05 January, 2012
Update on Arrested FDU-Inkingi Party Member.
FDU-Inkingi
Press Release
In our last press release, we alerted the public about Mr. Gratien NSABIYAREMYE, FDU-Inkingi Interim Executive Committee member in charge of Youth, who was abducted by Marine unit soldiers led by Captain RUTABURINGOGA on 02 January 2012. After over 8 hours in an unknown location he was taken to RUBAVU police station for interrogation. Yesterday, Colonel Joseph NZABAMWITA, the army spokesperson, misrepresented the situation and pretended a marine patrol unit pursued a criminal who resisted arrest after he robbed three mobile phones that night. This once again shows the true nature of the regime in Kigali, specialized in the fabrication of criminal charges in order to silence the opposition and any other dissenting voices. The army spokesman's story is a "reconstruction" that is covering up the army's interference in politics, weaving it with a "fabric of lies".
The army spokesperson stated: “The true facts of the case are that on 1 January 2012 at 23:00hrs, Marine patrol in Rubona Cell, Nyamyumba Sector pursued criminals who robbed Hakizimana JMV of three mobile phones and 160000Frw. The criminal who was identified as Gratien Nsabiyaremye was pursued up to his house where he resisted arrest. The case was handed over to police who arrested Gratien Nsabiyaremye in the morning of 2 January 2012 and is in police custody at Rubavu Police Station as they complete the case for prosecution”.
This is another fabric of lies: Why was a marine unit was patrolling a civilian residential area? Since when have they replaced the police and carried out late night arrests without a legal warrant? How did they identify the opposition leader as a “criminal” that same night at 23:00? Why were they trying to arrest an opposition leader in the middle of the night knowing that the person is a regular resident known to everybody in the area? Where did they keep him before the transfer to the police station? During the morning arrest, Mr. Gratien NSABIYAREMYE was severely beaten by
Captain RUTABURINGOGA from the marine unit based in Gisenyi.
The army statement is silent on the arrest of Felicien KAYIRANGA, the younger brother of Mr Gratien NSABIYAREMYE, on 03 January 2012 after he explained that they refused to open the door to armed strangers in the middle of the night because eight years ago, one of their brothers was shot dead by military personnel as he opened the door to people in military uniform and no investigation was ever carried out.
We believe this is just a continuing intimidation campaign because threats and attacks to opposition leaders and members have been on the rise both inside and outside the country. Reports of armed people in military uniforms abducting civilians in the night are still occurring. For example,
Onesphore BENDANTUNGUKA (59 years old) was kidnapped in the same Rubavu
district (Nyamyumba sector, Rubona cell, Buharara location) on 13 December 2011; Jean-Pierre HUBATSWENIMANA (42 years old) and Moise HAKESHIMANA (35 years old) were abducted in Musanze district (Muhe village, Ruhengeri) on December 2011 as well. There whereabouts remain unknown.
Last night, the capital city KIGALI was again a scene of grenades attacks that killed 2 and injured 20 civilians. We call upon the government to investigate these incidents and give accurate information on these attacks and those that rocked the capital Kigali last year.
We demand the immediate liberation of Mr. Gratien NSABIYAREMYE, his brother Felicien KAYIRANGA and all other political prisoners.
For the FDU-Inkingi,
Boniface Twagirimana
Interim Vice President
4 January 2012
Press Release
In our last press release, we alerted the public about Mr. Gratien NSABIYAREMYE, FDU-Inkingi Interim Executive Committee member in charge of Youth, who was abducted by Marine unit soldiers led by Captain RUTABURINGOGA on 02 January 2012. After over 8 hours in an unknown location he was taken to RUBAVU police station for interrogation. Yesterday, Colonel Joseph NZABAMWITA, the army spokesperson, misrepresented the situation and pretended a marine patrol unit pursued a criminal who resisted arrest after he robbed three mobile phones that night. This once again shows the true nature of the regime in Kigali, specialized in the fabrication of criminal charges in order to silence the opposition and any other dissenting voices. The army spokesman's story is a "reconstruction" that is covering up the army's interference in politics, weaving it with a "fabric of lies".
The army spokesperson stated: “The true facts of the case are that on 1 January 2012 at 23:00hrs, Marine patrol in Rubona Cell, Nyamyumba Sector pursued criminals who robbed Hakizimana JMV of three mobile phones and 160000Frw. The criminal who was identified as Gratien Nsabiyaremye was pursued up to his house where he resisted arrest. The case was handed over to police who arrested Gratien Nsabiyaremye in the morning of 2 January 2012 and is in police custody at Rubavu Police Station as they complete the case for prosecution”.
This is another fabric of lies: Why was a marine unit was patrolling a civilian residential area? Since when have they replaced the police and carried out late night arrests without a legal warrant? How did they identify the opposition leader as a “criminal” that same night at 23:00? Why were they trying to arrest an opposition leader in the middle of the night knowing that the person is a regular resident known to everybody in the area? Where did they keep him before the transfer to the police station? During the morning arrest, Mr. Gratien NSABIYAREMYE was severely beaten by
Captain RUTABURINGOGA from the marine unit based in Gisenyi.
The army statement is silent on the arrest of Felicien KAYIRANGA, the younger brother of Mr Gratien NSABIYAREMYE, on 03 January 2012 after he explained that they refused to open the door to armed strangers in the middle of the night because eight years ago, one of their brothers was shot dead by military personnel as he opened the door to people in military uniform and no investigation was ever carried out.
