Icon of the struggle for
freedom, democracy and justice in Rwanda arrested.
Mrs
Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza,
rwandan opposition leader and presidential candidate
The support committee announced the arrest of Mrs.
Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza by means of the following press release:
Brussels, 21st April 2010
Mrs. Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza: icon of the struggle for freedom, democracy
and justice in Rwanda arrested
UDF-Inkingi Support Committee demands her immediate and unconditional release.
The UDF – Inkingi Support Committee condemns in the strongest terms possible
the arrest this morning of the party Chair, Mrs. Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza, for
her views on how to bring about genuine national reconciliation and peace
through the rule of law and equal opportunity and how to end the cycle of
political violence through a non violent, peaceful democratic competition for
and exercise of power. We know that this violent arrest will not deter her
determination, instead its prompts the struggle of this freedom icon to a
higher level.
It is a tragedy for Rwanda
that a call for justice for all Rwandans irrespective of political and ethnic
affiliation and for an all inclusive national dialogue to give their views on
how to put in place institutions that reassure every Rwandans is turned into
accusations of: genocide ideology, divisionism and collaboration with a
terrorist organisation FDLR.
Such a barbaric and unlawful act against a peace loving mother who braved the
system to show that there is another way to bring about lasting peace and
development in Rwanda is not only a challenge to the conscience and dignity of
the Rwandan people but also to the international community, in particular
foreign governments who are sponsoring the government.
It is an irony and a challenge to the international community that this is happening
at a time when the Governor General of Canada, a lady herself and whose
government was not only at the forefront of countries that sponsored Rwanda to
join the commonwealth on the grounds that it meets democratic standards and
other values of that organisation, is visiting the country. During the visit
she is scheduled to meet the women and men of Kibirizi and participate in a
discussion on the growing participation of women in Rwandan society.
We call upon governments and peace loving people and organisations to support
us in getting our chair immediately and unconditionally released.
For the UDF INKINGI Support Committee
Eugene Ndahayo, President.