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Tuesday, 18 June 2013

Rwanda Among Corruption-Ridden Countries | Deutsche Bahn.


Deutsche Bahn to Suspend Operations in Corruption-Ridden Countries

World | June 18, 2013, Tuesday| 257 views
Suddeutsche Zeitung reported on Tuesday that DB was withdrawing from Greece, Algeria, Libya, Rwanda and Thailand due to the corruption risk. Photo by EPA/BGNES

German railway company Deutsche Bahn, DB, is suspending operations in a number of countries with high levels of corruption.

Suddeutsche Zeitung reported on Tuesday that DB was withdrawing from Greece, Algeria, Libya, Rwanda and Thailand due to the corruption risk.

The decision of the German railway giant was explained with findings of the prosecuting authority in Frankfurt that that DB International, a subsidiary of DB, had been paying bribes in a number of countries to secure contracts for consultancy and planning for railway projects.

According to the German daily, DB International paid EUR 315 000 in bribes to Greek officials to secure contracts for the construction of a metro line.

Gerd Becht, Member of the Management Board of DB responsible for Compliance, Privacy and Legal Affairs, made clear that the company had drawn their conclusions and decided to pull out of countries assessed to have high risk of corruption.

Over 30 officials of DBI were fired, including directors and project managers.

The company initiated lawsuits against 10 former officials of DBI.

The prosecuting authority in Frankfurt is investigating 37 people, almost all of them former DBI staff.

Rwanda Among Corruption-Ridden Countries | Deutsche Bahn.


Deutsche Bahn to Suspend Operations in Corruption-Ridden Countries

World | June 18, 2013, Tuesday| 257 views
Suddeutsche Zeitung reported on Tuesday that DB was withdrawing from Greece, Algeria, Libya, Rwanda and Thailand due to the corruption risk. Photo by EPA/BGNES

German railway company Deutsche Bahn, DB, is suspending operations in a number of countries with high levels of corruption.

Suddeutsche Zeitung reported on Tuesday that DB was withdrawing from Greece, Algeria, Libya, Rwanda and Thailand due to the corruption risk.

The decision of the German railway giant was explained with findings of the prosecuting authority in Frankfurt that that DB International, a subsidiary of DB, had been paying bribes in a number of countries to secure contracts for consultancy and planning for railway projects.

According to the German daily, DB International paid EUR 315 000 in bribes to Greek officials to secure contracts for the construction of a metro line.

Gerd Becht, Member of the Management Board of DB responsible for Compliance, Privacy and Legal Affairs, made clear that the company had drawn their conclusions and decided to pull out of countries assessed to have high risk of corruption.

Over 30 officials of DBI were fired, including directors and project managers.

The company initiated lawsuits against 10 former officials of DBI.

The prosecuting authority in Frankfurt is investigating 37 people, almost all of them former DBI staff.

Rwanda Social Security Fund: OPEN LETTER TO HIS EXCELLENCY PAUL KAGAME, PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF RWANDA


Rwanda Social Security Fund:OPEN LETTER TO HIS EXCELLENCY PAUL KAGAME, PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF RWANDA

logo

Dear Sir, I write to draw your attention to an urgent matter, namely, our country's social security fund.

Your Excellency, as I am now approaching retirement, I am attempting to establish the state of our social security fund. As old age sets in Sir, I find I am suddenly very interested not ony in pension payouts, but also on the portfolios in which my money is invested.

Sir, the small matter I am raising and pray for your intervention, is that almost all basic information is not available on the website of Rwanda Social Security Board (RSSB). Most embarrassingly, Excellency, it is stated on the website that our investments, assets, revenues, expenditure and income obtained from the different ventures are available. It is further state that RSSB "believes in transparency," and that this why they "want to share our investment portfolio" with us their clients. But Sir, there is no information on any aspect of our money. RSSB's definition of transparency seems to be that "they are so transparent that there is nothing to see."

Your Excellency, knowing how you value your clean record of zero tolerance for corruption, you need to deal with these RSSB bureaucrats whose actions may tarnish your good name. You see Sir, some evil-minded people might conclude that part of the reason all data is missing from RSSB website is because the agency is protecting higher authorities who have abused our social security money.
I even heard somebody name you as the main culprit – God forbid Sir!

To make matters worse, Your Excellency, when we visit the website of the National Social Security Fund in our neighbouring sister Republic of Uganda, all the data is displayed. And you know how very corrupt these people are Sir. This comparison paints us, Mr President, in very bad light. People will begin to say that our Government is hiding things and is therefore more corrupt than even Uganda's. Can you imagine that Sir?

In conclusion, Your Excellency, let me advise you to advise or rather order the RSSB to quickly put data on its website. It does not matter if the data is fake Sir. RSSB is also welcome to lie to us that the reason the data was previously missing was due to server-breakdown. This way Sir your legendary moral reputation will remain intact, and we will outshine the Ugandans again in good governance.

In the end, as a patriotic Rwandan, I care more about your reputation Sir than even receiving my pension. Where would we be without you Sir?

I remain your most humble servant.

