EU: Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought-UCD students debate and vote

http://www.europarl.ie/view/en/Events_Activities/Events_activities_2012/Sakharov_debate_UCD_5_Oct.html Friday, October 5, 2012 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought-UCD students debate and vote Students from the MSc/LLM programmes in Human Rights at University College Dublin took part in an event on 5 October 2012 at EU House Dublin to publicise the 2012 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought, and to promote the debate on the individual human rights issues to which the prize relates.  This was the second time that UCD students had taken part in such a debate.    The overall winners of the student debate was Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza, Déogratias Mushayidi and Bernard Ntaganda, three Rwandan opposition representatives. As part of the event, each of the initial list of 5 nominees who had been submitted to the Parliament by political groups or 40 MEPS was represented by UCD human rights students.  Each group of students gave a short presentation and argued the case for the award to be given to "their" nominee. Following the presentations, the floor was opened for a short debate among the attending students and academics. At the end of this debate the audience was asked to take part in two rounds of voting on the nominees, firstly to draw up a short-list of three nominees, and then to vote on who they thought should be the overall winner.  At the end of the second round there was a tie between two of the nominees, and a third and decisive round of voting was then held. The results of these votes were as follows: Ales Bialiatski, a human rights defender from Belarus.  Joseph Francis (Pakistan), founder of the Center for Legal Aid, Assistance and Settlement. Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza, Déogratias Mushayidi and Bernard Ntaganda, three Rwandan opposition representatives. Pussy Riot, a Russian punk group (represented by Nadezhda Andreyevna Tolokonnikova, Yekaterina Samutsevich and Maria Alyokhina).  Nasrin Sotoudeh and Jafar Panahi, two Iranian human rights campaigners. Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza, Déogratias Mushayidi and Bernard Ntaganda, three Rwandan opposition representatives, were thus chosen as the overall winners of the vote by the UCD students, who were informed that the outcome of the meeting would be transmitted to Irish MEPs and to Subcommittee on Human Rights of the European Parliament. The organiser of the event was Dr Graham Finlay of the School of Politics and International Relations at UCD.

Rwanda: Opposition leader Victoire Ingabire in front of the Supreme Court today in Kigal

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Victoire-Ingabire-Umuhoza/109504816547?sk=wall Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza Yesterday #Rwanda: Opposition leader Victoire Ingabire in front of the Supreme Court today in Kigali. "This is slowly pushing people to march on till freedom from york of bondage is won" 2Like · Comment · Share

EU: Winners of the debate - ICHR LLMs defending the Rwandan nominees for the Sakharov Prize

Winners of the debate - ICHR LLMs defending the Rwandan nominees for the Sakharov Prize http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=00x0u-ySqmQ

Eastern Congo: Why Stabilisation Failed - International Crisis Group

http://www.crisisgroup.org/en/regions/africa/central-africa/dr-congo/b091-eastern-congo-why-stabilisation-failed.aspx

Eastern Congo: Why Stabilisation Failed

Africa Briefing N°914 Oct 2012

OVERVIEW

Since Bosco Ntaganda's mutiny in April 2012 and the creation of the 23 March rebel movement (M23), violence has returned to the Kivus. This crisis shows that today's problems are the same as yesterday's because the 2008 framework for resolution of the conflict has yet to be put in place. Instead of implementing the 23 March 2009 agreement between the government and the CNDP (National Council for the Defence of the People), the Congolese authorities pretended to integrate the CNDP into political institutions, while the rebel group pretended to integrate into the Congolese army. In the absence of army reform, military pressure on armed groups only had a temporary effect and post-conflict reconstruction was not accompanied by essential governance reforms and political dialogue. To move away from crisis management and truly resolve the two-decades-old conflict, donors should put pressure on both Kigali and Kinshasa.

The M23 is behaving in a similar fashion to previous rebel movements by creating its own administration and its own financing system in parts of North Kivu. Meanwhile, Mai-Mai groups are expanding in rural areas where they commit atrocities that exacerbate inter-ethnic tensions. Pursuant to the peace and security architecture, the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) organised in July a regional dialogue to avoid conflict between Rwanda and the DRC. Unfortunately, it seems to be promoting an unrealistic and ineffective solution by advocating for the deployment of a 4,000-strong neutral force at the border between Rwanda and the DRC.

If international donors and African mediators persist in managing the crisis rather than solving it, it will be impossible to avoid the repetitive cycle of rebellions in the Kivus and the risk of large-scale violence will remain. To move from crisis management to conflict resolution, Rwanda's involvement in Congolese affairs must end and the reconstruction plan and the political agreements signed in the Kivus must be implemented. For that to happen, Western donors should maintain aid suspension against Rwanda until the release of the next report of the UN group of experts. They should also make clear to the Congolese authorities that they will not provide funding for stabilisation and institutional support as long as the government will not improve political dialogue, its governance and the army in the east, as recommended by Crisis Group several times.

In the short term, this crisis can be dealt with through the following initiatives:

• a ceasefire between the Congolese authorities and the M23 must be negotiated and monitored by the UN;
• the joint and permanent verification mechanism for the DRC and Rwandan border reactivated by the ICGLR should be effective and provided with the necessary technical and human resources;
• the individuals and entities that supported the M23 and other armed groups must be added to the UN sanctions list and an embargo on weapons sales to Rwanda should be considered;
• the 23 March 2009 agreement must be jointly evaluated in the framework of the international follow-up committee it established and this assessment should be the basis for resumption of dialogue between the government and CNDP;
• MONUSCO and the government should launch local peace initiatives in Walikale, Masisi, Shabunda and Kalehe areas where ethnic tension is high;
• Bosco Ntaganda should be arrested and handed over to the International Criminal Court (ICC); and
• the ICC should investigate the actions of M23 and new armed groups and request MONUSCO to transfer its files concerning M23 leaders.

After analysing the failure of the stabilisation of the Kivus in the report Congo: No Stability in Kivu despite Rapprochement with Rwanda, this new Crisis Group briefing explains the surge of violence and underlines that the Kivus do not need a new strategic approach; rather, the peace agreements and stabilisation plans should no longer be empty promises. This requires coordinated and unequivocal pressure from the donors that pay the bills of the Rwandan and Congolese regimes.

Kinshasa/Nairobi/Brussels, 4 October 2012

RWANDA: INGABIRE SUPREME COURT VERDICT POSTPONED AGAIN

http://www.fdu-rwanda.com/en/english-rwanda-ingabire-supreme-court-verdict-postponed-again#more-1839 Rwanda: INGABIRE SUPREME COURT VERDICT POSTPONED AGAIN. OCTOBER 05, 2012   Kigali, 05 October 2012 The Supreme court has just postponed to 18 October 2012 (11:00) for the third time the verdict on political prisoner Ingabire constitutional review case on controversial genocide ideology and divisionism laws. This time the official reason is an absent judge. Disappointed supporters gathered at the court house, but left peacefully. This is slowly pushing people to march on till freedom from york of bondage is won. Madame Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza, FDU-Inkingi chair, has been arrested two years ago on politically motivated charges. She has been boycotting the last parts of her trial after serious intimidation of her lone witness. The High court is due to issue a life sentence ruling on 19 October 2012. On 27 September 2012, the Karongi Intermediate court judge Felicien Twagiramungu charged 8 other FDU-Inkingi members from Rutsiro district of illegal political activities and threats to public security. He led a kangaroo process that refused bail and ordered a 30 day-provisional detention in a central prison. However they are still in Karongi police custody being taken videos and audio, to help frame the opposition leader Sylvain SIBOMANA, FDU-Inkingi Secretary General. The key accused, Anselme Mutuyimana, was forced to give his email address and password. Last year it has been established in Kigali high court that Rwandan prosecution used fabricated evidence and forged emails in the case against Madame Victoire Ingabire. FDU Inkingi members Mutuyimana Anselme, Uwiringiyimana venuste, Ufitamahoro Norbert, Dukundane Moise, Twizerimana Valens, Nahimana Marcel, Byukusenge Emmanuel and Gasengayire Leonille are still in police custody since 15 September 2012. Their bail appeal hearing is due on 10 October 2012 in Karongi. FDU-Inkingi Boniface Twagirimana Interim Vice president === http://www.fdu-rwanda.com/en/english-rwanda-ingabire-political-verdict-postponed-to-19-october-2012 Rwanda: Ingabire political verdict postponed to 19 October 2012. SEPTEMBER 07, 2012   Kigali, 07 September 2012 The High Court in Kigali has just adjourned to Friday 19 October 2012, 11:00, the political verdict of the opposition leader, Madame Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza, incarcerated since 14 October 2010 on politically motivated charges. The Court is waiting for the Supreme court ruling on a constitutional review motion. The prosecution has asked for a life sentence in this case. Most of the presidents of opposition parties in Rwanda are in maximum security prisons. 3 days ago, we informed about the disappearance of the first vice president of PS Imberakuri, Mr. Alexis Bakunzibake. There are news that the kidnappers have dumped him alive in a bush in Kabare district (Uganda). We are still investigating this information. We welcome the return yesterday from exile of Mr. Frank Habineza, leader of the Democratic Green Party of Rwanda. He left after the assassination of his first Vice President, the late André Kagwa Rwisereka in July2010, amonth before the presidential election. The demanded independent investigation never happened. FDU-Inkingi Boniface Twagirimana Interim Vice President