MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on Rwanda: the case of Victoire Ingabire
21.5.2013 - (2013/2641(RSP))
pursuant to Rule 122 of the Rules of Procedure
Isabelle Durant, Raül Romeva i Rueda, Jean-Jacob Bicep, Barbara Lochbihler on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group
See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B7-0243/2013
The European Parliament,
- Having regard to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR),
- Having regard to the UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment,
- Having regard to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights,
- Having regard to the East African Community Treaty, which requires state parties to abide by principles of good governance, including adherence to the principles of democracy, the rule of law, social justice and the maintenance of universally
- accepted standards of human rights,
- Having regard to the United Nations and the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights instruments, in particular, the Principles and Guidelines on the Right to a Fair Trial and Legal Assistance in Africa,
- having regard to Rule 122 of its Rules of Procedure,
A. Whereas Victoire Ingabire, President of the Unified Democratic Forces (UDF) which is a coalition of Rwandan opposition parties, returned to Rwanda form the Netherlands in 2010 to run for the presidential election,
B. Whereas Victoire Ingabire was arrested in October 2010 in Kigali at the beginning of the trial, she was charged with six offenses of which three are linked to "terrorist acts": creating an armed group, complicity in acts of terrorism and crime of recourse to terrorism and armed force and all other violence in order to harm the established authority and the constitutional principles,
C. Whereas on 30 October 2012, two years after her arrest, the Rwandan tribunal found Victoire Ingabire guilty of conspiracy to harm the existing authority and the constitutional principles using terrorism, armed violence or any other type of violence against the government and grossly minimizing the genocide and sentenced her to 8 years imprisonment,
. .
D. Whereas the trial, which started in 2011 is considered by many observers as politically motivated and not in conformity with international standards, guided by fair trial principles,
E. Whereas the prosecution of Victoire Ingabire for "genocide ideology" and "divisionism" illustrates absence of tolerance for political pluralism views by the Rwandan government,
F. Whereas respect for fundamental human rights including political pluralism, freedom of expression and association are severely restricted, which makes difficult for opposition parties to operate and journalists to write critical views,
G. Whereas Unified Democratic Forces (UDF) has not been able to legally register as political party and several of its members have been threatened, arrested and detained,
H. Whereas Rwanda is signatory of international human rights Conventions including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,
I. Whereas Rwanda is signatory of the Cotonou agreement where by respect for human rights is an essential element of the EU and ACP cooperation of the Cotonou agreement,
1. Calls on the Rwandan government to ensure that Victoire Ingabire is provided with an appeal trial complying with international fair trial standards,
2. Insists that Victoire Ingabire is not convicted for her political position, legitimate and peaceful exercise of freedom of expression and the right to create a political party,
3. Insists that the right of lawyers to access files and documents, which allow them to provide legal assistance is respected,
4. Calls on the EU to send observers for Victoire Ingabire appeal trial,
5. Calls on the Rwandan government to respect the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights including the right to life and physical integrity, freedom of association and freedom of assembly,
6. Calls on the government to level the political playing field and create a rights based environment for political pluralism,
7. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the governments of the Member States, Secretary-General of the United Nations, the AU.