http://www.jambonews.net/en/news/20120915-rwanda-three-opponents-in-prison-nominated-for-the-2012-sakharov-prize-of-the-european-parliament/  Rwanda: Three opponents in prison, nominated for the 2012 Sakharov Prize of the European Parliament.   Sep 15th, 2012 | By Ruhumuza | Category: Top news Three opponents of the RPF regime currently in power in Rwanda were nominated this Thursday, September 13th, 2012 by 42 Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) for the prestigious 2012 Sakharov Prize of the European Parliament for Freedom of Thought. Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza, Bernard Ntaganda and Deogratias Mushyayidi, all three political opponents currently incarcerated in Rwanda should know the result around December 10th, 2012. Brussels: Demonstrations in support of political prisoners in Rwanda. Created in 1988, this award is given annually to individuals or organizations that "endeavor to defend human rights and fundamental freedoms." It is given each year around December 10th, the anniversary of the signing of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Past winners of this award include, among others, Nelson Mandela and Aung San Suu Kyi. The MEPs justified their choice to nominate the three Rwandan opposition leaders by the fact that these political prisoners "tried to end the cycle of violence by promoting dialogue and reconciliation." Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza, Chairperson of FDU-Inkingi returned to Rwanda in January 2010 after 16 years of exile in the Netherlands to stand for presidential elections in August. She was deprived of the opportunity to run for president and is currently in prison. For several months, the verdict on her sentence keeps being postponed. With regard to the last postponement in September, the High Court said that the verdict was expected in October 2012. For the MEPs who nominated her, Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza is "a symbolic example of peaceful combat for the defense of citizens' fundamental rights." Deo Mushayidi, Chairman of PDP-Imanzi is a former member of the RPF which he represented in Switzerland from 1990 to 1994. By the mid-90s, he distanced himself from the RPF and strongly condemned the massacres committed by the latter following its power takeover. He was subsequently exiled in Belgium where he advocated for dialogue as a solution to the crisis in Rwanda. On March 5th, 2010, he was kidnapped from Burundi and taken to Rwanda, where he was heading in order to stand for presidential elections in August 2010. Incarcerated since then he was later sentenced to life in prison, a sentence that was confirmed on February 24th, 2012 by the High Court. In the introduction to his biography, the MEPs highlight his "active work in favor of dialogue for Rwandans of all ethnicities." Bernard Ntaganda, Chairman of PS Imberakuri is a Rwandan lawyer who started politics soon after his high school graduation. On June 24th, 2010, prior to scheduled demonstrations aimed at denouncing intimidations that took place during the electoral campaign, demonstrations that were violently repressed, he was arrested and de facto was deprived of the opportunity to  run for president. On October 14th, he was taken to intensive care after suffering torture. On April 22nd, 2012, he was sentenced to four years in prison. In their submission notice that nominates Bernard Ntaganda, the MEPs in particular, highlighted the continuity of his struggle by the youth of his party. "The Democratic Youth Imberakuri wants to show that the seeds of democracy that were sown by their President are alive and growing,"specifically they wrote. In total, five candidates are running for the prize with the application of Rwandan opposition representing a single application. The winner should be known around December 10th, 2012. Translated by Jack Mugabo Original french article by Ruhumuza Mbonyumutwa Jambonews.net

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