By Marie Lyse NumuhozaThursday, 01 December 2011
For the 16 Days campaign of activism, on this year’s "From Peace at Home to Peace in the World: Let's Challenge Militarism and End Gender Based Violence" I would like to take this opportunity and present a courageous African woman, Rwanda’s icon for peace and democracy whose used peaceful actions to challenge a dictatorship that has legitimized the power of Military struggle.
I am a woman who is returning home to work together with others . Ms Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza farewell speech to the Rwandan diaspora community on the 9th January 2010
Ms Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza
Victiore Ingabire Umuhoza is the Chairperson of the Unified Democratic Forces (UDF); a coalition of Rwandan opposition parties in the Diaspora. She has sacrificed her life and career to fight for the unity of Rwandan people and their neighbors but most of all through peaceful means. For the past 21 years the area of the Great Lakes Region of Africa has experiences so much suffering and many live were lost in the hands of Military conquests. Ms Victoire ingabire is an inspiration to all of us young women who feels strong about challenging Military actions to peaceful actions.
How it all started
Rwanda is a small country is Eastern part of Africa that suddenly become the front page on the international media as a result of a civil war that started in the 1990 and ended by the Genocide in 1994. These tragedies of 1994 claimed the lives of about 1 million people mainly from the Tutsi ethnic group but then spread in the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) where over 5 million lives were lost in period 5 years.
Since 1997, Ms Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza has been involved in the struggle of the Rwandan politics in exile. She has been quoted as saying "My objective is to introduce Rwanda to the rule of law and a constitutional state where international democratic standards are respected, where nationalism will at last be the cornerstone for all public institutions”. Her political activities are centered around the idea of a state of justice where individuals choose their associations based on their shared political aspirations rather than their ethnic or regional background. She has also been vocal in calling for true women's empowerment in the political arena.
In October 2005, Victoire initiated contacts with other opposition organizations and organized an all-inclusive meeting for all Rwandan civil society associations and political parties. A consensus of common front against Paul Kagame’s regime was finally reached.
Starting from April 2006, she participated in the creation of the United Democratic Forces (FDU) and was elected President of the political platform. FDU has a goal to install the rule of law in Rwanda, underpinned by the respect of democratic values enshrined in the Universal declaration of Human rights and other international instruments relating to democracy and good governance.
Persecution of Ms. Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza upon her arrival in Rwanda
On the 16th January 2010, Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza returned to her country, after 16 years in exile, as the main leader of the Rwandan political opposition and to register the party as an opposition party so she can contest for Presidential elections that were due in August 2010. To many traumatized Rwandans, they could not believe her courage and patriotism.
When Ms. Ingabire arrived in Rwanda, the regime was taken aback by the determination of this lady who does not mince words in denouncing the muzzling of the press, social injustice, unfair trials and discriminatory bereavement.
One month after she arrived back in Rwanda in January 2010, together with other two political opposition party leaders already in the country, she formed a Permanent Consultative Council of Opposition Parties, putting together their efforts to widen the political space for the opposition parties and to strengthen the democratic process in Rwanda. She also traveled to the Gisozi memorial site to commemorate the victims of the 1994 Genocide. She reminded the Rwandan leaders that one sided justice does not bring true reconciliation and peace.
Her speech was received with controversy and she was denied the registration of the political party. To defy General Paul Kagame and aspire to be his challenger in presidential elections could only attract the wrath against the Chairperson of FDU-Inkingi. The RPF regime spared no means to drag Ms. Ingabire in the mud while hiding itself behind the judicial reasons.
On the 16th January 2010, Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza returned to her country, after 16 years in exile, as the main leader of the Rwandan political opposition and to register the party as an opposition party so she can contest for Presidential elections that were due in August 2010. To many traumatized Rwandans, they could not believe her courage and patriotism.
When Ms. Ingabire arrived in Rwanda, the regime was taken aback by the determination of this lady who does not mince words in denouncing the muzzling of the press, social injustice, unfair trials and discriminatory bereavement.
One month after she arrived back in Rwanda in January 2010, together with other two political opposition party leaders already in the country, she formed a Permanent Consultative Council of Opposition Parties, putting together their efforts to widen the political space for the opposition parties and to strengthen the democratic process in Rwanda. She also traveled to the Gisozi memorial site to commemorate the victims of the 1994 Genocide. She reminded the Rwandan leaders that one sided justice does not bring true reconciliation and peace.
Her speech was received with controversy and she was denied the registration of the political party. To defy General Paul Kagame and aspire to be his challenger in presidential elections could only attract the wrath against the Chairperson of FDU-Inkingi. The RPF regime spared no means to drag Ms. Ingabire in the mud while hiding itself behind the judicial reasons.
Ms Ingabire delivering her s peech after being elected chairperson of the FDU-Inkingi political party
On October 14th 2010, she was arrested again after her comments on the UN Mapping report on DRC civil war and massacres of which Rwanda was accused as the main perpetrator. She was confined to Kigali's 1930 maximum security prison and charged with terrorism, inciting Rwandans to overthrow the current Rwandan government, and with genocide ideology, a statutory crime unique to Rwanda, which means disagreeing with the government and/or the official history of the Rwanda Genocide.
In several public appearances, the President began to harass her and went on to declare that Ms. Ingabire would face a “wall of laws” that would prevent her from running for president. He did not hesitate to declare that “we [the RPF] fought and what we obtained by force, they won’t take it back from us through the ballot box.”
Conclusion
It is almost a year that Ms Ingabire will be in Prison and her trial is marred with unclear judicial approaches. She is a victim of political process designed to silence a political competitor in order to perpetuate the dictatorship of one party-state, the RPF. The international community, the UN and the Western countries who claim to strive for a peaceful world free from Terrorism and dictators such as Ghadaffi, Mugabe, Chaves and Assad have been watching and providing Military support to strengthen the Rwanda dictatorial regime.
In several public appearances, the President began to harass her and went on to declare that Ms. Ingabire would face a “wall of laws” that would prevent her from running for president. He did not hesitate to declare that “we [the RPF] fought and what we obtained by force, they won’t take it back from us through the ballot box.”
Conclusion
It is almost a year that Ms Ingabire will be in Prison and her trial is marred with unclear judicial approaches. She is a victim of political process designed to silence a political competitor in order to perpetuate the dictatorship of one party-state, the RPF. The international community, the UN and the Western countries who claim to strive for a peaceful world free from Terrorism and dictators such as Ghadaffi, Mugabe, Chaves and Assad have been watching and providing Military support to strengthen the Rwanda dictatorial regime.
Ms Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza in Trial at the Appeal court in Kigali Rwanda, October 2011
About the author: Marie Lyse Numuhoza
Marie Lyse holds a degree in African and Development studies. Over the years, she developed interests in human rights, citizen participation and sustainable development on a global level. She is currently Chair of Active Horizons, a youth led charity in South East London which works with BME young people to strengthen their voice and encourage positive participation in the wider society. To keep up with her interest in international issues she also supports women led NGOs that work for development, peace and freedom. She leads on campaigns such as "Voices of African Women", "Women into Politics", "Bridge of Peace" and other activities that advocates against war and conflict,violence against women. She champions in promoting UN Security Council resolution 1325 which promotes the participation and empowerment of women in the decision making process.
Marie Lyse holds a degree in African and Development studies. Over the years, she developed interests in human rights, citizen participation and sustainable development on a global level. She is currently Chair of Active Horizons, a youth led charity in South East London which works with BME young people to strengthen their voice and encourage positive participation in the wider society. To keep up with her interest in international issues she also supports women led NGOs that work for development, peace and freedom. She leads on campaigns such as "Voices of African Women", "Women into Politics", "Bridge of Peace" and other activities that advocates against war and conflict,violence against women. She champions in promoting UN Security Council resolution 1325 which promotes the participation and empowerment of women in the decision making process.
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