BBC Radio and the New Vision did report on 01 April and 27th April, 1999
respectively that Dr. Bizimungu is sought for interrogation by British
authorities on the fate of 3 tourists (one British, one Sweden and one
Zealander) who were abducted by PALIR (People in Arms for the Liberation
of Rwanda) rebels in August last year in the Virunga mountains. The
said Dr. Bizimungu is suspected to be the leader of the rebel movement.
The following clarifications need to be given to allow that readers and public opinion be guided by objective facts rather than sensational radio announcements or unfounded newspaper publications.
1. Attempts to link Dr. Bizimungu with PALIR rebels surfaced many weeks after he was arrested in Kenya and transferred to the International Tribunal for Rwanda in Arusha. Information obtained from Nairobi indicates that Western diplomatic and intelligence circles in Nairobi exerted pressure on Kenyan intelligence services to get him arrested. Then, through behind the scenes manoeuvres, the Prosecutor's office at ICTR and Intelligence Services in Nairobi were brought to force his transfer to Arusha without due process. It is in this context that he was hurriedly transferred without the Tribunal's indictment .And, as of today, no indictment has been made available even though he arrested on February 12, 1999.
What public opinion should know is that those who consider him to be a political enemy, having failed to coin credible accusations in the context of the 1994 genocide found a short cut him arrested and kept in jail. And to give weight and credibility to genocide charges that are being crafted right now, they found that depicting him as a rebel leader will facilitate the task of presenting him before the Tribunal as a possible "genocidaire". This is what is going on crucifying a person who has no connection with PALIR and who is known by many Rwandans both living inside and outside Rwanda as innocent in as far as the 1994 genocide is concerned. My client is not and has never been a member of PALIR. Like anybody that has access to radio, newspaper or electronic media, he did remotely hear of the said rebel movement through such mediums of communications.
2. Dr. Casimir Bizimungu has never refused to meet a British delegation and answer their questions. Rather, the British delegation's request to interview him is simply un authorized by the precise texts applicable before the ICTR, under whose sole jurisdiction . Dr. Bizimungu, as a detained suspect, is presently subject to. My client has nothing to hide or fear. He is willing for a presently subject to. He is waiting for a lead Counsel to be selected and approved so as to be properly advised as to how he should best proceed.
Sincerely,