Family of kidnapped Hotel Rwanda star speaks out

The family of Hotel Rwanda humanitarian Paul Rusesabagina, who has been kidnapped and arrested by the Rwandan authorities, has protested his representation by a public defender affiliated with and paid for by the Rwandan people.

In a statement released on Friday, the family noted that the lawyer representing Rusesabagina is the same lawyer who really represents the government prosecuting him.

"President Kagame and the Rwandan government have long told false tales of Rusesabagina having millions of dollars and using it to foment unrest, yet they are demanding that he uses an attorney who will be paid for by the Rwandan taxpayers. Why does President Kagame want to burden his own people with the cost of Rusesabagina's defense," the family wondered.

They noted that the Rusesabagina family has a team of lawyers ready to defend him but have not been allowed to see him.

"Rusesabagina is a Belgian citizen who was brought illegally to Rwanda and is a victim of extraordinary rendition. Paul did not voluntarily come to Rwanda and no extradition process was followed. As such, any legal process he might be subjected to in Rwanda would be illegal, as fruit of the poisonous tree.  He must, therefore, be immediately and unconditionally released," the family noted in a statement.

They noted that they had been allowed to speak to Rusesabagina once since August 31, 2020 when he was paraded by the Rwanda Intelligence Bureau and that he had not been allowed a Red Cross Visit.

The family also denied claims by Rwanda Government that Rusesabagina voluntarily come to Rwanda insisting that and no extradition process was followed.

 "The International Community needs to demand Rusesabagina's immediate release," Rusesabagina's family noted in the statement.

They insisted that Rusesabagina the humanitarian famous for saving 1,268 Rwandans during the 1994 Genocide, was kidnapped and brought illegally to Rwanda and is a victim of extraordinary rendition.

Rusesabagina who had reportedly travelled to Dubai for a meeting, reappeared in Rwanda, where authorities said the famed hotelier was arrested on charges including terrorism, arson and murder.

He last texted his family members on the messaging application WhatsApp to assure them he had arrived safely on Thursday August 30, but was paraded in front of the media on Monday, August 31, 2020 by the Rwandan Intelligence Bureau.

In an earlier interview with the media, Rwanda President Paul Kagame insisted that Rusesabagina's arrest was made with "international cooperation" yet no country has admitted cooperation.

The Rwanda Investigations Agency in a statement also claimed that Rusesabagina got on the plane voluntarily but did not know that the plane was going to Kigali and he was arrested upon arrival.

The family believes the last part to be true. "Rusesabagina would never get on a plane to Rwanda. He would have been taken there against his will. It seems that Kagame's plan to illegally extradite Paul did indeed work flawlessly," the family stated.

Rwanda accuses Rusesabagina, 66, of being "the founder, leader, sponsor and member of violent, armed, extremist terror outfits," including the Rwanda Movement for Democratic Change, or M.R.C.D., and the Party for Democracy in Rwanda, or P.D.R.-Ihumure, both opposition parties.

Rusesabagina who was staying in the US with his family had become a central figure in various movements that were trying to unseat Kagame's government.

In 2010, Rwandan authorities accused him of helping to fund the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda, which is active in the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo and includes members who are accused of having links to the Rwandan genocide.