Fw: [fondationbanyarwanda] Lettre à l’assemblée nationale française sur l’injustice au Rwanda

 

Lettre à l'assemblée nationale française sur l'injustice au Rwanda  Les Mutikeys

PARMUTIKEYSLE 28 MAI 2020 • ( 2 COMMENTAIRES )

Mesdames, Messieurs, les Députés de la république française,

Je reviens vers vous pour vous reparler du Rwanda. Après le génocide perpétré contre les Tutsi au Rwanda en 1994, j'ai été surprise de voir les autorités françaises dire qu'elles n'avaient pas su la nature dictatoriale du régime de Habyarimana et de son MRND. Ce serait pour cela qu'elles auraient soutenu ce régime. Mes lettres visent à vous éclairer sur la nature du régime de Paul Kagame et de son FPR pour vous éviter de la découvrir à la chute de ce régime.

Ce 11 mai 2020, 9 assaillants sont arrivés à la boutique de M Théophile Ntirutwa, un membre du parti politique d'opposition DALFA de Madame Victoire Ingabire. Théophile Ntirutwa est un ancien prisonnier politique qui a été depuis blanchi par la justice sans aucune indemnité pour les années passées en prison pour rien. Ces assaillants étaient à la recherche d'un « Théo », surnom de Théophile et ont assassiné Théoneste Bapfakurera un pasteur qui porte le même surnom qui se trouvait au mauvais endroit au mauvais moment.  A ce jour Théophile Ntirutwa est en cellule de détention pour cet assassinat !

Cet assassinat s'inscrit dans le contexte de la nomination de Louise Mushikiwabo à la tête de la Francophonie par la France (parler d'élection de Mushikiwabo à la Francophonie pour moi serait comme dire que Paul Kagame a été élu par 98,63% des Rwandais en 2017 !). Cette nomination a obligé Paul Kagame à « pardonner » Victoire Ingabire d'une faute qu'elle n'avait pas commise et de la libérer. Depuis cette « libération » plusieurs membres de son parti politique sont  portés disparus ou ont été assassinés.

• Boniface Twagirimana est porté disparu depuis le 08 octobre 2018, il se serait échappé d'une prison haute sécurité, quelques jours après son arrivée dans cette prison !
• Anselme Mutuyimana a été assassiné le 08 mars 2019,
• Eugene Ndereyimana est porté disparu depuis le 15 juillet 2019,
• Syldio Dusabumuremyi a été assassiné le 23 septembre 2019.

Le plus attristant est que l'on pourra croire que le jeu politique entre la France et le Rwanda via la Francophonie se joue avec une variable d'ajustement, celle des vies des opposants politiques. Comment en votre qualité de représentants du peuple français pouvez-vous laisser faire cela ? Peut-on imaginer une France dans laquelle les opposants politiques seront assassinés ou portés disparus sans qu'une enquête indépendante ne soit menée ?

« Ce qui m'effraie, ce n'est pas l'oppression des méchants ; c'est l'indifférence des bons » Martin Luther King

En restant sur la Francophonie, Paul kagame a été obligé de libérer un autre prisonnier politique, il s'agit de Kizito Mihigo. C'est important de revenir sur lui car le 07 avril 2020, Emmanuel Macron a tenu à saluer « la capacité de réconciliation » du peuple rwandais et cela m'a interpellée pour deux raisons :

• Tout en reconnaissant et en saluant le soutien et la solidarité qu'Emmanuel Macron et le peuple français ont exprimés au peuple rwandais par la commémoration des victimes du génocide perpétré contre les tutsis en 1994, le silence des autorités françaises à la suite de l'assassinat de Kizito Mihigo, rescapé de ce génocide est déplorable.
• Saluer « « la capacité de réconciliation » du peuple rwandais est ignorer que la réconciliation au Rwanda, comme pour les autres sujets au Rwanda, obéit aux ordres de la dictature. Le peuple rwandais est sommé d'afficher un semblant de réconciliation, pire encore ceux qui essayent d'œuvrer pour mettre en place les fondations d'une réconciliation véritable et durable sont emprisonnés, assassinés, forcés à l'exil voire les trois à la fois pour les moins lotis.

L'exemple ici est trois jeunes trentenaires, membres fondateurs de l'Alliance Rwandaise pour le Pacte National (RANP-Abaryankuna, un mouvement composé des jeunes résistants rwandais) qui en 2014 avaient mis en place une action d'envergure pour amorcer des dialogues sur la vraie unité dont le peuple rwandais a besoin. Lorsque le gouvernement rwandais a découvert leur action, la réponse n'a pas tardé :

• Gérard Niyomugabo, écrivain, a été arrêté le 04/04/2014, à ce jour il est porté disparu.
• Kizito Mihigo, chanteur, a été arrêté le 06/04/2014 et libéré le 15 septembre 2018 dans le contexte de la Francophonie. Il a été de nouveau arrêté le 13 février 2020 puis depuis a été assassiné le 16 février 2020 dans sa cellule par les autorités rwandaises qui ont voulu masquer cet assassinant en suicide.
• Cassien Ntamuhanga, journaliste, a été arrêté le 07/04/2014 et s'est miraculeusement échappé de la prison rwandaise le 31 octobre 2017. Vous devez savoir que trois petits frères de Cassien Ntamuhanga ont été kidnappés le 04 octobre 2016 par les agents des renseignements rwandais et sont à ce jour portés disparus !

Les trois jeunes étaient des activistes de la réconciliation rwandaise, celle fondée sur l'égalité parfaite entre les individus, le pardon et l'amour de l'autre et du pays. Ce faisant, ils se distanciaient de l'idéologie officielle du régime du FPR, celle de « Ndi Umunyarwanda » qui demandait aux descendants de ce qui a été considéré comme l'ethnie hutue de demander éternellement pardon aux descendants de ce qui é été considéré comme l'ethnie tutsie pour les crimes qui ont été commis en leur nom. Dans ses oeuvres, Kizito Mihigo chantait notamment une réconciliation basée sur l'humanité en indiquant « Je suis rwandais (Ndi Umunyarwanda) devrait être précédé par je suis humain (Ndi umuntu) » et a été emprisonné en raison de ces paroles.

En dehors du contexte de la Francophonie, je souhaite vous parler de :

• Dieudonné Niyonsenga journaliste et propriétaire de la chaîne Youtube Ishema TV, qui s'est distingué en couvrant les démolitions des habitations de plus de 4000 familles des pauvres et des classes moyennes à Kigali sans aucune indemnité ou relogement, les viols des femmes rwandaises par les militaires rwandais lors du confinement. Ce journaliste a été arrêté le 15 avril 2020 pour n'avoir pas respecté les mesures de confinement, depuis la police rwandaise a fabriqué des charges (utilisation des faux papiers) contre lui et il est en prison en attendant un procès ! Ce dimanche un média a appelé publiquement à ce que Victoire ingabire soit assassinée. La journaliste qui utilise le surnom d'« Ellen Kampire » et le média « my250TV » n'ont pas été sanctionnés !
• Fred Barafinda Sekikubo, il a été amené le 10 février 2020 à l'hôpital psychiatrique de Ndera par la police rwandaise. Depuis il y est interné contre la volonté de sa famille. Selon sa femme les médecins ont dit qu'il pouvait sortir mais attendent l'autorisation de la police rwandaise ! Ce père de 10 enfants a voulu se présenter à l'élection présidentielle de 2017 et s'est beaucoup démarqué fin 2019 et début 2020 par ses prises de positions où il dénonçait les démolitions des habitations des pauvres à Kigali et l'injustice sans fin dont subit le peuple rwandais.

Pour finir, il est primordial de ne pas oublier les victimes des exécutions extrajudiciaires par les forces de sécurité rwandaise en toute impunité. Depuis le 01 janvier 2020, au moins dix-sept civils[1] non armés ont été assassinés par la police rwandaise ou affiliée. Pour l'année 2019, il y a eu au moins cinquante civils[2] non armés exécutés par la police rwandaise.

Tout cela se déroule dans une impunité totale et sous silence complète de la communauté internationale dont la France fait partie. La lutte contre l'impunité est primordiale pour que le peuple rwandais puisse vivre en paix. Le Dr Denis Mukwege, prix Nobel de la paix, l'a souligné dans son discours du 10 décembre 2018 : «Seule la lutte contre l'impunité peut briser la spirale des violences». Vos voix pour arrêter la spirale des violences au Rwanda peuvent non seulement aider le peuple rwandais à retrouver la paix et la sécurité mais aussi peut sauver des vies, notamment celle des opposants politiques dans le collimateur du pouvoir du FPR au Rwanda ou à l'étranger. A défaut d'agir, vous pouvez vous abstenir de soutenir ce régime pour celles et ceux qui le font et encourager Emmanuel Macron à arrêter de soutenir le dictateur sanguinaire Paul Kagame.

Je vous prie de croire, Mesdames, Messieurs, les Députés de la République française, à l'assurance de ma plus haute considération.

Constance Alice Mutimukeye

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Fw: [fondationbanyarwanda] UMURYANGO WA PASITORI NTAKIRUTIMANA URI MU NZARA Z’INDA NINI N’UBUGAMBANYI BUDAFITE ISHINGIRO, UZATABARWA NA NDE?

 

UMURYANGO WA PASITORI NTAKIRUTIMANA URI MU NZARA Z'INDA NINI N'UBUGAMBANYI BUDAFITE ISHINGIRO, UZATABARWA NA NDE?  

THE RWANDAN

May 26, 2020

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Banyarwandakazi, banyarwanda;

Iyo havuzwe ingaruka za jenoside ku muryango nyarwanda, abenshi bumva gusa akaga abatutsi barokotse bahura nako. Nyamara si bo bonyine bahanganye n'ingaruka za jenoside. Inzirakarengane ziri mu moko yose. Ubugome bukururwa n'inda nini, ugushaka ubutoni kuri FPR n'ubutindi bw'ivamguramoko, ni bimwe mu byabojeje imitima y'abanyarwanda .

Nyuma y'intambara na mbere yayo hari abahutu benshi bagiriwe nabi bikomeye, nk'uko hari abatutsi bahohotewe batagira kivugira. Intambara imaze kurangira, hari abatutsi benshi bishimiye ku bahutu, bumva ko ingoma zivugiye kubashyira heza, maze barahemuka bikabije, bafungisha ababi n'abeza, bishongora ku babi n'abeza, bicisha ababi n'abeza, mbese bereka umuhutu ko bimye ingoma yo guhonyora abahutu bose. Bigabije iby'abahutu, bahemukira n'abababaniye, n'abo baturanye, n'abo basukiranaga. Mu maso y'abahutu bamwe, bene abo batutsi batukishaga ikitwa umututsi cyose. Uroye byagenze nk'uko abahutu bamwe bitwaye muri jenoside igihe batukisha umuhutu wese. Ibyabaye bigaragaza ko inkozi z'ibibi zoretse U Rwanda zagiye zigaragara mu moko yose kandi zitihishira habe na gato. Zatukishije amoko y'abanyarwanda, zatukishije igihugu cyose.

Tugarutse kuri ubwo buhemu bwo kwihimura ku batacumuye no kugirira nabi umuhutu, dusanga hamwe mu hantu bwagaragaye cyane, n'ubwo bwabaye henshi, ari muri perefegitura ya Kibuye. Umwe mu miryango yibasiwe n'ubugone ndengakamere ku Kibuye, ni umuryango wa pasitoro Ntakirutimana, wahemukiwe bikomeye n'abashakaga kwigaragaza neza ku ngoma yari FPR, ndetse bifuza no kuwusahura. Icyo benshi mu batutsi bigaragaje nabi batari bazi, ni uko ingoma biratanaga nabo yari ibabikiye ibanga ry'agafuni n'ubuhotozi. Hari benshi mu batutsi bahemutse bishora mu bwicanyi n'ubugambanyi nabo byarangiye ingoma mpotozi ibivuganye. Aha twavuga nka Assiel Kabera, Mucyo Jean de Dieu, n'abandi benshi mu ntara zose z'igihugu. Ku birebana na Kibuye, Assiel Kabera we na Arsène Kwizera, ari mu bajengereje umuryango wa Pastori Ntakirutimana, afatanyije n'abandi bigize inkozi z'ibibi nka Hozeya Niyibizi, Dr Kayijaho, Paul Muvunyi, umudamu witwa Kankindi wabohoje imwe mu mazu y'umuryango wa pastori Ntakirutimana, Bandora, n'abandi. 

Ibibi byakorewe uyu muryango wa pastor Ntakirutimana ni byinshi. Habayeho guhimba ibyaha, bimwe basigaye bita gutekinika.. Bahimbye dosiye y'ubwicanyi muri jenoside, maze n'abatari bari ku Kibuye nka Hozeya Niyibizi, bivugwa ko yari muri hoteli Mille Collines, barihandagaza bavuga ko babonye abo muri uyu muryango bakora jenoside ku Mugonero muri Kibuye, maze bakigira abatangabuhamya mu nkiko. Uwitwa Bandora, wari kuri za bariyeri, bikekwa ko yari afitanye isiri n'inkotanyi, n'ubwo yari afite indangamuntu ya "hutu" yari yarafashijwe kubona, aho kubazwa uruhare rwe mu bwicanyi, ahubwo nawe akagaragara ashinja inzirakarengane, yibasira umuryango wa pasitori Ntakirutimana, kuko azi ko yibeshye gato akavuga ukuri, FPR yamutanga ndetse ikanamwihakana n'ubwo yamukoresheje, dore ko nta utamuzi kuri bariyeri z'interahamwe. Ni benshi bakoreshejwe mu guhindanya no gusahura umuryango wa pasitori Ntakirutimana, babikoze babitewe n'ishyari n'ukwifuza ubutunzi bw'uyu muryango. Muri Kibuye habaye ubutindi bwinshi bwakozwe na bamwe mu batutsi bibonekeje cyane nk'abakamirwa ba FPR, n'ubwo yagiye ibivugana nabo urusorongo, abandi bagatorongera bagahunga, ariko na n'ubu bakaba bataricuza ubugome bakoze. Umuryango wa Pastori Ntakirutimana urazira ubutunzi bwawo, ukanazira ko wabashije kuba inyangamugayo mu bihe by'ubwicanyi bwibasiye abanyarwanda, bwaba ubwa jenoside cyangwa se ubundi. Urazira ubugiraneza wakoze, ubugiraneza wagiriye abatutsi n'abahutu. Urazira kandi kwanga kwijandika mu mafuti y'ingoma ya FPR, no gukomera ku bunyangamugayo. Kwanga kuyoboka ingoma iriho ni kimwe mu byo uyu muryango wakomeje kuzizwa, kugeza n'aho imwe mu mitungo itimukanwa yawo yigarurirwa n'ishyaka riri ku butegetsi ndetse n'abakamirwa baryo.

Igihe kurageze ko abanyarwanda banga ikibi bavugiriza induru inkozi z'ibibi, bagahagurutswa no kwanga ko abazima mu banyarwanda b'amoko yose baba aribo bihimurwaho bagerekwaho amadosiye mahimbano, mu gihe izo nkozi z'ibibi ziba zigaramiye. Ku bw'iyi mpamvu, abanyarwanda b'inyangamugayo bose, amashyirahamwe y'abanyarwanda aharanira uburenganzira bw'ikiremwamuntu, n'abanyamahanga bakurikiranira hafi ibibera mu Rwanda, barahamagarirwa kwamagana ubugizi bwa nabi bwakorewe kandi n'ubu bugikorerwa uyu muryango wa Pastor Ntakirutimana, bakamagana ubugome bunyuzwa mu nkiko mpuzamahanga n'inkiko zo mu gihugu. Akarengane k'uyu muryango karakabije, mu gihe abajenosideri ba ruharwa bidegembya no mu Rwanda imbere kuko bakingiwe ikibaba n'agatsiko kari ku butegetsi. Birababaje kubona abacamanza bo mu bihugu bikize kurusha ibindi ku isi bakoreshwa amakosa bagahohotera inzirakarengane hejuru y'inkuru zidafite ishingiro n'ubugome bw'itekinika rya leta y'u Rwanda.

Niduhagurukira rimwe twese mu kwamagana ubutekamutwe n'ibinyoma bigaragara mu manza zirebana na jenoside, bizadushoboza gutabara abanyarwanda benshi, no gushyira hanze ba sekibi bakomeje guhekura umuryango nyarwanda.

Ntitukagire ubwoba bwo kurengera abarengana.

Umurerwa Felikula

Kampala, Uganda

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Fw: *DHR* POLITIKI IRONDAKOKO Hutu-Tutsi ikibazo kitavugwa kirunduye Rayon-Sports (Igice Cya Kabiri)

 

Hutu-Tutsi ikibazo kitavugwa kirunduye Rayon-Sports (Igice Cya Kabiri)

May 26, 2020

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Yanditswe na Frank Steven Ruta

Mu rugamba Perezida wa Rayon Sports Munyakazi Sadate yarwanaga rwo kuzahura Rayon Sports ngo inabashe kwitunga idategereje ak'imuhana, yegereye na MTN bagirana amasezerano y'imikoranire, abamurwanyaga bahita bamuca inyuma bajya kumugambanira muri AIRTEL, ngo arashaka no kwamamaza mukeba wayo. Iyo gahunda ntiyabashije gukomeza. 

Munyakazi Sadate yatangije gahunda yo gukorana na Stasiyo za essence zimwe na zimwe, abafana ba Rayon bakaziyoboka, buri kiguzi (purchase) bakoze hakagira akantu gato kagenerwa Rayon Sports. Iyi ghunda yanayikoze kuri za alimentations (Supermarkets) zimwe na zimwe, ariko ba banyemali bamwogaga runono, bagaca inyuma bakamwangiriza imishinga, igapfira mu igi.

Nyuma y'aho habayeho akagambane kagizwemo uruhare na ba bandi bo muri Rayon bagomba kwimakaza ihame ry'iyimikabwoko, bibukije FERWAFA ko hari aho yakimbiranye na Sadate ko babizamuye bakamufatira ibihano byabafasha gusubiza ikipe yabo ku murongo bifuza. FERWAFA yarabyubahirije, yica procedures z'amategeko ikurikirana Munyakazi SADATE inamufatira ibihano, we n'umuvugizi wa Rayon Sport. 

Iri tsinda ry'abanyemali b'abahezanguni baje gutungurana ubwo kuwa 10/05/2020 bakoze inama bise iyo gutabara Rayon Sport, bayikorera mu rugo rw'umwe muri bo (Kwa Muvunyi Paul). Iyi nama niyo yatangaje ko aba bagabo bahoze bayobora Rayon Sport baje kuyitabara mu bihe by'amage irimo, bakaba bariyise Akanama Ngishwanama kaje gukorana na Komite iriho ngo ibibazo bikemuke. Banikoze ku mufuka bakusanya asaga miliyoni 20 yo kunganira ngo bigaragare ko badahagurutse imbokoboko.  

Sadate Munyakazi  ntiyabashize amakenga, akurikije ukuntu biyise akanama ngishwanama, ariko bakaba bari gufata ibyemezo bitari mu nshingano zabo.

Uruganda rwa SKOL rwemereye aka kanama kurekura amafaranga miliyoni 33 z'ikirarane bari bafitiye Rayons Sports. SKOL yanahaye ubufasha bw'inyunganizi abakinnyi ba Rayon Sports, ariko aba bagabo bumvikana na SKOL ko nta kintu na kimwe uru ruganda rugomba gukorana na Prezida wa Rayon Sports Munyakazi Sadate na Komite ayoboye.

Dusubiye inyuma gato, aba banyemali baje gushinga icyo bise Umuryango wa Rayon Sports , biyandikisha muri Statuts zayo nka ba Nyirawo bahoraho. Nyuma yo kubikora bashatse gushinga RAYON Sports Basket Club, Munyakazi arabyanga kuko yavugaga ko byaba bije kugabanya imbaraga zigomba guhabwa ikipe ya Football. 

Mu cyumweru gishize, aka kanama kandikiye Munyakazi Sadate kamusaba kwegura abitera utwatsi, ababwira  ko umweguza batabifite mu nshingano, nabo bamutumaho abamubwira ko n'ubundi ntaho agihagaze ko n'ubuyobozi bamaze kubushyikira.

Ku wa gatandatu tariki ya 23/05/2020 bakoze indi nama, ikaba yari inarimo umuhezanguni Albert Bryon Rudatsimburwa (wigeze kuyobora Rayon Sports mu gihe cy'umwaka umwe), inama bemeza ko Sadate Munyakazi agomba kwirukanwa. Amakuru yamugezeho asanga ahita atangira gukusanya ibimenyetso n'amakuru yashyize mu rwandiko yoherereje Perezida wa Repubulika, ejo ku wa mbere tariki ya 25/05/2020.. Albert Rudatsimburwa akiva mu nama yo kuwa Gatandatu, yatangiye kwasasa ko usanzwe ayobora Rayon Sports (Munyakazi Sadate) ari umusazi.

Urwandiko rurerure rurimo byinshi bisanzwe bivugirwa mu matamatama, rugisohoka nibwo Ngarambe Charles umwe mu bagize ka kanama ngishwanama kishyizeho yanditse urwandiko rutagira ibirango na cachet by'ikipe, avuga ko ahagaritse Komite yose isanzwe iyobora RAYON Sports.

Nyuma ya saa sita (ejo kuwa mbere) hasahotse inyandiko y'umujyi wa Kigali yemerera Rayon Sport guteranya inama, nyamara iyo nama ntiyari ihari, yari yarabaye ku wa gatandatu. Urwandiko rwari urwo kurangiza umuhango. Ikimenyimenyi ni ukuba urwandiko rubemerera gukora inama rwarasohotse bo bamaze gusohora urwandiko rw'imyanzuro yavuzye muri iyo nama baringa bavugaga bari bukore, nyamara itari yakozwe, ahubwo yari yararangiye k uwa gatandatu. 

Impaka zikomeje kuba zose ku mbuga nkoranyambaga no ku ma Radio, hagati y'impande ebyiri zitumva kimwe ibibazo Rayon Sports irimo muri iyi minsi.

Ibigaragaza ko izi gahunda zose zihagarikiwe n'izindi mbaraga zibyihishe inyuma

Kuba abantu bake bahura bagakora inama cyangwa ikindi gikorwa muri iyi minsi ya Covid-19 bagakurikiranwa, ariko ba basaza bayoboye Rayon Sports  bakayikora ubugira gatatu baterana bitemewe, barangiza bakamamaza mu bitangazamakuru ko bakoze inama, ni gihamya ko ibyo bakoraga babishyigikiwemo .

Kuba umujyi wa Kigali warandikiwe n'abashimuse ubuyobozi ukabasubiza ubaha uburenganzira bwo gukora inama itagenzuye niba bagize urwego ruzwi kandi rwemewe n'amategeko, nabyo birashimangira ko ibiri gukorwa byose ari ikinamico yo kurangiza umuhango, ko Sadate we yamaze kurundurwa.

Ku bijyanye n'ivanguramoko twagarutseho muri iyi nyandiko, nta na hamwe Munyakazi Sadate avugwa yigeze yumvikana ashishikariza abantu kuvangura cyangwa kwigomeka. Yazize gusa ko ari Nyakamwe ugiye kuvumba mu Bakara.

Mu Rwandiko rwa Sdt, yagaragaje agahind afite, agaragaza ibyangirikga muri Rayons Sports mu myaka yashize, asaba ko bafashwa gutahiriza umugozi umwe. 

Guhita yirukanwa byatewe no kuba yarashyize hanze amabanga ya bamwe muri ba banyemali, bafashe RAYON Sports nk'inka yo gukama ibihe byose, kandi ko bagomba kwirinda kuyisangira n'uwo ari we wese.

Mwihere ijisho urwandiko Munyakazi Sadate yandikiye Perezida wa Paul Kagame :

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Fw: [ibukabose_rengerabose] Explanation of Position on the UN General Assembly Resolution on the Rwandan Genocide

• About the Missionve

U.S. Mission to the United Nations
New York, New York
April 23, 2020

Explanation of Position on the UN General Assembly Resolution on the Rwandan Genocide

Since the 1994 Genocide in Rwanda and the establishment in 2003 of the "International Day of Reflection on the Genocide in Rwanda," April 7 has become a solemn day to commemorate the more than 800,000 men, women, and children whose lives were lost during 100 days of unspeakable violence.  The United States joins consensus with the entire UN General Assembly to support the continuation of this "International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda" so that each year, we may continue to honor the victims and the survivors who carry the memories of these atrocities.

This annual day of reflection is a reminder of our common humanity and recommits us to protect the vulnerable, prevent mass atrocities, and respect the inherent dignity of every human being.

The United States remains committed to supporting the people of Rwanda in their efforts to preserve the evidence of the 1994 genocide.  Indeed, one of the strongest measures we can take to prevent mass atrocities from occurring again is to preserve the history of what has taken place and to properly capture the scope of the acts committed.

As such, the United States is concerned that changes made to the text – starting in 2018 and extended today – narrow the focus of the resolution to the Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, and fail to fully capture the magnitude of the violence that was committed against other groups.  Many Hutu and others were also killed during the genocide, including those murdered for their opposition to the atrocities that were being committed.  Failing to honor and remember these victims presents an incomplete picture of this dark part of history.

Revising the language used to describe past genocides sets a dangerous precedent and risks leading to revisiting other days of reflection.  We support the resolution's overall aim to reflect on the genocide in Rwanda, but also must underscore that our understanding of the circumstances of the genocide in Rwanda has not changed. 

We urge our fellow member states to insist that histories of past genocides and other mass atrocities do not fade over time.  We owe it to each and every victim of these crimes to faithfully carry forward their memories as part of our vow of "never again." 

We are also concerned about the removal of the reference to the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals, which continues its important work to hold those responsible for genocide accountable..  The United States urges all states to cooperate with the IRMCT, including its search for eight Rwandans still wanted for their roles in the genocide.

The United States firmly believes that respect for all human rights, including freedom of expression, is critical in the prevention of genocide and other mass atrocities.  We reiterate that any efforts to counter incitement and hate speech should respect freedom of expression.

We must also express our disappointment in the negotiation process that led to this resolution.  The result is a weaker text that strips out references that would have benefited the Government of Rwanda in its efforts to seek accountability, while forcing Rwanda's allies, including the United States, to accept language we find concerning.  While we are not calling for a vote lest others get the wrong impression about our unwavering support for justice for victims of the genocide, we are concerned that the negotiation process potentially weakened the text, limited the impact, and added unexpected costs.. 

As we reflect on the Rwandan genocide this year and always, the United States joins with the people of Rwanda and the international community in solemn reflection to commemorate all of the victims killed in the genocide in Rwanda, and to recommit to doing everything in our power to prevent such atrocities from happening again.

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Fw: *DHR* Fw: Rwandan Genocide: The response of Rwanda to the explanations of position by the United States of America and the United Kingdom.

 

REPUBLIC OF RWANDA

 PERMANENT MISSION OF THE REPUBLIC OF RWANDA TO THE UNITED NATIONS NEW YORK

 RPM/873/24.04/C/2020 24 April 2020 

All Permanent Representatives and Permanent Observers to the United Nations New York 

Excellency, I have the honour to share the response of Rwanda to the explanations of position by the United States of America and the United Kingdom on the draft resolution entitled "International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda" (A/74/L.40).

 Please accept, Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration. 

 H.E. Ambassador Valentine Rugwabiza 

 Permanent Representative of the Republic of Rwanda to the United Nations 

CC: H.E. Mr. Tijjani Muhammad-Bande President of the United Nations General Assembly New York 

124 East 39th Street Tel: +1 212-679-9010 Email: ambanewyork@minaffet.gov.rw New York, NY 10016 Fax: +1 917-591-9279 

Rwanda's response to the explanations of position by USA and UK on the draft resolution entitled "International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda" (A/74/L.40) 

The adoption of resolution A/74/273 titled "International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda" (resolution A/74/273), elicited substantive reservations from two member states, the United States and the United Kingdom, in letters dated 20 April 2020. The United States noted concerns on the "changes made to the text starting 2018 and extended today – the narrow focus of the resolution to the Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda." It was further "concerned that changes to the text – starting in 2018 and extended today – narrow the focus of the resolution to the Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda and fail to fully capture the magnitude of the violence that was committed against other groups. Many Hutus and others were also killed during the genocide, including those murdered for their opposition to the atrocities that were being committed. Failing to honor and remember these victims presents an incomplete picture of this dark part of history." 

Similarly, the reservations of the United Kingdom read, "We disagree withs the framing of the genocide purely as 'the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi'. As noted in previous resolutions, we believe that Hutus and others who were killed should also be recognised."

 It is interesting to note that while both Explanation of Positions (EOPs) underscored the importance of historical facts and collective memory in averting the recurrence of genocide, they stated the exact opposite by distorting these very historical facts and by ignoring the UN Security Council resolutions and the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) jurisprudence to which they are both bound. 

Let us recall that United Nations resolution 96 (I) dated 11 December 1946 recognized genocide as a crime under international law and defined genocide as "any of the following acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group, as such: (a) Killing members of the group; (b) Causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group; (c) Deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part; (d) Imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group; (e) Forcibly transferring children of the group to another group." 

The United Nations recognized that a crime consistent with this definition had taken place in Rwanda in 1994. Consequently, on 8 November 1994 the UNSC (resolution (955)) established the ICTR to prosecute persons responsible for the genocide between1 January 1994 and 31 December 1994. The ICTR began its work in 1995 and formally closed on 20 December 2012 124 East 39th Street Tel: +1 212-679-9010 Email: ambanewyork@minaffet.gov.rw New York, NY 10016 Fax: +1 917-591-9279 having indicted 93 genocide perpetrators; its remaining functions transferred over to the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals on 1 July 2012. On 16 June 2006, the Appeals Chamber of the ICTR in the trial of Prosecutor v. Karemera Ngirumpatse and Nzirorera (ICTR-98-44-AR73 (C)) affirmed that indeed a genocide against the Tutsi had taken place in Rwanda. It instructed that "all the current and pending trials before the Trial Chambers of the ICTR" must refer to the following as facts "beyond any dispute and not requiring any proof;" 

1) The existence of Twa, Tutsi and Hutu as protected groups falling under the Genocide Convention; 

2) The following state of affairs existed in Rwanda between 6 April 1994 to 17 July 1994: there were throughout Rwanda widespread or systematic attacks against a civilian population based on Tutsi ethnic identification. During the attacks, some Rwandan citizens killed or caused serious bodily or mental harm to person[s] perceived to be Tutsi. As a result of the attacks, there were a large number of deaths of persons of Tutsi ethnic identity; 

3) Between 6 April 1994 and 17 July 1994 there was genocide in Rwanda against Tutsi ethnic group. 

According to the ICTR Judicial Notice, the fact that the genocide in Rwanda was against the Tutsi is "beyond any dispute and [does] not require any proof."

 Therefore, the position of the United Kingdom to "disagree with the framing of the genocide purely as the '1994 genocide against the Tutsi'" is a rejection of ICTR Jurisprudence. Similarly, both delegations hold in their EOPs, that the "others" were also killed during the genocide, is not captured by genocide as a legal term. Rwanda would welcome specific reference to "other groups" – outside the group that was the target of extermination – that the United Nations has recognized in commemoration of "past genocides." Otherwise, it would constitute an unwelcome exception for Rwanda. We therefore welcome the call by the USA to "urge fellow member states to insist that histories of past genocides" get treated with consistency in the application of shared principles. 

The demands being made against Rwanda appear to create a mechanism of remembrance outside the principles of the United Nations. However, if the positions of the United States and United Kingdom suggest the renegotiation of the UN Genocide Convention in as far as a collective decision is taken to remember "others" outside of the targeted group for extermination, then indeed this call for the renegotiation of the convention and a suggestion that as it stands the Convention is inadequate and that it should be revised beyond the "narrow" confines of targeted groups.

 In light of the UN Genocide Convention, the expectation that Rwanda broadens its framing beyond the Tutsi as the targeted group for extermination, is to demand that Rwanda applies and violates the Convention at ounce. 124 East 39th Street Tel: +1 212-679-9010 Email: ambanewyork@minaffet.gov.rw New York, NY 10016 Fax: +1 917-591-9279 Similarly, like in the terminology that in fact the genocide was against the Tutsi, the distinction between free speech and hate speech was also settled as part of a judicial process: The Media Trial in The Prosecutor V. Ferdinand Nahimana, Jean Bosco Barayagwiza, Hassan Ngeze (Case No. ICTR-99-51-T), whose aim was to draw the line between free speech and hate speech. Once again, the ICTR jurisprudence has cleared any ambiguity between free speech and hate speech in the context of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda. It is worth recalling the role that the Radio-Television Libre des Mille Collines (RTLM) played during the execution of the genocide by calling for acceleration of the killings and publications of names and physical addresses of Tutsi individuals and families yet to be exterminated. Despite the active role of the RTLM in the execution of the genocide, when a permanent member was requested to jam the radio's frequency, it refused to extend that assistance to the pursued targets citing free speech.

 In the pursuit of reconciliation, Rwanda has walked the tight rope of applying the Convention of commemorating the group that was targeted for extermination while being as inclusive as possible without compromising the very purpose of genocide commemoration. For instance, every annual commemoration of the genocide, Rwanda devotes 13th April to the remembrance of politicians and others who, although not being part of the targeted group, were killed for opposing the extermination of Tutsis.

 By bringing clarity on the targeted group for extermination, the just adopted Resolution A/74/273 and adoption of decision A/72/L.31 on 26 January 2018, are consistent with the Genocide Convention. Rather than advance reconciliation, the EOPs by the US and the UK bring ambiguity that feeds the resurgent genocide denialist movement that is already on the rise in the Great Lakes region and beyond. 

Rwanda supports the US call for member states to hold those responsible for genocide accountable and takes this opportunity to remind the United Kingdom to arrest and try genocide suspects on its territory who are yet to face justice for their role in the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi, as one of the strong measures to prevent impunity and the recurrence of genocide. 

Finally, with regard to the negotiation process, Rwanda has neither the authority nor the desire to "force" any member into accepting a resolution language. The language in resolution A/74/273 is a result of consultations with all members in open ended format, and in small groups and bilateral format with members having expressed specific concerns.. However, as is always the case for any multilateral process, not every concern raised by individual members without enjoying a broad consensus can be accommodated. 

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