RWANDA:Latest Updates on Peter Erlinder

Latest Updates on Peter Erlinder
Contact:
Paige Cram,
Communications Coordinator,
212-679-5100, ext. 15
Monday, June 7

11:30 am

Peter was denied bail by the Rwandan judge this morning. He will remain in custody while the prosecution’s investigation continues until at least the end of this week.

http://www.startribune.com/politics/95778454.html

10:30 am

The NYC chapter is planning a protest for Peter outside the Rwandan consulate in NY tomorrow afternoon. Here are the details:

Tuesday, June 8, 12pm-1pm
124 East 39th Street, New York, NY

Please email Garrett Wright if you have any questions.

A demonstration is also planned in Minneapolis:
Tuesday, June 8, 5:00 p.m.
Federal Building
300 S 4th Street
Minneapolis, MN
Saturday, June 5

Peter was formally charged in Rwandan court and pleaded not guilty during a 5-hour hearing. We are awaiting the judge’s decision about whether Peter will be released on bail. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hVaq2CWv9pQElQWc58fi0FGjbSEgD9G528M86
Friday, June 4

9:00 am Scott Erlinder and David Gespass appeared this morning on Democracy Now! Watch the video: http://www.democracynow.org/2010/6/4/family_members_fear_for_life_of
Thursday, June 3

9:00 pm President David Gespass and Scott Erlinder will appear on Democracy Now at 8:30 am EST on Friday, June 4. 3:00 pm The U.S. State Department is officially calling for Peter’s release: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gb8QoXA0ctT2XrirtdM8Tiu8ed4gD9G3UQ900 10:30 am At a press conference at the National Press Club, Peter’s family disclosed information about the alleged suicide attempt. According to the consular officials who met with Peter in the hospital, he took extra prescription pills in order to get out of a jail cell. Gena Berglund said in the press conference that taking the pills was a “strategy’ for Peter to escape the poor conditions in the cell where he is being held with seven or eight other inmates and handcuffed each time he is taken out of the cell. The family has still had no direct contact with Peter but is still hoping to meet with State Department officials this week. Wednesday, June 2
3:15

A Reuters article is reporting that Peter has retracted all statements that might have violated Rwandan law. However, the article relies on comments from the chief prosecutor in Rwanda and confirmation from an unnamed source. We have not received any information of this kind from anyone in close contact with Peter. http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6515H320100602?feedType=RSS&feedName=worldNews
2:45 pm

The State Dept confirmed in its daily briefing today that Peter is back in the hospital and that both embassy officials and his lawyers have access to him. He will remain in the hospital overnight. The state department said it is not otherwise in a position to comment on the particulars of the situation, or on the specifics of his medical situation, citing patient confidentiality. The video and transcript of the briefing should be available after 4 pm at http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/dpb/index.htm

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1:30 pm

A troubling article also in several papers indicating that the Rwandan government has issued statements accusing Peter of attempted suicide by swallowing pills in his cell. Initial reports from Peter’s colleagues and lawyers in Rwanda assure us that this is false, government propaganda. However, Sarah Erlinder confirms that Peter is back in the hospital. The circumstances that brought him there are still unclear, but she said his lawyers and a representative from the U.S. Embassy have been able to visit him and report that he’s stable. We are concerned that this latest suicide report may indicate that Rwandan authorities might harm him. “I think that it means that his situation has gotten absolutely dire. I think that they have to either consider it an attempt on his life or laying the groundwork to kill him and claim that it was suicide,” Sarah Erlinder said in an interview from D.C.
11:30 am

Peter’s family and NLG representatives are in Washington, D.C. attempting to meet with the State Department and the UN. A press conference is scheduled for Thursday, June 3 at 9:30 am in the West Room of the National Press Club, 529 14th St, NW, Washington, D.C. Articles about Peter have appeared in the Associated Press, the Minneapolis Star Tribune and several other publications. Here is a sample of a few well-written profiles. http://www.startribune.com/local/95336614.html?page=1&c=y http://www.pressherald.com/news/ap?articleID=4660002 Monday, May 31 Report came in that Peter was brought to the hospital following interrogation. After tests were run, it was determined that high blood pressure was the problem and Peter was returned to the jail. This article from Minnesota Public Radio gives an update on his condition. Phone numbers of important officials to call on behalf of Peter: Call the White House: 202-456-1111 Secretary of State Hillary Clinton Secy of State Hillary Clinton: (202) 647-9572 Bureau of African affairs: (202) 647-4440 Johnnie Carson, Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs: (202) 647-2530 Rwanda embassy (NY): (212) 679-9010 or (212) 679-9023 Stephen J. Rapp war crimes ambassador: (202) 647-6051 Susan Rice, US AMB to the UN Accredited Journalists: (212) 415-4050 Rwanda Mission to the UN in USA: (212) 679-9010 or (212) 679-9023 Rwandan Amb. James Kimonyo: (202) 232-2882 Sample Call Script My name is ____________, I am calling/writing about the arrest of Prof. Peter Erlinder in Rwanda last Friday morning. He was in Rwanda acting as an attorney, representing his client, opposition presidential candidate Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza. I am asking to ask you to demand his immediate release from Rwandan jail. His detention violates his human rights, he is in danger and as an U.S. citizen deserves the highest level of advocacy and protection from the U.S. government. Saturday, May 29 Facebook group “Free Prof. Peter Erlinder Now” launches. Friday, May 28
3:00pm

First conference call to discuss options and ways to help. Peter’s family and the NLG asking people to call the following people to demand Peter’s release. Call and demand the immediate release of Professor Peter Erlinder: Senator Al Franken (202) 224-5641 Or send an email at http://franken.senate.gov/contact/ Senator Amy Klobuchar 202-224-3244 Fax: 202-228-2186 Or send an email at http://klobuchar.senate.gov/emailamy.cfm?contactForm=emailamy&submit=Go Representative Keith Ellison 202-225-4755 Or send an email at http://forms.house.gov/ellison/webforms/issue_subscribe.htm Representative Betty McCullom (202) 225-6631 Fax: (202) 225-1968 Or send an email at http://forms.house.gov/mccollum/webforms/issue_subscribe.htm
2:oo pm

NLG issues press release, and piece by Executive Director Heidi Boghosian appears in the Huffington Post

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8:30 am

Peter Erlinder, professor at William Mitchell of Law, past NLG president and defense attorney for Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza, was arrested by the Rwandan government on charges of “genocide ideology.”