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Former Rwandan Envoy Calls for international Pressure on President Kagame

   Former  ambassador  to  the  U.S.  Theogene Rudasingwa says opposition
   leader  Victoire  Ingabire  is  a freedom fighter who should not be in
   jail

   James Butty | Washington, D.C. 27 October 2010

   A  former  Rwandan ambassador to the United States and former chief of
   staff  to  President  Paul  Kagame  has called on Rwandans to continue
   their   peaceful   resistance   to   what   he   called  Mr.  Kagameâs
   state-sponsored terrorism.

   This comes as a Rwandan court Tuesday denied bail to opposition leader
   Victoire  Ingabire,  who was arrested earlier this month on charges of
   forming a terrorist group.

   Rwandan Opposition Leader Victoire Ingabire

   Theogene  Rudasingwa  told  VOA that Ingabire is a freedom fighter who
   should not be in jail.

   âMy  comment  is first of all to ask why she should be in jail because
   Ingabire  is  not  a  terrorist  as they charged her. In My opinion, I
   think  sheâs a freedom fighter, and sheâs paying a price for that,â he
   said.

   In  denying  Igabire a bail Tuesday, the court said she could continue
   her activities and endanger state security if she were let out of jail
   on bail.

   Rudasingwa  said the courtâs explanation fits the pattern of the kinds
   of  accusations  that  President  Kagame  normally  makes  against his
   opponents.

   âItâs  not  only  Ingabire who has been called a terrorist. If you are
   not  charged  with  terrorism,  they  say  you  are a criminal, youâre
   corrupt; they call you a genocidal. So it really fits the pattern, and
   the  only  crime  that this innocent lady has committed is to speak up
   against the brutality of President Kagame,â Rudasingwa said.

   Ingabire  said  through  her  supporters  that she plans to appeal the
   courtâs decision.

   But  Rudasingwa  said  the  chances  for  winning an appeal in Rwandan
   courts are very limited.

   âIt simply shows that as for now Kagame has converted the country into
   a virtual prison, and I think he takes pride in being its chief prison
   guard.  Itâs  not Ingabire who is a terrorist. Itâs rather the Rwandan
   people  versus  state  terrorism  that  is  being  imposed  on them by
   President Kagame,â Rudasingwa said.

   Rudasingwa  called  on  President  Kagame  to release Ingabire and all
   political prisoners.

   He  also  called  on  the  international  community to continue to put
   pressure on President Kagame to allow fundamental freedoms to flourish
   in Rwanda.

   âWe  call upon the international community for whom Kagame depends for
   his excesses to put pressure on him indeed to make sure that he allows
   for fundamental freedoms to thrive in the country,â he said.

   With  what  he  called  âmany  crimes hanging on the neck of President
   Kagameâ,  Rudasingwa said the international community should also make
   sure  that  Mr.  Kagame accounts for what former envoy said are crimes
   being committed against the Rwandan people.

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