Former Rwandan pres arrested
2002-04-21 12:33
Kigali - Police have arrested former Rwandan President Pasteur Bizimungu
on charges of conducting illegal political activities designed to
breed discontent and endanger national security, a police spokesperson said on Sunday.
Chief Inspector Tony Kuramba said Bizimungu was arrested on Friday
following a police raid on his home in which documents were seized
indicating that the former president was conducting illegal
political activities.
Bizimungu (51), a Hutu, was the first president of Rwanda's
government of national unity that was formed after the 1994
genocide in Rwanda in which more than 500 000 minority Tutsis and
politically moderate Hutus were killed.
The 100-day slaughter, which was organised by the then
Hutu-extremist government, ended when Tutsi-dominated rebels, known
as the Rwandan Patriotic Front, captured Kigali in July 1994.
Bizimungu resigned as president in March 2000 after disputes
over the prosecution of ministers accused of corruption and
mismanagement.
Former rebel leader, Paul Kagame, a Tutsi, took over as
president.
Last May, Bizimungu was prevented from launching an opposition
party and was forced to leave the presidential palace where he had
continued to live after resigning.
Political campaigning banned
Political parties are allowed to exist, but political
campaigning is banned as part of a 1994 agreement designed to
reconcile the nation after the genocide.
"We have been watching him for sometime and noticed that he
ignored government advise that he should not engage in party
politics," Kuramba said.
"He did not heed the
advise and began to spread rumours and anti-government propaganda
causing discontent, divisions and fear in the population."
Bizimungu's arrest comes less than two weeks after Kagame
publicly warned the former president that the government's patience
"is not infinite" and he should refrain from party politics which
is banned under the current transitional constitution.
Police also arrested Charles Ntakiruntinka, secretary-general of
Bizimungu's unregistered Democratic Party for Renewal, on Saturday
after documents were seized from his home during a police raid,
Kuramba said.
"Bizimungu and his colleague are still in our hands, helping us
with investigations," Kuramba said. "Next week, they will be in the
hands of the prosecution who will take on from there."
If convicted, Bizimungu and Ntakiruntinka could face up to 10
years in jail or a fine of up to 100 000 francs (R2 500), or
both, Kuramba said.
A government appointed commission is supposed to draft a new
constitution ahead of presidential elections that have been
tentatively scheduled for 2003. - Sapa-AP
- SAPA