EXPOSED: News of Rwanda names FDLR suspects charged in Germany
Some of the FDLR combatants that have been captured on battle by joint international and regional military operations
Three men of Rwandan origin were on Tuesday (June 11) charged in Germany for belonging to Rwandan FDLR rebels who have cause mayhem in eastern DR Congo. However, since their arrest in December 2012, they have not been named. News of Rwanda is breaking the silence.
According to media reports from Berlin, German prosecutors have filed terrorism charges against three men whom they accuse of membership in the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda, known by its French acronym FDLR. Germany prosecutors say the men are part of a criminal enterprise which is involved in mass killing Congolese civilians and inflicting on them other sorts of violent abuses.
However, due to legal restrictions, the names of the three men have not been released to the public by the media which are reporting about the court appearance today. The media are identifying the suspects as Bernard T., Felicien B. and Jean Bosco U. The names are mentioned in court, but they can only be named after conviction, as they are considered innocent until proven guilty.
News of Rwanda is however naming them. They are: Jean Felicien Barabwiriza, Jean Bosco Uwihanganye and Bernard Twagiramungu.
The three FDLR men were arrested in December last year. Bernard Twagiramungu and Jean Felicien BARABWIRIZA were still in custody until today, whereas Jean Bosco Uwihanganye was released due to health grounds.
The charges against the three men stem from earlier arrests by Germany of FDLR leader Ignace Murwanashyaka and his deputy, Straton Musoni, back in 2009 and 2010 respectively. Murwanashyaka and Musoni are facing prosecution and the cases are still ongoing – as they remain in custody.
German prosecutors allege that the three men charged today took over the roles of Murwanashyaka and Musoni after their arrest. The three are accused of having written several press statements since May 2011. They are also charged with spreading FDLR politics of mass murder and extermination of Tutsis in Rwanda and wherever.
