Victoire Ingabire’s family faces her prison sentence in Rwanda

http://sfbayview.com/2012/victoire-ingabires-family-faces-her-prison-sentence-in-rwanda/ Victoire Ingabire's family faces her prison sentence in Rwanda November 9, 2012 6 by Ann Garrison KPFA Evening News broadcast Nov. 3, 2012 Transcript Raissa, dressed in the pink uniform of a Rwandan prisoner, holds a photo poster of her imprisoned mother, Victoire Ingabire, at a rally in Brussels on Oct. 20, 2012. Raissa, her family and other supporters of her mother hold rallies frequently in Brussels and The Hague. KPFA Evening News Anchor: Earlier this week, a court in Kigali, Rwanda found Rwandan opposition leader Victoire Ingabire guilty of treason and denying the 1994 genocide against the Tutsis. Ingabire's British lawyer Iain Edwards told KPFA that they were glad the sentence was eight years instead of life, but that the evidence didn't justify any conviction. And that he and her Rwandan lawyer Gatera Gashabana would appeal the judgment to Rwanda's Supreme Court as soon as they have a copy. KPFA's Ann Garrison spoke to Ingabire's daughter, Raissa Ujeneza. Ujeneza is a student of international and European law in the Netherlands. KPFA/Ann Garrison: Raissa, how are you and the rest of your family feeling now that the court has finally handed down this verdict, two years after your mother was imprisoned? Raissa: Well, we realize that it is not over yet. And this verdict is another part of her journey in fighting for reconciliation, equality and freedom in Rwanda. As her family, we have tried to stay strong. And, yeah, I have to say that the worst moment for me is when I think about my youngest brother. He was 8 when my mother left the Netherlands; and seeing the way things are going for her, it is uncertain when we will see her again, so he might be a teenager at that time, as he is already 10. But, yeah, we have each other as a family, and besides that, there are many who support us – friends, churches – and that makes going through all of this much easier. So, there is hope and there is faith. Victoire Ingabire hugs her daughter Raissa Ujeneza over 20 years ago in the Netherlands. Raissa, now 23, is studying international and European law there, while her mother remains in prison in Rwanda. KPFA: The Dutch government suspended budget support to Rwanda after the August U.N. report that Rwanda was behind the M23 militia that resumed the war in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Have they responded in any way to your petition asking them to call for your mother's release? Raissa: Well, we have not yet received a response from the Dutch government on our petition. The Dutch government currently is dealing with national complications that arise with the new government. Ahh, we will have to wait and see if the petition will be given importance. We realize that it is not over yet. And this verdict is another part of her journey in fighting for reconciliation, equality and freedom in Rwanda. As her family, we have tried to stay strong. KPFA: The issues at stake in your mother's trial are very large. She has steadfastly maintained that not only Rwandan Tutsis but also Rwandan Hutus were killed and were victims of crimes against humanity before, during and after the Rwanda Genocide. This undermines President Kagame's justification for Rwanda's 16-year war and occupation in Congo, where he has claimed the right to hunt down perpetrators of the Tutsi Genocide who fled across the border. Rwandans and Congolese have come together in European capitals to demonstrate for both your mother's release and an end to Rwanda's war in Congo, which they understand to be connected. But, do you think many Europeans outside the diaspora understand that connection? Raissa: No, I don't think the connection between the war in Congo and Rwanda's role in it is understood well. I'm afraid actually that only those who are familiar with the Great Lakes Region understand their connection. Victoire Ingabire's family at the airport before Victoire departed for Rwanda in January 2010: her husband Lin Muyizere, left, daughter Raissa Ujeneza, center left, Victoire, center right, son Remy Ndizeye Niyigena, right, and son Rizst Shima, front. KPFA: And how do you feel about the possibility of ethnic reconciliation in Rwanda? Raissa: I believe that this is a problem that is rooted with the old generation Rwandans. Young Rwandans from the '70s and after, such as myself, we were not compelled to keep the hate going that has destroyed so many lives of Rwandans already. My mother does not want to entice anybody to hate another. Her message is one of peace, freedom and equality, and she's a Hutu herself, but her party has worked and still works with Tutsis. My mother advocates for a Rwanda where people look beyond these differences, while the Kagame regime hides behind the genocide of 1994 and the genocide ideology law. This is just another way the regime tries to justify the way it rules and consequently this also appears to hold the international community back from protesting. Young Rwandans from the '70s and after, such as myself, we were not compelled to keep the hate going that has destroyed so many lives of Rwandans already. My mother welcomes any collaboration between different ethnic groups. She taught us at home that we should learn from history by choosing to do better. And yeah, both Tutsis and Hutus suffered, killed and were murdered. A war always has victims on both sides, and anyone who can deny that is – yah – simply not being real. KPFA: And that was Raissa Ujeneza, daughter of imprisoned Rwandan opposition leader Victoire Ingabire on Ingabire's guilty verdict and eight-year prison sentence. For Pacifica, KPFA and AfrobeatRadio, I'm Ann Garrison. San Francisco writer Ann Garrison writes for the San Francisco Bay View, Global Research, Colored Opinions,Black Star News and her own website, Ann Garrison, and produces for AfrobeatRadio on WBAI-NYC, KPFA Evening News and her own YouTube Channel, AnnieGetYourGang. She can be reached atann@afrobeatradio.com. If you want to see Ann Garrison's independent reporting continue, please contribute on her website at anngarrison.com.   You may also like - Victoire still in prison, Congo still a human catastrophe Protestors gather for Ingabire, the woman who challenged Kagame Verdict pending: Victoire Ingabire and D.R. Congo Share on tumblrShare on facebookShare on twitterShare on emailMore Sharing Services Related Posts Verdict pending: Victoire Ingabire and D.R. Congo Sanford Weill and Paul Kagame: Doctors of Humane Letters? Obama could end Congo's human catastrophe Africans call on the ICC to investigate Rwanda's Kagame White man's burden: Affleck and Prendergast in Congress for Congo

