Rwandan Police Brutally Raid Opposition Members Residence

The government is consistently stalling the efforts of the opposition, appearing more as a dictatorship then a democracy.

Ms. Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - “The police brutality in my residence last night (July 24th) is politically motivated,” declared Ms. Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza, “from 8:10 until to 8:50 p.m. a police flying squad drifted in my temporary residence, knocked off and assaulted 2 guests and a house watchman in front of the door”.

The victims of this unexpected insult, Mr. Martin Ntavuka - Fdu -Inkingi, leader in Nyarugenge district and Mr. Anastase Hagabimana - Fdu Inkingi, leader in Kicukiro District, were handcuffed, beaten and taken to the Remera police detention facility.

Salem-News.com was told the watchman was left with face injuries including one eye swollen shut. Eye witnesses confirm death threats and ethnic hate abuses hurled on-spot by the officer Karekezi, a CID staff.

The government radio station quoting police sources, informed that last night the two citizens were arrested for planning an illegal protest next week and that “inflammatory print” T-shirts were confiscated.

“Our print t-shirts display our colors, green and red, and the text on either the front or the back says “WE NEED DEMOCRACY AND FAIR JUSTICE” or “Turashaka Demokarasi N'Ubutabera Busesuye”. What is inflammatory in this”? replied Ms. Ingabire.

She went on to say “from the 26th of July, a Kigali High Court opens the bail appeal hearings of many opposition leaders on demonstration charges while the incumbent is promising heaven to sorry Rwandans in rural areas. Only this month of July, I was pressurized twice by landlords to vacate the rented houses or to face police eviction due to death threats from the ruling party. The current landlord turned up unexpectedly only two days after occupancy and prompted a speedy lease annulment process. A 20-day notice to vacate and a total refund of 5 months prepaid rent is in force since. A few months ago, Kigali hotels aborted at the last minutes our conference room reservations thanks to threats from the secret police”.

The government is consistently stalling the efforts of the opposition, appearing more as a dictatorship then a democracy. The opposition members are adamantly calling upon the government to release their fellow members and to adequately address the issue of police brutality, beatings, torture, death threats, excessive force and the use of hate language, profanity and defamatory remarks.