Dutch MP’s fear a political process in Rwanda. Will the imprisoned Rwandan UDF-leader Victoire Ingabire, who lived in The Netherlands during 16 years, have a fair trial? A few questions to Rwandan minister of Justice Tharcisse Karugarama, after the trial against Ingabire.

During an interview in Kigali on Tuesday, Minister of Justice Karugarama was very clear. The process against Rwandan opposition member Victoire Ingabire should absolutely be a fair one. "It's going to be a public trial. A perfect opportunity to show guilt or innocence," says Karugarama.  “When the Rwandan prosecutor decided to bring action against Ingabire he said: her security is guaranteed, her trial will be fair, transparent and open.”

“All international media and all international NGOs are invited to be present in court. Everybody is welcome, from France, the Netherlands, the UK. So it’s after the trial that we should be able to say whether it was fair or transparent.”

Trial delayed by Ingabire
On Monday 20 June the trial was been postponed until 5 September 2011. Ingabire was arrested in October 2010, suspected of causing divisionism, setting up of a terrorist organisation and collaborating with Hutu rebels in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

Why does the process take so long? Karugarama: “Ingabire asked for the delay. It’s not the government of Rwanda who asked for a postponement. On Monday in court she was asking for more months. She says she wants a translation, but she knows what’s inside these documents. She knows Kinyarwanda. She can explain to her lawyers what’s in there!”

“So who is delaying her trial? It’s not the government. It’s not the prosecution. It’s Ingabire herself who has asked for more time to translate the documents for her English lawyers. Since the beginning of this
year, the prosecutor has been ready and willing to proceed.”

International worries
It seems like a show trial for Rwanda, since more and more foreign politicians and human rights organisations are complaining about the lack of Justice in Kigali. In earlier RNW reports, several Dutch MP's mentioned their worries about the human rights situation in Rwanda and the case of Ingabire. They fear a political process, in which the Rwandan Judiciary would eventually lock up a political rival of president Paul Kagame.

Dutch MP Joel Voordewind of the Christian party ChristenUnie: “Rwanda is not known as a country of justice. I suppose this is a political process, as Ingabire was arrested because of her political activities. I am very worried about this political trial and the potential names and addresses that have been disclosed during a search in her house.”

Rwandans are no angels
Nonsense, says the Rwandan minister of Justice. But in general, Karugarama thinks his critics should be realistic about his country. “We are trying to do what we think is good,” he says. “We wish the world would support the good things that we do and help us improve on the bad things that we do. We do very many good things, we do some bad things. So we ask our friends to help us improve rather than divert us from the right directions where we would wish our country to be.”

“If you’re looking for angels, don’t come to Rwanda. It’s a country of ordinary human beings. If you’re looking for some good stuff that has been done, come to Rwanda and you’ll find plenty. If you’re looking for some bad things, come to Rwanda and you’ll find plenty. Don’t expect us to be angels.”

Suberb Dutch collaboration
Up to now, the Netherlands has contributed millions of euros to Justice in Rwanda. According to 

Karugarama it's a very fruitful collaboration. Also he thinks that working together will remove the suspicions about Justice in Rwanda.

“Dutch judges come here and see how things are done here. The cooperation between the Dutch and the Rwandan government is superb. It is one of the best. And we look forward to even improving”

 

Watch a video of the Ingabire trial last Monday: