SOS for a courageaus woman in prison

Ms. Victoire Ingabire’s background

Victoire_Ingabire_UmuhozaMs. Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza is the President of United Democratic Forces (FDU-Inkingi), a political party of democratic opposition to the authoritarian regime of Rwandan President Paul Kagame. On 16 January 2010, after seventeen years of exile in the Netherlands, she returned to Rwanda to register her party and stand for the presidential elections that were scheduled for August of the same year. As a woman and mother she returned to Rwanda accompanied by unarmed civilian assistant, committed and inspired by the principles of non-violence and peace building. She did not hide his desire for inclusion, justice for all and national dialogue that should lead to a transition to a pluralist democracy convenient to all Rwandans. Regretting that all regime changes in Rwanda were, without any exception, achieved through military coups, Ms. Ingabire wanted a democratic and constitutional change, based on the principles of the rule of law to ensure social justice.

Her troubles began after her arrival in Kigali, with a rough media lynching campaign. In April 2010, she was arrested and then released and placed under house arrest. On 14 October 2010, she was again arrested, mistreated by the police and detained at the Central Prison of Kigali where she is still detained.

Her Trial

« Amnesty International found that key concerns emerged from the observation of the first instance trial. In the build-up to the trial, official statements were made by the Rwandan authorities which posed problems in relation to Victoire Ingabire’s presumption of innocence, including precursory conclusions about the weight of evidence brought against her. The freedom of expression charges lacked a clear legal basis. Certain expression-related charges were based on pieces of imprecise and broad Rwandan legislation, including laws punishing “genocide ideology” and “discrimination and sectarianism.” Amnesty International found no indication of advocacy or incitement to violence or ethnic hatred in the evidence put forward by the
prosecution during the trial.»

(http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/AFR47/001/2013/en)

ingabire-tribunalOn October 30, 2012, after a trial marred by serious irregularities, as evidenced by Amnesty International in the excerpt above, Ms. Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza was sentenced to eight years in prison. The High Court found her guilty of “conspiracy against the government by terrorism and war” and “genocide denial.”

Curiously, the charges for which she was condemned did not feature in the indictment paper filed in the court. Moreover, Ms. Victory was never questioned about the charges neither in the CID (Criminal Investigation Police) nor in the prosecutor’s office or court. As if that were not enough, the law of denial that has been used to condemn her is not retroactive. Ingabire had, during the hearings, filed a petition before the Supreme court, but the latter never ruled on the issue. The High Court merely relied on a statement read on the public radio by a spokesman of Rwandan courts in lieu of a judgment of the Supreme Court. This highlights the lack of independence of the Rwandan justice.

For more information about the trial, kindly refer to the following documents:

  • Serge Dupuis, Fondation Jean Jaures. Rwanda : la condamnation de Victoire Ingabire ou la réconciliation nationale, selon Kigali (NOTE n° 165 – Fondation Jean-Jaurès – 17 avril 2013)
  • Rwanda. Justice in Jeopardy. The First Instance trial of Victoire Ingabire, (http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/AFR47/001/2013/en)

Suffocating the defense.

Since the beginning of the police investigation, the government’s strategy was , from the word go, to intimidate the defense. The first counsel of Ms Victoire Ingabire, American lawyer Peter Erlinder, was simply arrested and detained. Had it not been the swift diplomatic action of the USA, the main ally of the Kigali regime, counselor Erlinder would still be behind bars today. Ms Ingabire then hired another counsel team of a British lawyer and a Rwandan lawyer. Despite numerous acts of intimidation, including body search and insults during the hearings, she stood firm. But after three years of legal battle waged by the authorities against Ms. Victoire, the best way to deal with it is to have a strong defense team that capable of proving her innocence and the political nature of the case.
As time went on the lawyers’ fees became very expensive, with regards to the meager financial resources of the accused. Over time, the bill becomes heavy, compared to its financial resources. And that is exactly the purpose of the regime which seeks to financially strangle the defense and bully the accused more easily, without any defense.

What could you do?

The cost of the appeal before the Supreme Court is estimated at € 25 000 (2 lawyers). Be generous and make donations to raise this amount. Put your donation on the Foundation bank account. Contributing to the legal costs of Ms Victoire Ingabire goes beyond helping an individual. It is a gesture in favor of democracy and justice in Rwanda.

Foundation bank account
IBAN: BE56001672531388 code BIC: GEBABEBB
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