The hero of the “ hotel Rwanda ” is tried for terrorism: “ a fair trial is unlikely ”

The trial of the leader of the opposition is a major event in Rwanda. “All the sessions are broadcast live on YouTube,” says Flemish journalist Stijn Vercruysse, who follows the VRT case. Although, according to him, the process has been fairly fair so far, Vercruysse has reservations. “Rwanda is a country where the opposition is silenced and people are afraid to say anything against the government. Are you allowed to doubt Rusesabagina’s guilt? And the witnesses speak out ? “

Rusesabagina’s daughter, Carine Kanimba, who also lives in Belgium, believes the trial is unfair. It already starts with how her father ended up in Rwanda, she says. “There was no international arrest warrant. He was actually kidnapped.”

Because Rusesabagina had not been to Rwanda for years, the Rwandan government put him in place. He had been invited to travel to Burundi via Dubai for a conference on the genocide. But the man who invited Rusesabagina to do so turned out to be an agent of the Rwandan government. Instead of going to Burundi, the plane flew to Rwanda, where Rusesabagina was immediately arrested.

There are other ways the trial is unfair, Kanimba said. “My father is not allowed to have contact with his own international lawyers. He only has access to a Rwandan lawyer because they know they can intimidate them.” Rusesabagina also cannot prepare for the trial, says her daughter: “They are confiscating all the confidential documents he needs for this.” In contrast to the course of events, Rusesabagina decided last week not to appear in court again.

Aid from Belgium

But whether Rusesabagina is in court or not, the trial against him continues. This is why her daughter continues to work for her father. She sent an email to members of the US Congress, European, UK and Belgian parliaments. She appeals to anyone who, according to her, can contribute to the expulsion of her father from Rwanda.

The country which, according to her, can do the most is Belgium. As a Belgian citizen, Rusesabagina receives consular assistance in Kigali, but that is not enough, according to Kanimba. She is backed by Belgian MP Els van Hool, who wants to use a resolution to urge the Belgian government to do more. “I’m not talking about guilt or innocence. I’m talking about justice and justice,” Van Hool says. “And at the moment, Paul Rusesabagina is being treated unfairly in Rwanda.”

Van Hool wants the Belgian government to try to convince Rusesabagina to finish his trial in Belgium. She does not know if it is realistic for Rwanda to let him go. “In any case, he calls for negotiations, which must be initiated by the government.”

There is little chance that it will succeed, his daughter Carine Kanimba knows it too. However, she put all her hopes there. “My father is not safe in Rwanda. Only here will he get a fair trial.”