Government demands apology from FDU’s Ingabire (espérons que ce ne sera que ça!)

RNA

Tuesday, 30 March 2010 12:01

Kigali: Firry opposition politician Ingabire Victoire needs to apologize to the people of Rwanda after her assistant pleaded guilty to Genocide, according to government, which has also heavily charged at her, branding her as representing “darkness” for Rwanda.

Her party colleague Mr. Joseph Ntawangundi was last week sentenced to 17 years for Genocide – but which came after fierce backing from Ms. Ingabire asserting his innocence. 

Though Mr. Ntawangundi denied personal responsibility in the massacres, he admitted to failing to stop his staff that he saw killing Tutsis. Mr. Ntawangundi also asked for forgiveness from the court for previously misleading the Gacaca judges.

For Justice Minister Tharcisse Karugarama, Ms. Ingabire should come out to “say am sorry”. Mr. Karugarama accused her of “deceiving the whole world” about the innocence of her assistant. 

“Instead of Ingabire Umuhoza [now] saying am sorry to have told the world lies; to have denied that this guy committed Genocide - she just says ‘this guy my assistant misled me’…” Mr. Karugarama told Radio Netherlands Worldwide.

“How can somebody mislead you into believing that he did not commit Genocide then he goes and pleads guilt in a court of law? But Ingabire has not been able to say ‘am sorry’.”

Ingabire “represents past…darkness”

The leader of the yet-to-registered United Democratic Forces Inkingi (FDU-Inkingi) party was also last week blocked from leaving the country as Police continued to build a case against her. Available information indicates she has since been going to Criminal Investigations Department (CID) HQ for hours daily.

“That is why I say [Ingabire] represents politics of the past. She represents darkness and everything you can think that could happen to Rwanda. That is why people are investigating her credentials,” charged Mr. Karugarama.

The Justice Minister, however, also said there is no evidence yet against Ms. Ingabire.  

"The police hasn't found hard facts", Mr. Karugarama said during a visit last weekend in the Netherlands. “They have not found evidence to incriminate her. Once the investigation shows that she's innocent, nobody will touch her. But everybody in Rwanda should be held accountable and play by the rules."

"They have been questioning Victoire, telling her there is information available that she has been dealing with armed opposition forces based in Congo. These are allegations. Once the investigation has been completed, these authorities will determine whether to prefer charges against her or not" said Karugarama.

“But nobody in Rwanda should be allowed to live above the law. Everybody must play according to the rules. That is why she is not in prison – it means they have not found hard facts, hard evidence to incriminate her probably. Investigations are still going on.”

Meanwhile, the hard-talking politician was also questioned again on Monday. According to sources, the politician is still waiting for the results of the police investigation. 

Minister Karugarama also said: “Once investigations prove her innocent, nobody will touch her. Once investigations show she is involved in a crime, she will be held accountable. Everybody must be held accountable and play by the rules.”

The FDU Inkingi leader has been up in arms against government and has demanded more freedom and democracy in the country. In January, Ingabire returned to Rwanda - after spending many years in exile in the Netherlands - to start a bid for the coming presidential elections in August.

Genocide suspects in Netherlands

During his recent visit in the Netherlands, Minister Karugarama also criticised the Dutch. He believes the Netherlands could speed up the prosecution of genocide suspects.

"Many suspects of the Rwandan genocide live in the Netherlands. Track them down. If possible send them to Rwanda for trial. Or do it here. We shall be satisfied as long as they face trial", says the minister.

"We sent information about the suspects who live in The Netherlands. About their crimes, how and when they were committed. The Dutch judiciary got the files, they know their names. I cannot say how many they are. But they are quite a number."

However, in spite of his criticism, Karugarama thinks the Dutch do a better job than most other European countries. One of the genocide suspects was convicted in 2009 and sentenced to 20 years in prison.