Kigali, 16  January 2012

Leaders of the interim Executive committee observed a minute of silence in front of the High Court house waiting for the party Chair, Ms. Victoire INGABIRE UMUHOZA, to be escorted to the Courtroom, in handcuffs and prisoners’ uniform as her political trial was supposed to resume today. But it was again adjourned until 13 February 2012 to allow the Prosecutor to get ready with the relevance, materiality, and translation of segments of additional investigation on allegations of acts of terrorism. The High Court informed the Defence counsel that the postponement request from the National Public Prosecution Authority was registered on 12 January 2012. The Defence was not informed, and Barrister Iain EDWARDS traveled from the UK to Rwanda for the hearing just to be told it will resume after another four weeks!

Speaking to a press conference in Uganda early December 2011, President Paul KAGAME blatantly lied that “the British lawyer deserted the trial after he realised that there was overwhelming evidence on acts of terrorism”. We don’t know whether this surprise adjournment is related to a governmental exhaustion strategy in order to finish the financial means of the defendant. Ingabire and her party are paying Rwandan lawyers and expenses of the British probono lawyer.

The government of Rwanda has derailled the registration of FDU-INKINGI political party since January 2010 and most key leaders of the party have been detained as well.