Rwandan Protests Abuse in Fiery Suicide

Mutabazi poured gasoline over his body and set himself ablaze in a protest that mirrors the public self immolation of Mohammed Bouazizi in Tunisia that triggered the Arab spring.

[Global: Op-Ed] 
 
We
are deeply saddened by the death of Sadiki Mutabazi in Rwanda and we
take this opportunity to express our sincere condolences to his family.

Mutabazi,
a street vendor, died of severe burns resulting from a self immolation
after the Paul Kagame regime’s security personnel confiscated his
belongings and beat him publicly in Gisenyi, Rubavu District.

In
our May 8, 2012 comment, we underlined how this young boy,  in a
desperate move decided to terminate his life after this public
humiliation. In unprecedented protest, he poured gasoline over his body
and set himself ablaze in a protest that mirrors the public self
immolation of Mohammed Bouazizi in Tunisia that triggered the Arab
spring.

We call upon the government of Rwanda to hand over his remains and provide support for a honorable burial. The RPF-led
government needs to inform the public about urgent measures taken, if
any, to investigate and bring to book those involved in Sadiki
Mutabazi’s ordeal and to subsequently punish the security hierarchy in
the area.

Sylvain Sibomana is Interim Secretary General of Rwanda’sFDUINKINGI opposition political party. The party’s president Ms. Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza  is undergoing a sham trial for treason. She was arrested and charged
after she ran against Paul Kagame in the last presidential election. 

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