Rwanda group pushes for release of politicians

Rwandan opposition politician Victoire Ingabire. Photo/FILE
By AFRICA REVIEW writer (email the author)
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Posted Friday, July 2 2010 at 17:40

A Rwandan group is pushing for immediate release of some of the country’s politicians arrested last week.

If not released, says the group, the politicians will not meet the deadline for submission of electoral papers, technically knocking them out of the process.

Those arrested include Mr Bernard Ntaganda and Mr Theobald Mutarambbirwa.

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Rwanda police spokesman Eric Kayiranga said opposition presidential hopeful Bernard Ntaganda had been taken in for questioning.

"The charges are divisionism based on ethnicity, gathering people without permission, creating groups of people that are suspected of being criminals and attempted murder," Mr Kayiranga told Reuters.

Elections

According to the opposition group, the Permanent Consultative Council of Opposition Parties in Rwanda (PCC), those arrested are being denied a chance to participate in the forthcoming elections.

In a press release, the group said: “They are being persecuted because they are opposed to the ruling party and were demonstrating for their civil and constitutional rights, since the National Electoral Commission in complicity with other government institutions, have blocked the genuine opposition from participating in the country’s presidential elections.”

The group is also asking the government to immediately explain the arbitrary arrests.

The release was signed by Mr Frank Habinezaand and Ms Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza, who has declared interest in the presidential seat.