READ THE LETTER HERE – Ingabire original letter to Chief Prosecutor

Released on request of Ms. Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza  Chair of FDU-INKINGI

                                                        by

Boniface Twagirimana

Interim Vice President

The High Court ruled on the exception to proceed while Madame Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza, FDU-Inkingi Chair, has withdrawn from the case. Trials in absentia are permissible provided the defendant is duly notified of the proceedings. “Madame Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza’s trial was almost at its end. She is not alone in this case. The appointment of a new counsel will delay the proceedings. In the highest interests of justice, the hearing will continue with no court appointed counsel, and she is no under any obligation to be present at trial…” says the High Court decision today in Kigali.

Kigali, April 17, 2012.

On Monday, April 16, 2012, Ms. Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza, Chair of the party FDU-Inkingi, decided to withdraw, with immediate effect, from the show trial brought against her by the prosecution and which has been dragging on for more than six months before the High Court of Kigali. Having completely lost confidence in the justice of her country, Ms. Ingabire Umuhoza will no longer attend the hearings which the Court would like to set up against her will, through the use of force. She decided to boycott them.

Kigali, 16 April  2012

Ms. Victoire Ingabire in Court

Following continuing intimidation of defense witnesses, the opposition leader Madame Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza, FDU – Inkingi Chair,  told today the High Court that she has irrevocably  lost trust in this show trial and that subsequently she will boycott all  the next hearings. She instructed her defense counsel to abide by her decision and stay away from this unfortunate circus.  The prosecutors told the court that the alleged intimidation  of defense witnesses is not enough reason to withdraw, and that she should be produced in court even if she persists to boycott.  Referring to the jurisprudence and rules of procedure on decisions rendered in the case ICTR v. Barayagwiza in Arusha, they suggested that a new counsel be designated for  “in absentia proceedings”. The Court ruling on the issue of the refusal to attend the trial proceedings is due on 18 April 2012.