RWANDA, Kigali, 12th August 2011
Since April 2011, Political prisoner Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza, chair of FDU-Inkingi, is not allowed to receive visitors. The government has been changing rules until nobody is seeing her any more. Today as she was completing 302 days in maximum security, 11 opposition members went to “Kigali 1930 Prison” but were denied free passage. Later on, to a colleague bringing food daily package, the opposition leader asked to demand President Paul Kagame to allow prison visit to his political opponents. Victoire Ingabire expressed her gratitude to all opposition members and Rwandans for their support and dedication. “This isolation will not deter my determination. Patience and Perseverance have a direct impact on the change we are longing for”, she told the Interim Secretary General of the party.
In Rwanda, innocent people are still kept in prisons for months or years for their opinions or political affiliations . For example, Professor Runyinya Barabwiriza was taken to court after 16 years in prison over genocide charges. Everybody knew he was not in Rwanda during the genocide, but no voice was strong enough to get him free. This week after 17 years he was acquitted by a local court but ordered to remain in jail.
FDU-Inkingi
Boniface Twagirimana
Interim Vice President.
12Août