members of the population when they infiltrated Kigali town.''
He told the court that members of the RPF were sent to Kigali town to infiltrate into the population, at roadblocks and in the public transport where they carried out killings against the population in a bid to hold power by force.
‘'All the crimes perpetrated by RPF were attributed to the Rwanda government. They were people who lived and worked with me and when they come back from missions they would tell me about the killings they committed,'' Ruyenzi explained.
The trial continues Wednesday.
08 November, 2010
Serious Questions on Credibility of Evidence Presented in Court Against Victoire Ingabire.
FDU-Inkingi
Press Release
8 November 2010
Today, on her 26th day in prison, Ms. Victoire INGABIRE, FDU-INKINGI
Chair, was brought to the High Court for an bail appeal hearing. The
Prosecutor admitted that the copies of mails adduced as evidence were
printed many days after the arrest and that the 14th October
PRO-JUSTITIA statements related to the arrest of the key witness and the
defendant contain inaccurate details and troubling inconsistencies. In
this case , the first paragraph of article 102 of the LAW N° 13/2004 OF
17/5/2004 RELATING TO THE CODE OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE, O.G SPECIAL Nº OF
30/07/2004 should apply: “When a Magistrate or Judge does not find
sufficient evidence for prosecution, an accused person shall be
immediately released”.
The Defence Counsel is composed by the Bâtonnier GATERA GASHABANA
(Kigali), Barristers Robert Alun JONES (London) and Iain EDWARDS
(London) . They challenged the Prosecutor's submission and especially
the accuracy of the judiciary statements justifying the arrest of the
opposition leader. The interrogation of the key witness was backdated.
The official information that the arrest of the defendant was prompted
by allegations made by the key witness upon his arrest is misleading.
The allegation that he was found with bunches of mail copies is a fake
too. They were printed and edited in collaboration with the key witness
on 19th October 2010 while the defendant was already in detention. The
prosecutor struggled to persuade the Court and instead produced “fresh
evidence” that has never been mentioned any time before. This looks
like an endless state persecution. There is no doubt that new fake
evidence will be produced every week. In this particular case, no
chance to have a fair trial in Rwanda. This is a blatant violation of
international conventions on human rights. The submission of petition to
the Security Council and to the Human Rights Commissioner in this
respect is to be seriously considered.
Since February 2010, Paul KAGAME's government has been using the
judiciary apparatus to thwart the opposition and to keep opposition
leaders in prison. All the bilateral partners of Rwanda have recently
received a 6 page justification of the overwhelming evidence linking Ms.
Victoire INGABIRE to a terrorist organisation and no serious grounds
have been established. The verdict will be known on Friday, at 15:00.
There are no further doubts about the political dimension of this trial.
We call for the immediate release of Ms. Victoire INGABIRE and other
opposition leaders.
Sylvain SIBOMANA
FDU-INKINGI
Secretary General
Press Release
8 November 2010
Today, on her 26th day in prison, Ms. Victoire INGABIRE, FDU-INKINGI
Chair, was brought to the High Court for an bail appeal hearing. The
Prosecutor admitted that the copies of mails adduced as evidence were
printed many days after the arrest and that the 14th October
PRO-JUSTITIA statements related to the arrest of the key witness and the
defendant contain inaccurate details and troubling inconsistencies. In
this case , the first paragraph of article 102 of the LAW N° 13/2004 OF
17/5/2004 RELATING TO THE CODE OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE, O.G SPECIAL Nº OF
30/07/2004 should apply: “When a Magistrate or Judge does not find
sufficient evidence for prosecution, an accused person shall be
immediately released”.
The Defence Counsel is composed by the Bâtonnier GATERA GASHABANA
(Kigali), Barristers Robert Alun JONES (London) and Iain EDWARDS
(London) . They challenged the Prosecutor's submission and especially
the accuracy of the judiciary statements justifying the arrest of the
opposition leader. The interrogation of the key witness was backdated.
The official information that the arrest of the defendant was prompted
by allegations made by the key witness upon his arrest is misleading.
The allegation that he was found with bunches of mail copies is a fake
too. They were printed and edited in collaboration with the key witness
on 19th October 2010 while the defendant was already in detention. The
prosecutor struggled to persuade the Court and instead produced “fresh
evidence” that has never been mentioned any time before. This looks
like an endless state persecution. There is no doubt that new fake
evidence will be produced every week. In this particular case, no
chance to have a fair trial in Rwanda. This is a blatant violation of
international conventions on human rights. The submission of petition to
the Security Council and to the Human Rights Commissioner in this
respect is to be seriously considered.
Since February 2010, Paul KAGAME's government has been using the
judiciary apparatus to thwart the opposition and to keep opposition
leaders in prison. All the bilateral partners of Rwanda have recently
received a 6 page justification of the overwhelming evidence linking Ms.
Victoire INGABIRE to a terrorist organisation and no serious grounds
have been established. The verdict will be known on Friday, at 15:00.
There are no further doubts about the political dimension of this trial.
We call for the immediate release of Ms. Victoire INGABIRE and other
opposition leaders.
Sylvain SIBOMANA
FDU-INKINGI
Secretary General
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