by Paul Jordan

In April 1995 members of the Australian Defence Force Medical Support Force, a component of the Australian Contingent of the United Nations Assistance Mission For Rwanda (UNAMIR) were deployed to the Kibeho displaced persons’ camp. The camp had been surrounded by two battalions of Tutsi troops from the Rwandan Patriotic Army (RPA), which regarded it as a sanctuary for Hutu perpetrators of the 1994 genocide. In the ethnic slaughter that followed, the RPA killed some 4000 of the camp’s inhabitants. The following article is an edited version of an eyewitness account of the massacre at Kibeho.

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Sharon Broussard, The Plain Dealer

Sharon Broussard, an associate editor of The Plain Dealer’s editorial pages, was one of 12 senior U.S. editors and producers who visited Rwanda in November as part of a Gatekeeper Editors fellowship organized by the International Reporting Project at Johns Hopkins University.

Rwanda would rather be known for rising from the ashes of the horrific April 1994 genocide and as an African powerhouse than for the genocide that shocked the world and left nearly 800,000 people dead.

Both Tutsis and moderate Hutus were butchered by their neighbors and local militias after local media exhorted people to kill “the cockroaches.”

But this poor East African country may be courting disaster instead.

Led mostly by the once-exiled Tutsis who vanquished the murderous Hutu militias in 1994, Rwanda’s efforts to craft a better life for its citizens have been marred by draconian limits on speech and by accusations that the government drives its critics into exile, imprisons or assassinates them.

As a group of U.S. editors learned during a recent visit sponsored by the International Reporting Project at Johns Hopkins University, Rwanda may be making great strides, but inequities and unresolved ethnic divisions — which Rwandans are not allowed to discuss — are holding it back.

The Tutsis that dominate Rwanda’s ruling class make up just 15 percent of the population, although a Tutsi monarchy long governed Rwanda and was propped up first by German and then by Belgian colonizers. Hutus form the majority at about 84 percent.

Still, ethnic conflict wasn’t apparent as we traveled through this green, mountainous, land-locked country of 11 million, whose main exports are coffee and tea and whose main employment is subsistence farming.

Delicious, tiny bananas — we ate them every morning — mangoes and beans grow on nearly every bit of land in the countryside, including the hillsides, which are carefully terraced. And though there were some cars and plenty of bicycles and motorcycles, most people walked to their destinations.

But this country is on the move in other ways, as well.

As Liliane Uwanziga Mupende, director of urban planning and construction for the Rwandan government, puts it, “You leave the country for two or three months and [when you return] there is always something new.”

From the first day of our visit to Kigali, Rwanda’s capital, our translator, Fred Mwasa, pointed out all the new construction — a newly built shopping mall and the steady rise of new office buildings — and dozens of shacks slated to be torn down by the government to make way for more development.

Even Kigali’s simple but well-guarded international airport will be replaced by a new airport in Bugesera, a rural section outside of Kigali, in 2015, said Mwasa, who is also managing editor of The Chronicles, a new independent newspaper in Kigali.

It’s all part of Rwanda’s 2020 Vision plan to turn this nation of farmers into a communications and regional transportation hub in Africa with an educated, skilled work force.

The first nine years of school are free for youngsters. The country also has a mandated health insurance plan.

The thinking appears to be that, if all boats rise, Rwanda’s long-standing ethnic divisions won’t sink them.

But nearly every government official we met was an educated Tutsi who had fled to Uganda or some other safe harbor before the mass killings of 1994 and returned to cushy jobs afterward.

Can such a seemingly exclusive group create an inclusive, stable government and a country that can become the hub of prosperity in East Africa?

President Paul Kagame, the former Tutsi militia general who led the Rwandan Patriotic Front that booted Hutu militias from the country in 1994 and who has been in power ever since, believes so.

The nation is trying to “have a niche, if you will, in the East African community, where we can do certain things or provide certain things others may not be providing,” he told our group of journalists.

Kagame has cracked down on corruption and streamlined construction and business permits to entice foreign investors and wealthy expatriates to come to Rwanda.

He seems to be achieving those goals. Rwanda now ranks 45th out of 183 countries on the World Bank’s “Doing Business in 2012″ report.

Entrepreneurs can start a business in just three days. And the country is clean — thanks to a brigade of workers on city streets as early as 7 a.m. — and safe. A stroll in Kigali, even at 9 p.m. or 10 p.m., isn’t a risky endeavor — a major contrast with the unruly cities of Congo and Uganda, Rwanda’s neighbors.

