Rwanda: Ntaganda says he’s not slept or eaten, just drinking water

By Margaret Cappa
RNA Reporter
Thursday, 08 July 2010 14:22

Bernard Ntaganda had to ask permission to step away from the dock and sit on the bench for fear of collapsing from weakness. (Photo: Margaret Cappa).

Kigali: The Nyamirambo court trying nine opposition politicians ruled Thursday that it will decide Friday as to whether they deserve to be granted bail – meanwhile, FDU-Inkingi party Treasurer Alice Muhirwa, who collapsed yesterday, remained in hospital.

The accused terrorist and organizer of an unlawful gathering, Alice Muhirwa, was absent from the Nyamirambo Court of First Instance today following her sudden collapse during the lengthy hearing yesterday. The other eight defendants in the case will receive their verdicts tomorrow.

After some deliberation, the judges agreed Muhirwa’s case will resume upon her recovery, whenever that may be. The other eight men in the case, including Bernard Ntaganda, the self-styled head of the PS Imberakuri party, were all present.

Judges decided they will announce their verdicts at 3:00 p.m. Friday in Nyamirambo.

“We think there is no reasonable ground for their detention so we requested their release on bail,” said the defendants’ attorney, Maitre Gatera Gashabana today.

Ntaganda, a lawyer and head of the political party, PS Imberakuri, is the only defendant representing himself. Looking frail and tired, he asked permission mid-trial of the judge to sit instead of standing so he wouldn’t collapse. Although he has not been denied food or rest, he said he hasn’t been able to sleep or eat, just drink water.

Along with accusations of terrorism and organizing an unlawful gallery, Ntaganda is charged with ethnic divisions and Genocide ideology - two extra than the other eight defendants. He denies all charges.

The nine defendants were arrested June 24, the day they had planned to lead a protest in Kigali. Ntaganda, the main organizer, and the other defendants were arrested in the morning before the event began.

They have been in custody ever since and maintain their innocence. Ntaganda even argues he should be tried in high court since he’s the head of a political party.

The people in the case include: Theobald Mutarambirwa, Alice Muhirwa, FDU-Inkingi’s treasurer, as well as Sylvain Sibomana, FDU-Inkingi's Secretary General. Others include Theogene Muhayeyezu, Victoire Ingabire's lawyer, Martin Ntavuka an FDU member, Jean Baptiste Icyitonderwa, a student of KIST and member of PS-Imberakuri and Sylvere Mwizerwa, a PS-Imberakuri member.

The verdict on their bail applications is due Friday at 3 p.m.

“We think there is no reasonable ground for their detention so we requested their release on bail,” said the defendants’ lawyer, Maitre Gatera Gashabana.