Rwanda: The British ambassador made ​​a courtesy visit to Ms Victoire Ingabire

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Rwanda: The British ambassador made ​​a courtesy visit to Ms Victoire Ingabire

SEPTEMBER 19, 2013  

Kigali, September 18, 2013.

On  Wednesday, September 18, 2013, the British ambassador accredited to  Kigali  went to Kigali maximum security prison to visit Ms Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza, the Chairperson of FDU-Inkingi and political prisoner for 3 years, who is still waiting for the appeal verdict.

The two parties discussed the political situation in Rwanda which was dominated by the last legislative elections in which no genuine opposition party was allowed to participate.

The elections were followed by a witch hunt that culminated into forty arrests in the ranks of university students, taxi drivers and members of the opposition accused of supporting the claims of these students and taxi drivers (see our press release of September 17, 2013).

According to the lawyer who has been in contact with the detainees, only 4 of them are still held at the Kicukiro police station. Reliable reports have pointed out severe ill-treatments to the point that Jean Baptiste Icyitonderwa has bruises on his face while Emmanuel Ntakirutimana cannot even sit down. Martin Ntavuka was also beaten up.

Furthermore, the detainees are not allowed to receive any outside assistance including food and needed items for bedding and hygiene.

The two parties also discussed the situation in the Great Lakes region which is marked by renewed fighting between the Congolese army and the M23 rebels supported by Rwanda, according to the United Nations.

Ms Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza took such an opportunity to ask the British ambassador to intercede with the British government so that it can strongly support the democratization process of Rwandan political institutions.

FDU- INKINGI
Boniface Twagirimana
Interim Vice President