Paul Rusesabagina and his co-defendants are being tried from this 17 February 2021 in livestreaming from a courtroom of the Supreme Court.
Paul Rusesabagina’s judgment, which has caused much ink and spittle in the international community, is being held virtually and live.
According to the Rwandan judiciary, this decision was taken to allow anyone to follow this much-anticipated trial. This demonstrates, on the part of Rwanda, the concern to work in a transparent manner to remove any suspicion of bias or unfairness in this trial, for which there is no lack of material evidence, if we refer to the statements of National Public Prosecution Authority.
Paul Rusesabagina himself is said to have acknowledged the charges against him, as is one of his co-accused, Callixte Nsabimana, alias Sankara. The latter was spokesman for the National Liberation Front (FNL) which carried out attacks in south-western Rwanda, particularly in Nyabimata, in the Nyaruguru district.
The European Parliament had adopted a resolution on 11 February 2021 on Rwanda concerning the case of Paul Rusesabagina. According to this parliament, this detainee will not have the right to a fair trial. The Rwandan Parliament simply rejected this allegation. “The Rwandan Parliament rejects the European Parliament’s baseless assertion that Paul Rusesabagina will not receive a fair trial in Rwanda, “According the Rwandan legislators’ resolutions document.
This European Parliament has also taken away the right of Rwanda to try this alleged criminal. The Rwandan Parliament rejected this finding. “We reject the European Parliament’s finding that Paul Rusesabagina’s arrest violates Rwanda’s obligations under various international legal instruments,” they said. “The European Parliament does not have the power to pronounce itself and has not held any hearing, especially since Paul Rusesabagina was wanted by the Rwandan justice system for crimes committed in Rwanda and which fall under the jurisdiction of Rwandan courts,” he added.
The two chambers, meeting virtually last Monday 15 February, also condemned the characterization of Paul Rusesabagina’s arrest as an enforced disappearance.
“The parliament condemns the fact that the European Parliament has qualified the arrest of Rusesabagina as an enforced disappearance or illegal transfer,” said the Rwandan Parliament.
Paul Rusesabagina is accused in particular of terrorist acts, support to terrorist groups, recruitment of children into armed groups, acts of kidnapping, and creation of terrorist groups.
Gérard Rugambwa
