VP/HR — Political repression in Rwanda: wrongful conviction of Victoire Ingabire
13.11.2012
Question for written answer E-010366-12
to the Commission (Vice-President/High Representative)
Rule 117
Willy Meyer (GUE/NGL)
On 30 October 2012, after more than a year and a half of wrongful imprisonment in Kigali Central Prison, the recent Sakharov Prize Nominee, Victoire Ingabire, was sentenced to eight years in prison. This followed a deeply flawed process involving accusations that lacked legal reasoning and a trial that did not provide her with the basic requirements to defend her innocence.
As I stated in my previous question (EE-005726/2012), dozens of associations and NGOs report that, behind her imprisonment, is the political repression systematically exercised by the Kagame Government and the ruling party, the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF), who discretionally use laws passed by their government to block the existence of strong opposition parties or movements.
In her answer to this question, the Vice-President/High Representative expressed her concern about Ms Ingabire’s trial, stated that the EU was closely monitoring the case and assured that it would take the required actions following the completion of the trial.
Given the wrongful sentence of eight years imprisonment handed down in the trial:
- 1.Has the Vice-President/High Representative formally contacted or will she contact the Kagame Government to express her concern and to reject the wrongful conviction of Victoire Ingabire?
- 2.What measures will she take to ensure that Ms Ingabire’s defence lawyers can appeal the decision with full legal guarantees?
- 3.Will she publicly call for Victoire Ingabire’s release due to the irregularities witnessed throughout the trial?
- 4.What measures will she implement to pressure the Kagame regime and to secure her release?
OJ C 330 E, 14/11/2013