http://news.wwwdr01.ninemsn.com.au/national/8563113/brown-urges-pm-to-help-with-rwanda-visa Brown urges PM to help with Rwanda visa 12:40 AEST Mon Nov 12 2012 Former Australian Greens leader Bob Brown has asked Prime Minister Julia Gillard to try and get a ban on him travelling to Rwanda lifted so he can visit the country's Green party. Dr Brown was due to fly to Africa on Monday to speak at Rwanda's Democratic Green Party conference, but was told on Sunday his visa, granted in late October, had been cancelled due to "contradictory messages" in his application. He says it is further evidence the government of Rwandan President Paul Kagame is restricting democracy and crushing political opposition. Ms Gillard met president Kagame in October when they co-chaired a meeting of the Millennium Development Goals Advocates Group at the United Nations. Dr Brown urged Ms Gillard to speak with president Kagame on his behalf, while Greens leader Christine Milne has already called on Foreign Minister Bob Carr to intervene as well. The former Tasmanian senator also said claims online that he had visited Rwanda in the past were "demonstrably wrong".

NORD-KIVU, LES ENJEUX DE LA GUERRE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fDkPE4BWKOk

http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/political-news/visit-cancelled-as-rwanda-bans-brown-20121111-296fc.html Visit cancelled as Rwanda bans Brown Date November 12, 2012 Kristian Silva and Benjamin Millar inShare Pin It Email article Print Reprints & permissions Ads by Google Man Cheats Credit Score www.thecreditsolutionprogram.com 1 simple trick & my credit score jumped 217 pts. Banks hate this! Banned: Bob Brown. Photo: Andrew Meares FORMER federal Greens leader Bob Brown has been banned from entering Rwanda after the African nation's government cited ''contradictory messages'' in his visa application. Dr Brown received approval on October 30 to travel to the war-torn African nation to support the local Greens party. He was to depart today before the government's reversal on Sunday. ''This is very unfortunate, not just for the Greens in Rwanda, but for democracy in a country where political opposition is not wanted by the government of President [Paul] Kagame,'' Dr Brown said on Sunday. ''I will continue to support the Rwandan Greens and to work for people pursuing democracy under far more difficult circumstances than we experience in Australia.'' ''The last Greens conference was broken up violently with men wielding sticks and some people's arms and legs were broken,'' Dr Brown said. ''The journalist who reported on, and indicated that the government was involved in the break-up of that Greens conference was shot, so it's very tough going.''Dr Brown said he feared for the safety of members of the Democratic Green Party in Rwanda. Party deputy leader Andre Kagwa Rwisereka was found beheaded in 2010 and his killing remains unsolved. ''This is a test for the Commonwealth, whether President Kagame is going to be taken on.'' Rwandan government critics say the country is an authoritarian state, with any who speak out persecuted and often killed. In October, Rwanda controversially gained a non-permanent African seat on the United Nations Security Council. This came despite a UN report that claimed a high-ranking Rwandan official was leading a violent militia uprising in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Human Rights Watch said last month's eight-year jail sentence handed to opposition leader Victoire Ingabire for treason and genocide denial ''illustrates the Rwandan government's unwillingness to tolerate criticism and to accept the role of opposition parties in a democratic society''. With BIANCA HALL, AAP Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/political-news/visit-cancelled-as-rwanda-bans-brown-20121111-296fc.html#ixzz2ByHPYKEz