Yet Rwanda’s orderliness can also be attributed to a scary, nearly omnipresent police and military force. Indeed, when our death-defying driver was waved over for trying to pass on a hill, a soldier sauntered over with a gun slung around his neck.

After a tense talk with our driver in Kinyarwanda, a Bantu language frequently spoken here although English is the official language, the soldier waved our driver along without giving him a ticket. The driver was careful after that.

But that isn’t the only frightening thing about Rwanda. Free speech is stifled, and the media, parts of which aided and abetted the killers by promoting the genocide in 1994, are still considered suspect. Hence the shackles on reporters, editors and ordinary Rwandans.

Rwandans risk time in jail if they talk about Hutus and Tutsis — everyone is supposed to be Rwandan now — and it’s against the law to criticize the president or government leaders.

The infamous genocide is called the Tutsi genocide by law, ignoring the thousands of Hutus, many of whom were married to Tutsis or just stood up for them, who were slaughtered as well.

Crossing those laws, or even the appearance of doing so, has led to long prison terms and even death for opposition figures, say human rights organizations, although the government has steadfastly denied such charges.

Even exiles aren’t safe. Lt. Gen. Faustin Kayumba Nyamwasa, a former Kagame confidant, accused Kagame of corruption, then fled to South Africa in February 2010. An assassin tried to kill him four months later.

There is talk of reforming press laws, but that may not come in time to help Agnes Nkusi, editor of the Umurabyo newspaper, who was sentenced to 17 years in prison last February for printing articles that said that some Rwandans weren’t happy with the president and other government leaders. Prosecutors, who also imprisoned for seven years the young reporter who co-wrote the stories, charged the reporting would stir up hatred against the government.

Kagame, an avid Twitter user who sent our group a Tweet, told us in an interview that if it were up to him, no one would be punished for “even abusing” the president, but that he had to “let these things run their course.”

But it’s an atrocious course, considering that it means Nkusi could rot in prison.

Kagame gets an opportunity before the 2017 elections to show whether he’s really willing to do what’s best for Rwanda or whether it’s all bluster and Tweets.

The two-term president could step down — as he promises to do. Or, he could find party hacks willing to carve out a third term in the constitution so he can run again.

“I will not be around as president, come 2017,” he told us flatly.

But some journalists in our group were not convinced.

And it’s safe to say from what I saw during our 10-day stay in the country, neither are many Rwandans.

Related Article:

U Rwanda Rurindiye Uburumbuke ku Nkomo

Source: http://www.cleveland.com/opinion/index.ssf/2012/01/a_restrained_rwanda_hopes_for.html

Washington DC, 10th January 2012 – On the 1st October 2011, I published a confession in which I stated that Paul Kagame, then overall commander of the Rwandese Patriotic Army, the armed wing of the Rwandese Patriotic Front, was personally responsible for the shooting down of the plane on April 6, 1994, in which President Juvenal Habyarimana of Rwanda, President Cyprian Ntaryamira of Burundi, Deogratias Nsabimana, Elie Sagatwa, Thaddee Bagaragaza, Emmanuel Akingeneye, Bernard Ciza, Cyriaque Simbizi, Jacky Heraud, Jean-Pierre Minaberry and Jean-Michel were killed. I stated that Paul Kagame himself had told me, in July 1994, that he was responsible for the shooting down of the plane. I stated that Paul Kagame has to be brought to account for his role in this terrorist crime that provided a trigger for the 1994 genocide in Rwanda. I have also stated that myself and other witnesses are willing, able, and ready to provide further evidence to national or/and international jurisdictions interested in contributing to truth, justice, reconciliation and healing in Rwanda.

Neither myself nor other new, willing, and able witnesses have yet been able to meet Judge Marc Trevidic, or any other international tribunal/court. to give the true account of the events surrounding the shooting down of the plane.

Today, 10th January, 2012, the French Judge, Marc Trevidic, investigating the 1994 terrorist crime, made public the findings of the Technical Report by ballistic experts. Among other things, the technical report stated that a) the experts were leaning more towards the version of the events that the missile that shot down the plane originated from several areas, especially around the Kanombe area in Kigali; b) the missiles were made and supplied from the former Soviet Union and, c) lawyers and other interested parties have up to three months to contest any matters arising from the report.

In this regard, I would like to state the following:

1. That the missile was fired from a number of areas in the Kanombe area does not exonerate Paul Kagame from having committed the crime;

2. That the missiles were of Soviet Union origin will prove to be of substantive help in establishing who the real culprit is, and;

3. That there is time for us ( myself and other interested and new witnesses) to respond fully to the technical report and provide credible testimony to Judge Marc Trevidic, or any other in the international jurisdiction, to pin down Paul Kagame as the culprit in this terrorist crime.

I stand fully behind the letter and spirit of my October 1st, 2011 confession. Judge Marc Trevidic’s technical report has not proved me wrong. Nor has it exonerated Paul Kagame from this crime, and yet Kigali is spinning the story out of context to celebrate what it calls “victory”. In the coming months and years, myself, other witnesses, Rwandans and others in the international community who heed the call, will continue to endeavor to have Paul Kagame account for his role in this and other crimes.

I would like to remind all Rwandans and the international community that this is not Judge Marc Trevidic’s final judgement on the matter. Furthermore, matters of truth and justice for Rwandans will primarily be decided by us Rwandans. Even when the international community and foreigners in general have had the reputation of disappointing Rwandans, we must have faith in our struggle for truth, justice, healing, and reconciliation.

Let us mobilize and organize, for truth and justice shall ultimately prevail.

We shall win.

Dr. Theogene Rudasingwa

E-mail: ngombwa@gmail.com

Mr  Vincent Karega the would be Rwandan Ambassador to South Africa, you are our Buffoon of the week.

This buffoon of the week has been sitting in South Africa for months without accreditation as an Ambassador.

Now this buffoon says that Rwanda and South Africa has good relations because the Rwandan Butcher was invited to ANC 100th year celebrations.

The buffoon says that “small issues” that led to tensions between the two countries are the thing of the past.

Mr Buffoon, let us put things into a proper perspective before you get carried away with lies:

• All African heads of state and world leaders were invited to this event! Unfortunately, Butcher Kagame happens to be one of them.
• Desperate Kagame seized the opportunity to show up! He no doubt saw this as an opportunity to make a bit of cash by renting out Bombardier Global Express to himself.
• But unlike his daddy/uncle Museveni who was invited to speak at the event, Butcher Kagame was part of decoration for the occasion.
• Further, President Jacob Zuma “has not yet found time” to receive the Butcher’s ambassador who is still in limbo, a diplomatic way of saying that the would-be ambassador is indeed a buffoon.
• Furthermore, South African Ambassador to Rwanda is still recalled.

Mr Buffoon and your Butcher boss, in case you forgot, you attempted twice to assassinate an exiled Rwandan General in SA during the 2010.

For trying to lie your way out of Kagame global terrorism, you are a buffoon of the week.

African Dictator

President Paul Kagame opening the ‘Umushyikirano 2011′

President Paul Kagame has said that only Rwandans can have the right to define who they want to be and work towards that and only them have that freedom to make such choices but not foreigners, intruders, the press or rights groups.

Speaking at the opening of the 9th National Dialogue (Umushyikirano) at the Parliamentary buildings today, President Kagame called on Rwandans to stand up and defend themselves against intruders who assume the responsibility of defining who they should be and what should define their country.

In a powerful speech, President Kagame came out strongly against the critics who usually say that despite economic progress, there are no rights and freedoms of expressions and democracy in Rwanda, observing that it is a responsibility of Rwandans to say whether such rights exist or not.

Addressing a full house of central government leaders, local government leaders, private sector and civil society representatives, religious leaders and diplomatic corps, President Kagame said that it is disturbing when foreigners, who sometimes don’t fulfill the lessons they teach others, ignore the progress made and instead start pointing accusing fingers, calling upon Rwandans to reject this patronizing attitude.

Amidst applause, the Head of State pointed out that Rwandans should find it offensive for such critics to undermine the home grown solutions such as the National Dialogue to instead accuse countries of stamping on freedoms.

He said that the objective of initiatives such as the Dialogue is to ensure that all Rwandans have a platform to participate and play a central role in the development and decision making processes of their country but such are never recognised.

“This meeting is a symbol of nation building through a process where all Rwandans have a right to contribute to the process and play an active role in deciding the path of their country,”

“They will talk about the many things Rwandans have achieved but then they say ’but’….why the but?They say Rwandans don’t have freedoms of expressions. I see three things involved, we are either dumb, even if we have what we want to say, we can’t because we are dumb. Secondly, maybe Rwandans can’t say anything because there is someone silencing them,”
“Thirdly, probably you might not be dumb or no one is silencing you but you have nothing to say. Today, I want us to find an answer to this question, to assess what other people think we are and then come up with a stand of who we want to be, regardless of what other people think of us. Whoever considers us to be whatever, that’s their burden,” President Kagame said.

The Head of State wondered why people talk of the economy growing but cannot put in perspective other aspects such as democratic processes, freedoms of speech and other rights which Rwandans have defined and put in place themselves along with the economic development that is visible but continue to complain about space.

“Which space is bigger than this one?” President Kagame said in reference to the dialogue itself.

“In fact the space that is lacking is that space which is constantly being occupied by those intruders. This nonsense from outsiders is the one occupying our freedom. These so called teachers of freedom, space, the same people getting stuck with genocidaires murderers and criminals,” he said, pointing out the case of Theoneste Bagosora, the genocide mastermind whose sentence was on Wednesday reduced from life to 35 years by the International Criminal Tribunal of Rwanda (ICTR).

“It has taken them 17 years to try him and try him so badly and they are the same people coming here to give us press freedoms? You are a joker. Some of us you come to teach about freedoms have been freedom fighters for their and other peoples rights since childhood. We have interest in our own freedoms and rights than anyone else has. We have that responsibility more that anyone else,” President Kagame said.

President Kagame said such people can do it, just because they can but not becuase they are right.

“They can do it to Africans, they want to do it to Rwandans but I want to assure you that we are different people. You Rwandans sitting here should not accept this nonsense. Accepting it is unthinkable, but accepting it is worse off for you, stand up and defend that right, they should not speak for you,” he said.

The Head of State took a swipe at rights groups and the media, saying that the two should not be the ones to be seen to have the right to define or choose what Rwandans want and also make freedoms appear like a myth where only a few have the power and previlege to define them and know what suits others.

“My question is, who are you? Who are you speaking for? Are these millions of Rwandans here waiting for you to come and tell them what their interests should be and what their rights are?
You Rwandans should reject that. We cannot make this progress and then at the same time fail in other areas, it doesn’t just add up,” he said.

The Head of State said that he was recently reading a foreign newspaper where a certain person wrote that they cannot be governed by a minority several years after the country failed to form a government, observing that such a statement comes out wishful thinking because Rwanda is not governed by a minority but rather Rwandans.

“They wish to be governed like Rwanda, these are people who havent been governed for two years, they failed to put in place a government.
Who is minority? I am not from a minority, I am from these Rwandans you see here. We cannot be a minority in our own country. These are people who need lessons about Rwanda, lessons in freedoms, you cannot teach us about our own freedom,” he said

“The main problem is just one and thats what brings us here, they can afford to call us all sorts of names, they can do whatever they want— and they can do anything, ask where Mutara Rudahigwa went, they will do that because you depend on them, they give you remains, when you depend on them, anything will happen. Even passersby will poke at you, that’s the position we are in, that’s the position we want to live far behind us and that’s why we are here,” he added.

He called on Rwandans to be more determined than ever to be in the position they want to be and end being in the position of being beggars and that will be the only way Rwandans will be independent of such negative references.

Source: Rwandan governement website www.umushyikirano.gov.rw

In memory of the millions of victims of the Rwandan army in D.R. Congo. This is the ceremony of lighting candles during the memorial event held in Oxford House in London on Saturday 26th November 2011.

Jean Pierre experienced the killing of his parents in Congo jungle by the Rwandan army when he was a young boy. He said that his life has changed forever since that day.
He presented his testimony during a memorial event held in London on 26th November 2011.

Here is a testimony of a survivor of RPF atrocities Gerturde Uwamariya, read during the Commemoration of 15th Anniversary of Rwandan refugees massacres in Congo held in Oxford House in London on Saturday 26th November 2011.
Uwamariya said that what she saw and experienced in Congo was the most horrible experiences that anyone can experience and no one should experience that. She reminded the audience that those who committed those atrocities have not been persecuted despite all available evidences of their actions

London 26/11/2011 — Remembering Victims of RPF atrocities in Congo (ex-Zaire): Presentation of Olivier Harerimana. In 1996, the Rwandan army of General Paul Kagame attacked refugee camps in D.R. Congo and started systematic and widespread killings of Rwandan (Hutu) and Congolese populations in what the United Nations’ Mapping Report described in October 2010 as possible genocide against Hutus. Olivier describes briefly the horrible hutu hunting in the Congolese jungle.

Related:

● Remembering the Victims of Rwandan army in D.R. Congo

● Commemoration of 15th Anniversary of Rwandan refugees massacres in Congo

Former RPF officer and Former Rwandan Ambassador to US, Dr Theogene Rudasingwa, talks about truth and reconciliation in Rwanda.
This was done during the “Rwanda Truth and Reconciliation: The Process Begins” conference organised by the William Mitchell College of Law on 28 November 2011.