Ingabire's husband: Please ask Kagame to free Victoire!

RNW, 10 February 2011, by Ruben Koops

(Photo: AFP)

The Dutch Minister for International Cooperation Ben Knapen should ask Rwandan president Paul Kagame for the release of opposition leader Victoire Ingabire. Lin Muyizere, Ingabire’s husband: “Kagame is the only one who can do something to end this, and I count on Mr Knapen to deliver this request. Not only for my wife, but for all political prisoners in Rwanda.” Ben Knapen is scheduled to meet with President Kagame during his visit next week.

Minister Knapen departs for the Great Lake region on Sunday. After visiting eastern Congo, a delegation including Knapen will head for the Rwandan capital Kigali on 15 February. Sources confirmed to Radio Netherlands Worldwide that the minister will meet with Rwandan president Paul Kagame. Lin Muyizere is happy that the Dutch government has a chance to talk with Kagame. “Everybody is displeased with Kagame, but it’s not yet too late for him to open doors, and let everybody take part in the political process.”

Bahrami

The imprisonment of Victoire Ingabire is a delicate issue for the Dutch Foreign Ministry. Last week, several opposition parties criticized the lack of involvement of foreign minister Uri Rosenthal in the Bahrami case. Zahra Bahrami, who has dual Dutch and Iranian citizenship, was found guilty on charges of possession of cocaine and opium and executed in Tehran at the end of January. Although Victoire Ingabire does not have the Dutch nationality, she lived in the Netherlands for 16 years. After her return to Rwanda in early 2010 to run as a candidate in the presidential elections, she was arrested on suspicion of threatening national security. Her trial is pending before the Rwanda High Court.

Mr Muyizere has not been in contact with his wife for the last few weeks. “I hear that she is still alive from her fellow party members in Kigali.”

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“We are concerned with Mrs Ingabire’s situation, as we are with the situation of other opposition politicians in Rwanda” says MP Kathleen Ferrier, member of the Christian Democrat party (CDA). “Minister Knapen should address the human rights situation in Rwanda in general, but I would not be surprised if the Ingabire trial came up during the meeting with Paul Kagame.” In 2007, Ferrier introduced a motion ordering the freeze of budget aid to Rwanda. It was passed unanimously. Last fall, the Dutch parliament terminated direct budget support for Rwanda, partly because of the Ingabire trial.

Questions

Ewout Irrgang, Socialist Party MP, traveled to the Great Lakes area himself in 2010. His advice to Knapen: “Although the economic growth is spectacular, be reminded that Rwanda suffers under a harsh dictatorship. Don’t be fooled by the democratic façade, and keep asking questions about human rights and democracy.” Irrgang is especially worried about the support the Dutch government still gives to the Rwandan judicial sector, through an earmarked aid budget. “We want to help to improve the rule of law in Rwanda. But only if there is the political will to effect much needed change. It would be great if Ben Knapen communicates this during his visit.”

Cooperation

According to Albert Rudatsimburwa, a political analyst for the Kigali-based radio station Contact FM, minister Knapen will receive a warm welcome. “Holland and Rwanda have a good relationship. We understand that the country wants to rationalize its development aid and budget support, so Rwanda will show that it can meet those new demands.” Mr Rudatsimburwa also thinks the Ingabire trial will come up during the bilateral talks. “But the recent cooperation between the two countries in the raids on Ingabire’s properties in the Netherlands shows that, even on this issue, Rwanda and the Netherlands can work together.”

Dutch minister for International
Cooperation Ben Knapen

Update Foreign Ministry

The Dutch Foreign Ministry confirms that minister Knapen will travel to eastern Congo and Rwanda. “The minister wants to be informed on economical Developments, judicial and democratic developments and the Dutch effort in the region” a spokesperson said. On the Ingabire case, Ben Knapen will urge that Victoire Ingabire will get a free and fair trial, “and others too, like we always do in our international diplomacy” according to the Ministry. The meeting with president Paul Kagame could not be confirmed.

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