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Rwanda Police Detain Opposition Leader Ingabire

   Peter Clottey 14 October 2010

   Rwanda's arrested opposition leader Victoire Ingabire

   A  leading member of Rwandaâs opposition said police Thursday arrested
   the  leader  of  the  United  Democratic  Forces (UDF) party, Victoire
   Ingabire Umuhoza, after she was accused of having ties to a Hutu rebel
   group.

   Rwandaâs government said that the Democratic Forces for the Liberation
   of  Rwanda  (FDLR)  Hutu  rebel group had a role in the countryâs 1994
   genocide.  The  rebel  group  has  also  been  accused  of  committing
   atrocities in neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo.

   Alice  Muhirwa  said  police  announced  on the State Broadcaster that
   Ingabire  is  being  detained  for  an  unspecified period as security
   agents continue investigating her ties to activities of the FDLR rebel
   group.

   âSome  policemen came (to her) home, then (held) discussions with her,
   (and)  then  they brought her straight to CID (Criminal Investigations
   Department).  Up  to  now, she is not yet back home. We heard from the
   policeman (who) gave an interview saying that they are going to detain
   her  in  Cyicukiro  brigade.  Yet,  she  was  still  at  CID  and  the
   investigation was still going on.â

   Muhirwa  said  the  opposition  UDF  party  has spoken with Ingabireâs
   lawyer  about  her  arrest,  but  expressed doubt that the police will
   allow  the  opposition  leaderâs attorney to see her during the police
   interrogation.

   Ingabire,  who was detained in April after returning to the country in
   January, has been a staunch critic of President Paul Kagame saying the
   Rwandan  leader has stifled the opposition and that he has dictatorial
   tendencies.

   President  Kagame  recently  won  an overwhelming majority in Rwandaâs
   recent  presidential election. Ingabire, who was barred from competing
   in the August poll, rejected the results of the election as fraudulent
   and called on the international community to reject the outcome.

   Muhirwa  said  members of the opposition UDF party are concerned about
   Ingabireâs  well being as she is being subjected to what she described
   as intensive police interrogation.

   âThe  police say she has links to that FDLR member (Peter Uwumuremyi).
   But,  for us, we really ignore that because that guy is not recognized
   as a UDF member. That is all.â

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