Please read HERE the full resolution of the European Parliament on the case of the imprisoned Rwandan politician VICTOIRE INGABIRE.
Some of the highlights of the resolution:
8. Urges the Rwandan authorities to ensure peaceful, credible and transparent elections in 2017 and calls on the government to engage with the opposition in the run-up to these elections; expresses its support for a long-term EU electoral observation mission for the 2017 presidential elections, with a focus on the political space and fundamental freedoms;
9. Reminds the Rwandan authorities that democracy is based on pluralistic governments, a functioning opposition, independent media and judiciary, respect for human rights and the right of expression and assembly; calls, in this connection, on Rwanda to open its political space, live up to these standards and improve its human rights record; expects Rwanda to implement the recommendations of the UN Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association (2014);
Victoire Ingabire, imprisoned Rwandan political leader sentenced to 15 years of jail for daring to present herself for presidential elections that she could’ve won if she had been allowed.
10. Calls on the Rwandan authorities, as a matter of urgency, to proceed with the review of its declaration allowing individuals and NGOs to file complaints with the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights and to restore and reintroduce it;
11. Calls for the EU and its international partners to continue supporting the people of Rwanda in their work to build peace and stability in the country and the region as a whole;
12. Asks the Commission to continue to evaluate EU support to Rwandan government institutions on a regular basis, in order to ensure that this support fully promotes human rights, freedom of expression and association, political pluralism and independent civil society;
13. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, VicePresident / High Representative Federica Mogherini, the UN Security Council, the UN Secretary-General, the institutions of the African Union, the East African Community, the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly, the EU Member States, the defenders of Victoire Ingabire and the President of Rwanda.
The question to be asked is how the fate of the resolution will be different from the one experienced by the UN Mapping Report published on October 1st, 2010, or the documentary Rwandan Untold Story which came out on October 1st, 2014. The outcome would’ve maybe expected to become different, if the resolution would’ve probably come out during a different month than October. This month, since October 1st, 1990, with the invasion of RPF in Rwanda, appears not to bring anything positive for the majority of Rwandans.
