The trial for Victoire Umuhoza Ingabire, the leader of the yet-to-be registered political party, FDU-Inkingi, will largely depend on cooperation from countries where Ingabire and the terrorist group, Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) conducted activities.
According to Prosecutor General Martin Ngoga, Ingabire should not demand for a speedy trial because investigations into her case are still continuing in several countries.
Ngoga, who was speaking at a news conference yesterday, revealed that the prosecution has written, seeking information, to a number of countries where Ingabire networked with FDLR. They include Holland, United States, Belgium, Switzerland, DR Congo and Burundi.
He pointed out that while a number of them had passed on evidence, others are yet to do so and this will determine how the trial goes.
"It's a process---and for the trial to begin, it is not a choice of the accused, but a decision of the prosecution. It is time to end these allegations that we are taking long to block her from contesting in the presidential polls," Ngoga said.
"If these countries send us the information tomorrow, then we can start the case tomorrow, if it takes longer, we will wait, but from the feedback we have received, we are sure all information will trickle in."
He noted that a number of countries including Burundi and DR Congo have fully provided the information requested, while Holland and Belgium have also forwarded a major part, but the US and Switzerland are yet to respond.
Ngoga said that once all the countries revert back to the request and the evidence is in place, Ingabire and "many others" she is co-accused with, will appear in court. Ingabire is currently on bail but cannot leave the country.
"The funding of FDLR was done in several capitals in Africa and Europe and it is an international obligation for all these countries to cooperate with us and provide evidence," he said.
Ngoga said the government is confident in its case and there is strong evidence to back up the charges and that the plan is not to frustrate Ingabire's presidential ambitions.
He said that some countries are slow in providing information despite prosecution providing the names of the people and their activities in those particular countries.
"Erlinder's bail not political"
The Prosecutor also dismissed allegations that Prof. Peter Erlinder, the American lawyer who was arrested for denying and trivialising the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, was released on bail because of political pressure from the US.
He said that the American professor was released strictly on medical grounds.
"He was released on bail based on medical documents sent by his doctors from a known reputable clinic in the US and endorsed by Secretary of State. They were sent for court purpose and not for political reasons," he explained.
He refuted claims that US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton imposed political pressure on Rwanda
"The Secretary of State made no political comment when she sent them. The documents had among other things evidence of mental instability. In his pleading, Erlinder told Court that he authored some of his denial documents during his moments of mental instability, and that whatever he is saying today could be a result of that mental situation.
"In any event, he remains charged and our justice system will - independently and according to the law - determine the fate of the case. We continue to view denial of Genocide as a potential threat that we will spare no effort to deal with," Ngoga threatened.
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Mr Ngoga, the torch bearer of the extremist Tutsi mass murderers in Rwanda is a very funny man! He claims that out of the 6 countries he has asked evidence against Mrs Victoire Ingabire from, 4 of them have provided the evidence. And now he says he cannot proceed with the court case until the remaining two countries send the evidence. Ha ha ha! This joker thinks we were all born yesterday. If he really had 4 out of 6, that should be more than enough to proceed. The charges against Mrs Victoire Ingabire are political to prevent her from running and winning the election against General Kagame. Mr Ngoga can scream at the top of his lungs, reasonable people will not believe him.
As for Erlinder's release on "medical grounds", again every reasonable person knows that he would not have been released on those grounds if he was a Rwandan citizen.
When Rwanda becomes a democracy, we will have so many joked about this Mr Ngoga character.
Mr Ngoga, knows his law and he doesnot require lessons from self hating Rwandans like you Aimable. Now your argument is based on 4/6 evidence against Ingabire being enough to prosecute her-and how in the world do you know that? How do you know how much evidence would Mr Ngoga need to do his job? I would imagine that you would atleast back your argument with a law among the Rwandan laws.
Once upon a time -- back in the 1980s -- there was a Prosecutor in Kenya who built his public career on the generation of false criminal charges against anybody who dared to breath opposition against the ruling KANU government.
His victims were usually hustled into the courtrooms after six p.m. where they were quickly convicted and senteced on their own pleas of most guilty. Among these unlucky victims was the Wahome Mutahi (famous around East Africa for his Whispers" column.
Our favourite prosecutor rose quickly up the government ranks -- to the dizzy heights of the Chief Justice. An exmplary civil servant who could be trusted to "handle" targeted victims without asking untidy questions concerning morality and basic human rights.
We finally got rid of that nightmare in December 2003(almost twenty years later)but it is now becoming clear that this particular nightmare just moved westwards and changed its name.
P/S: our former "persecutor" retreated back to his dusty home village where he now plays the role of "innocent victim" suffering government harrassment.
Poetic justice that confirms the Biblical warning that HE WHO DIGS HOLES FOR HIS NEIGHBOUR INVARIABLY FALLS INTO EXACTLY THOSE SAME HOLES HIMSELF. Wait patiently and confirm this truth for yourself.