We believe this is just a continuing intimidation campaign because threats and attacks to opposition leaders and members have been on the rise both inside and outside the country. Reports of armed people in military uniforms abducting civilians in the night are still occurring. For example,
Onesphore BENDANTUNGUKA (59 years old) was kidnapped in the same Rubavu
district (Nyamyumba sector, Rubona cell, Buharara location) on 13 December 2011; Jean-Pierre HUBATSWENIMANA (42 years old) and Moise HAKESHIMANA (35 years old) were abducted in Musanze district (Muhe village, Ruhengeri) on December 2011 as well. There whereabouts remain unknown.
Last night, the capital city KIGALI was again a scene of grenades attacks that killed 2 and injured 20 civilians. We call upon the government to investigate these incidents and give accurate information on these attacks and those that rocked the capital Kigali last year.
We demand the immediate liberation of Mr. Gratien NSABIYAREMYE, his brother Felicien KAYIRANGA and all other political prisoners.
For the FDU-Inkingi,
Boniface Twagirimana
Interim Vice President
4 January 2012
02 January, 2012
FDU-Inkingi Executive Committee Member Said Detained by Rwandan Military.
FDU-Inkingi Press Release2 January 2011
Last night, a platoon of Gisenyi-based marine unit attacked the residence of Mr. Gratien NSABIYAREMYE, member of the Interim Executive Committee of FDU-INKINGI in charge of youth and resident of Rubavu District (Nyamyumba sector, Rubona cell , Kabiza village). Military personnel invited him to follow them to unknown location but he declined because they failed to display an arrest warrant or any other legal document allowing them to carry out arrest. The house remained under military siege for the rest of the night. In the early morning he was forcibly abducted.
We don't know whether this kidnapping is related or not to a motorbike accident that occurred yesterday in his direct neighborhood. Because that time, to residents insisting to impound the motorbike themselves, he advised them to get in touch with local security staff.
FDU-INKINGI has engaged Gisenyi senior police authorities and the national police spokesperson with no help. Eyewitnesses reported Mr. Gratien NSABIYAREMYE was severely beaten by a military officer named Captain RUTABURINGOGA.
FDU-INKINGI is seriously concerned by the unrelenting persecution of our leaders and party members. We are ashamed by this behaviour of members of the army involved in the brutal kidnapping of an innocent citizen. We call upon the government to ensure Gratien NSABIYAREMYE is safe and to investigate this case.
Done in Kigali,
Boniface TWAGIRIMANA
FDU-INKINGI
Interim Vice-President
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Editor's Note: Rwandan Marines have been trained by the US through the IMET program, most recently on record in 2008. 16 Marine officers and 8 students completed the course. The US promised to extend their support of the Marine forces by providing "combat equipment," boat parts, and motors. The stated goal of the training was to help Rwandan-DRC border security. Col. Firmin Bayingana, head of the Marine force at the time, was arrested in Rwanda on April 19 2009 for allegedly trying to sabotage a judicial process, a charge he denied. He was tried at the Military High Court. He is one of the individuals indicted in the Spanish arrest warrants. As a major in the Rwandan army at the time, Col. Bayingana is accused of committing crimes against humanity in the area around Ruhengeri during 1997-1999.
Last night, a platoon of Gisenyi-based marine unit attacked the residence of Mr. Gratien NSABIYAREMYE, member of the Interim Executive Committee of FDU-INKINGI in charge of youth and resident of Rubavu District (Nyamyumba sector, Rubona cell , Kabiza village). Military personnel invited him to follow them to unknown location but he declined because they failed to display an arrest warrant or any other legal document allowing them to carry out arrest. The house remained under military siege for the rest of the night. In the early morning he was forcibly abducted.
We don't know whether this kidnapping is related or not to a motorbike accident that occurred yesterday in his direct neighborhood. Because that time, to residents insisting to impound the motorbike themselves, he advised them to get in touch with local security staff.
FDU-INKINGI has engaged Gisenyi senior police authorities and the national police spokesperson with no help. Eyewitnesses reported Mr. Gratien NSABIYAREMYE was severely beaten by a military officer named Captain RUTABURINGOGA.
FDU-INKINGI is seriously concerned by the unrelenting persecution of our leaders and party members. We are ashamed by this behaviour of members of the army involved in the brutal kidnapping of an innocent citizen. We call upon the government to ensure Gratien NSABIYAREMYE is safe and to investigate this case.
Done in Kigali,
Boniface TWAGIRIMANA
FDU-INKINGI
Interim Vice-President
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Editor's Note: Rwandan Marines have been trained by the US through the IMET program, most recently on record in 2008. 16 Marine officers and 8 students completed the course. The US promised to extend their support of the Marine forces by providing "combat equipment," boat parts, and motors. The stated goal of the training was to help Rwandan-DRC border security. Col. Firmin Bayingana, head of the Marine force at the time, was arrested in Rwanda on April 19 2009 for allegedly trying to sabotage a judicial process, a charge he denied. He was tried at the Military High Court. He is one of the individuals indicted in the Spanish arrest warrants. As a major in the Rwandan army at the time, Col. Bayingana is accused of committing crimes against humanity in the area around Ruhengeri during 1997-1999.
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