Habyarimana Doctor’s Family to Sue Rwanda’s The New Times for Defamation
By Godwin Agaba
256 News
January 30, 2010
The family of the late Dr. Emmanuel Akingeneye, has threatened to sue The New Times, a mouthpiece newspaper of the ruling RPF party, 256news.com has learnt.
Dr. Akingeneye was the personal physician of late former Rwandan President Juvenal Habyarimana. The two men were killed together in the 1994 plane crash at Kanombe airport in Kigali.
The family of Akingeneye is to sue The New Times, arguing that a commentary the paper published in issue no 2025 of 28th January 2010 claiming that Dusabe Therese, the mother of Rwandan opposition presidential aspirant, Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza was Dr. Akingeneye’s concubine.
According to The New Times, the Gacaca court of Butamwa has already sentenced Ms Dusabe Therese in absentia to life imprisonment for her role in the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi.
According to The New Times, Dr. Akingeneye fathered Ingabire Victoire’s young sister, Uwineza Regine who later married an EX-FAR Captain. The same commentary alleged that Ingabire was able to get employment in the Finance Ministry (Customs Department) through the influence of Dr. Akingeneye.
The commentary titled “Mrs. Ingabire Victoire, an ardent advocate for racial politics, now resorts to the victimization card,” by Felix Muheto was intended to give a background to Ms. Ingabire.
A daughter of Dr. Akingeneye and a family lawyer called 256news.com last night and informed it that the lawyer is travelling to Rwanda next week to sue The New Times for allegedly defaming their deceased father.
“This is a totally false story. Our family has no relation whatsoever with Ingabire and we don’t know her. The story was only intended to tarnish the reputation of the family. That’s why we want the author to provide evidence in court to support his allegations,” said Dr. Akingeneye’s daughter who spoke on behalf of the family over the phone from Brussels.
The family lawyer from Belgium is expected in the country early next week to collaborate with locally-based lawyers on the case.
She further said the family is currently based in USA and Belgium.
The case is expected to raise temperature in Rwanda since it is the first time the official government mouthpiece is sued for defamation.
Ingabire's return to Rwanda 3 weeks ago has sparked off a political storm in Kigali as her opposition blood boils like acid into the regime's flesh.
Related Materials:
The New Times and Mrs. Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza: A nasty character assassination ploy
Rwanda: Hidden Agenda Behind False Allegations by The New Times
posted by Mamadou Kouyate @ 1:08 AM
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