Rwanda: FDU-INKINGI urges His Excellency Paul Kagame, in his capacity as president of the RPF-INKOTANYI, to put an end to acts of provocation against political opponents, using the security services
Kigali, February 11, 2013
The political party FDU INKINGI strongly condemns once again the RPF INKOTANYI's leadership and its government, which pursue their sinister maneuvers aimed at manipulating the security services in order to harass opposition leaders by fomenting false criminal investigations so that they can justify arbitrary arrests, kidnappings or forced evictions.
On the morning of February 11, 2013 at 6:30am, the police surrounded the home of Dominique Shyirambere, resident of Amajyambere Village, Kamatamu Cell, Kacyiru Sector and Gasabo District. The police exhibited a search warrant alleging counterfeiting activities. The operation was conducted by a police officer in uniform whose name is Karenzi. The police found on Mr. Dominique Shyirambere a paltry amount of 40,000 Rwf free from any suspicion of counterfeit currency
Despite the fact that the search had drawn a blank, the police handcuffed Mr. Dominique Shyirambere and led him to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) where he was interrogated. They finally decided to take him to the police jail in Remera. When the convoy was about to pass the residence of the U.S. ambassador, the police received a phone call then stopped the vehicle. After the phone conversation, the police released Mr. Shyirambere immediately. Curiously, the police did not return him the keys to his house and confiscated his 40 000 Rwf.
This is not the first time that this fighter for democracy is the victim of acts of denunciation by the RPF's Intore. In fact, they never stop harassing him. Recently, he was attacked in his home at night by another RPF militia known as the Inkeragutabara who besieged him throughout the night because he refused to open the door. At sunrise, when they managed to get inside his home, they violently beat him. When his neighbors, including Sylvain Sibomana, the Secretary General of FDU-INKINGI, rushed in to see what was happening, they were in turn beaten too. When the police were called in to the rescue they realized that these were the RPF militia. They decided to merely console the victims and dismissed the militia without any charges.
We take this opportunity to call upon the authorities to ensure the safety of Mr. Shyirambere. We will hold them responsible for anything that might happen to him. By the same time, we denounce the confiscation of the victim's keys because the police can enter his home anytime and temper with evidence to find charges against him.
These mafia-like actions have become legion. Last month, FDU INKINGI member, Théophile Ntirutwa, resident of the Kangondo I village, Nyarutarama cell, Remera sector and Gasabo district, suffered the same abuses. He was driven out of his home on the pretext that he held meetings in his pub.
It will also be recalled that this is the same scenario that was used by the security services to arbitrarily arrest and detain 7 months ago, 7 young members of our political party native of Rutsiro district, under the pretext that they had met with the Secretary General of the party.
The political party FDU INKINGI cannot indefinitely close its eyes to such acts. We solemnly ask Paul Kagame, in his capacity as president of the RPF-INKOTANYI, to stop these acts of provocation. We ask him to accept a genuine political debate rather than resorting to the security services in order to harass his political opponents. This is all the more incomprehensible given the fact that President Kagame said that his party base is so popular that he is not afraid of opposition at all. This is what he said during the celebrations marking the 25th anniversary of his party, the RPF.
We are imbued with the desire to build our country thereby paving the way of justice, freedom and respect for human rights. We are committed to peaceful resistance. We know very well that the RPF chose another route so that it can access to power but we are convinced that violence does not bring lasting peace. Instead of spilling the blood of the Rwandan people, we will endeavor to conciliate and to promote peace and save the lives of the Rwandan citizens, keeping in mind that it is they who are the strength of our country and a catalyst for sustainable development.
We once again call for the unconditional release of our 7 members detained in Muhanga prison. We call for an end to harassment, evictions, intimidation against honest and innocent Rwandan citizens, especially those who are members of the democratic opposition. The day when all the people shall rise up as one man to demand an end to the dictatorship, it will be impossible to put behind bars 11 million people.
Instead of trying to nip in the bud all democratic demands, the Rwandan government would be better advised to accompany them, not in the interest of the regime, but of the country.
FDU-INKINGI
Boniface Twagirimana.
Interim Vice-President
CC.
* HE Secretary General of the UN
* Security Council of the UN
* Human Rights Organizations (all)
* African Commission on Human Rights
* Press Agencies (all)
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