ROSE KABUYE: Mega national protests to be staged tomorrow

KIGALI - All businesses across the country are expected to come to a standstill tomorrow morning as Rwandans stage a mega protest against Rose Kabuye’s arrest and detention in Germany. Kabuye, the Director of State Protocol, was arrested in the German city of Frankfurt on November 9, as she arrived at the airport on state duty. The arrest was based on the heavily contested indictments issued in 2006 against nine senior Government officials by French Judge, Jean Louis Bruguiere. The mega protests are also expected to be held in many countries worldwide. Protestors will gather to criticise Rwandan’s commonly term as the ‘western culture of abuse of universal jurisdiction’. Rwanda’s Minister of Information and government Spokesperson, Louise Mushikiwabo confirmed the mega protests saying that they (protests) have been organised by the civil society organisations in partnership with the media. Despite the continued rising tempers among Rwandans and government denouncing Kabuye’s arrest, the demonstrations are expected to be held peacefully. A former Mayor of Kigali, Kabuye is among the nine former members of the Rwandese Patriotic Army (RPA) who were indicted by Bruguiere. The indictments which were issued without hearing from the persons allegedly implicated, accused the nine officers of having played a role in the shooting down of the plane that was carrying former President Juvenal Habyarimana. The government has continuously blamed the Paris for playing a political game designed to blur the truth about France’s role in the 1994 Tutsi Genocide. Rwanda has on several occasions pointed an accusing finger at France, for financing and spearheading the 1994 Tutsi Genocide that claimed over one million people. Ends

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ROSE KABUYE: Mega national protests to be staged tomorrow