http://m.theage.com.au/national/bob-brown-refused-entry-to-rwanda-20121111-29615.html Bob Brown refused entry to Rwanda Kristian Silva November 11, 2012 Bob Brown. Photo: Andrew Meares Former federal Greens leader Bob Brown has been banned from entering Rwanda, after the African nation's government cited "contradictory messages" in his visa application. Dr Brown received formal approval on October 30 to visit the war-torn African nation to support the local Greens party. He was due to depart on Monday before the government's about-face. "This is very unfortunate, not just for the Greens in Rwanda, but for democracy in a country where political opposition is not wanted by the government of president (Paul) Kagame," Dr Brown said in Melbourne today. Advertisement "I will continue to support the Rwandan Greens and to work for people pursuing democracy under far more difficult circumstances than we experience in Australia." Critics of Rwanda's government say the country is an authoritarian state, with those who speak out persecuted and often killed. In October, Rwanda controversially gained a non-permanent African seat on the United Nations Security Council. This came despite a leaked UN report that claimed one of Rwanda's high-ranking officials was leading a violent militia uprising in the Democratic Republic of Congo. __._,_.___ Répondre à expéditeur | Répondre à groupe | Répondre en mode Web | Nouvelle discussion Toute la discussion (1) Activités récentes: Nouveaux membres 4 Aller sur votre groupe http://fr.groups.yahoo.com/group/Democracy_Human_Rights Maître Innocent  TWAGIRAMUNGU DHR FOUNDER&OWNER Tél.mobile: 0032- 495 48 29 21 UT UNUM SINT "L'extrémisme dans la défense de la liberté n'est pas un vice; La modération dans la poursuite de la justice n'est pas une vertu". "Extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice; moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue." (USA,Republican Convention 1964,Barry Morris Goldwater (1909-1998)). "Le monde ne sera pas détruit par ceux qui font le mal mais par ceux qui regardent et refusent d'agir", Albert EINSTEIN. Les messages publiés sur DHR n'engagent que la responsabilité de leurs auteurs. CONSIDERATION, TOLERANCE, PATIENCE AND MUTUAL RESPECT towards the reinforcement of GOOD GOVERNANCE,DEMOCRACY and HUMAN RIGHTS in our states. Liability and Responsibility: You are legally responsible, and solely responsible, for any content that you post to DHR. You may only post materials that you have the right or permission to distribute electronically. The owner of DHR cannot and does not guarantee the accuracy of any statements made in or materials posted to the group by participants. " BE NICE TO PEOPLE ON YOUR WAY UP, BECAUSE YOU MIGHT MEET THEM ON YOUR WAY DOWN." Jimmy DURANTE. COMBATTONS la haine SANS complaisance, PARTOUT et avec Toute ENERGIE!!!!!! Let's  rather prefer Peace, Love , Hope and Life, and get together as one!!! Inno TWAGIRA Passer à: Texte seulement, Résumé du jour • Désinscription • Conditions dutilisation . __,_._,___