What is inflammatory? Our print T-shirts state, “WE NEED DEMOCRACY AND FAIR JUSTICE†or “TURASHAKA DEMOKARASI N’UBUTABERA BUSESUYEâ€. The regime will leave no stone unturned until the opposition is totally crushed.
[Op-Ed: Africa]
Regime Once Lauded Shows True Colors In Daylight
The police brutality in my residence last night is politically motivated.
On 24th July 2010, from 20:10 to 20:50 a police flying squad drifted in my temporary residence, knocked off and assaulted two guests and a house watchman in front of the door.
The victims are Martin Ntavuka–FDU INKINGI leader in Nyarugenge district and Anastase Hagabimana–FDU INKINGI
leader in Kicukiro district.They were handcuffed, beaten and taken to REMERA police detention facility. The watchman was left with face injuries including one eye swollen shut.
Eye witnesses confirm death threats and ethnic hate abuses hurled on-spot by the officer, Karekezi, a CID staff. Today, the governmental radio station, quoting police sources, reported that last night two were arrested for planning an illegal protest next week and that “inflammatory print” T-shirts were confiscated.
Our print T-shirts display normally our colors, green and red, and the text on either the front or the back states, “WE NEED DEMOCRACY AND FAIR JUSTICE” or “TURASHAKA DEMOKARASI N’UBUTABERA BUSESUYE”. What is inflammatory in this?
From the 26th July 2010, a Kigali High Court opens the bail appeal hearings of many opposition leaders on demonstration charges while the incumbent is promising heaven to sorry Rwandans in rural areas.
Only this month of July, I was pressurized twice by landlords to vacate rented houses or to face police eviction due to death threats from the ruling party. The current landlord turned up unexpectedly only two days after occupancy and prompted a speedy lease annulment process. A 20-day notice to vacate and a total refund of five months prepaid rent is in force since.
A few months ago, Kigali hotels aborted at the last minute our conference room reservations thanks to threats from the secret police. It looks like the regime will leave no stone unturned until the opposition is totally crushed.
We call upon the government of General Paul Kagame to release them and to adequately address the issue of police brutality, beatings, torture, death threats, excessive force and the use of hate language, profanity and defamatory remarks.
Ms. Victoire INGABIRE UMUHOZA is chair of FDU INKINGI political party. Her party has been blocked from contesting the August presidential election by the U.S.-backed Rwanda government and she’s under house arrest.
“Speaking Truth To Empower.”
