RWANDA: THE TURNOUT OF FDU-INKINGI MEMBERS TO ATTEND THE SHOW TRIAL OF THEIR MEMBERS SENDS SHIVERS IN THE SPINE OF RWANDA SECURITY SERVICES.

PRESS RELEASE

The political trial of 9 FDU-Inkingi political prisoners resumed today 
20th of March 2019, still grieving over the murder in cold blood of 
their former colleague, Anselme Mutuyimana whose  body was found in 
Gishwati forest less than 24 hours after his arrest by people in police 
uniform,  and in the absence of  their co accused Boniface Twagirimana, 
1st Vice President of FDU-Inkingi,  who is feared dead after a 
mysterious disappearance from Mpanga maximum security prison. The 
murders seem to be annual ritual killings.  Illuminee Iragena was 
kidnapped in March 2016, Jean Damascene Habarugira in May 2018 and 
Anselme in 2019. This completes the circle that key leaders of the 
FDU-Inkingi are either in prison, forcedly disappeared or are dead.

As usual the prisoners had their legs chained and in handcuffs. They 
were told to jump out of the pickup as their family members including 
their children were looking on in anguish. What sadism!!

The bright side of the day is that members of FDU-Inkingi from the 
southern province turned up in large numbers in defiance of tactics of 
intimidation and life threats. Something that has confounded security 
agents sending them back to the drawing board.

They are prosecuted before the Rwandan courts, based on article 200 of 
the Rwandan penal code i.e. formation of an irregular army or being part 
of it, and under article 203 of the penal code i.e. conspiracy against 
the established power or the President of the Republic.
Today’s hearing focused on preliminary objections from the defence:

1.    In terrorism charges, it is the state attorney general who gives 
clearance to indict, as per the Rwandan criminal code. Yet, in this 
case, it is the national prosecutor who did it.
2.    The indictment solely relies on the guilty plea of a one called 
Janvier Twagirayezu, who was arrested along FDU members purporting to be himself FDU member. He was mysteriously released upon the very first 
hearing. He confessed himself being RPF member, not FDU member.
3.    According to available evidence, the prosecution wiretapping request 
was made on 31 May 2017. Twagirayezu meet for the first time the FDU 
accused members on 15 August 2017, almost 3 months later. How did the 
prosecution know, 71 days earlier, that Janvier Twagirayezu would meet 
FDU members?
It is clear that he is an operative of the police whose evidence has to 
be rejected out rightly, for lack of integrity.

FDU takes this opportunity to complain about unrest in harassing FDU 
members in Nyanza prison. Yesterday evening, at around 2 pm, prison 
warders came to look for Fabien Twagirayezu. They purported that it was 
for routine administrative duties. Owing to the prevailing suspicion, 
after the murder of fellow Anselme Mutuyimana, by people in police 
uniform, FDU members resisted the move to take Fabien Twagirayezu out of cell, for fear of meeting the same fate as late Anselme.

FDU leadership does not have any problem with prison services conducting 
their business unhampered, but RCS should bear in mind that FDU 
prisoners ought to be treated like any other prisoner. If they have any 
query with them, they should reach to them during working hours.

The FDU-Inkingi calls on the international community to act without fear 
or favour and
1.    ask the Rwandan government to release immediately the 9 FDU-Inkingi 
political prisoners on bond, as provided for in the national penal code;
2.    End impunity by bringing the Rwandan regime to account also for the 
lives of Rwandan (including late Habarugira and Anselme) and Congolese 
people that died through direct killing or obstructing the delivery of 
life saving services. They should be no more room of double standard 
justice.

Done in Rouen March 20, 2019

Theophile Mpozembizi
FDU-Inkingi Commissioner for Communications
[email protected][email protected]