Karoli Mutarambirwa

Rwanda Social Security Fund: OPEN LETTER TO HIS EXCELLENCY PAUL KAGAME, PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF RWANDA


Rwanda Social Security Fund:OPEN LETTER TO HIS EXCELLENCY PAUL KAGAME, PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF RWANDA

logo

Dear Sir, I write to draw your attention to an urgent matter, namely, our country's social security fund.

Your Excellency, as I am now approaching retirement, I am attempting to establish the state of our social security fund. As old age sets in Sir, I find I am suddenly very interested not ony in pension payouts, but also on the portfolios in which my money is invested.

Sir, the small matter I am raising and pray for your intervention, is that almost all basic information is not available on the website of Rwanda Social Security Board (RSSB). Most embarrassingly, Excellency, it is stated on the website that our investments, assets, revenues, expenditure and income obtained from the different ventures are available. It is further state that RSSB "believes in transparency," and that this why they "want to share our investment portfolio" with us their clients. But Sir, there is no information on any aspect of our money. RSSB's definition of transparency seems to be that "they are so transparent that there is nothing to see."

Your Excellency, knowing how you value your clean record of zero tolerance for corruption, you need to deal with these RSSB bureaucrats whose actions may tarnish your good name. You see Sir, some evil-minded people might conclude that part of the reason all data is missing from RSSB website is because the agency is protecting higher authorities who have abused our social security money.
I even heard somebody name you as the main culprit – God forbid Sir!

To make matters worse, Your Excellency, when we visit the website of the National Social Security Fund in our neighbouring sister Republic of Uganda, all the data is displayed. And you know how very corrupt these people are Sir. This comparison paints us, Mr President, in very bad light. People will begin to say that our Government is hiding things and is therefore more corrupt than even Uganda's. Can you imagine that Sir?

In conclusion, Your Excellency, let me advise you to advise or rather order the RSSB to quickly put data on its website. It does not matter if the data is fake Sir. RSSB is also welcome to lie to us that the reason the data was previously missing was due to server-breakdown. This way Sir your legendary moral reputation will remain intact, and we will outshine the Ugandans again in good governance.

In the end, as a patriotic Rwandan, I care more about your reputation Sir than even receiving my pension. Where would we be without you Sir?

I remain your most humble servant.

Karoli Mutarambirwa

La diaspora de Bruxelles soutient la proposition tanzanienne d’un dialogue « inter rwandais »


LA DIASPORA DE BRUXELLES SOUTIENT LA PROPOSITION TANZANIENNE D'UN DIALOGUE « INTER RWANDAIS »

Ils étaient environ 200 personnes à avoir répondu le samedi 15 juin 2013 à un appel des associations des sociétés civiles rwandaise, ougandaise et congolaise en Europe, et les partis politiques d'opposition rwandais, visant à manifester à Bruxelles pour soutenir la proposition du président tanzanien d'un dialogue large dans la Région des Grands Lacs, et en particulier entre la RDC et le M23, le Rwanda et les FDLR, l'Ouganda et l'ADF-NALU.

Lors de l'ouverture du 21ème sommet de l'Union africaine le 26 mai dernier à Addis-Abeba, le président tanzanien, Jakaya Kikwete, avait proposé, en vue d'une résolution durable de la crise dans l'Est de la RDC, des négociations entre les différents protagonistes, y compris entre le Rwanda et les FDLR et entre l'Ouganda et l'ADF-NALU. Une proposition que le régime de Kigali a rejetée en bloc.

Dans ce cadre, a eu lieu à Bruxelles ce 15/06/2013 une manifestation pour le soutien à cette proposition du président tanzanien, « seule solution pour une paix globale et durable dans la Région des Grands Lacs d'Afrique et plus particulièrement au Rwanda et au Congo », disaient les organisateurs. Ces derniers, notamment le Centre de Lutte contre l'Impunité et l'Injustice au Rwanda (CLIIR), soulignent que « la démarche ne vise pas à soutenir un homme en tant que tel mais une idée, une vision ».

Les manifestants se sont réunis à 12h30 devant l'Université Libre de Bruxelles sur l'avenue Franklin Roosevelt et le cortège composé principalement de Rwandais, Congolais et Burundais s'est dirigé vers l'ambassade de la Tanzanie à quelques mètres de là, où une délégation de la société civile et des partis politiques de l'opposition a été reçue par l'ambassadeur tanzanien à Bruxelles. Un mémorandum circonstanciel a été transmis à l'ambassadeur qui a promis de le transmettre « personnellement » au président Jakaya Kikwete, déterminé à œuvrer pour une paix durable et globale dans la région.

« PAS DE PAIX DURABLE DANS LA REGION SANS DIALOGUE » DIT KIKWETE

Pour le président tanzanien, dont le pays contribue largement à la brigade d'intervention des Nations Unies qui va être déployée à l'Est de la RDC dans les jours à venir, « cette brigade est une bonne chose, mais n'aura aucun impact si le dialogue ne s'ouvre pas, non seulement entre le gouvernement congolais et le M23, mais aussi entre le Rwanda et les Forces Démocratiques de Libération du Rwanda (FDRL) » a déclaré Jakaya Kikwete à Addis-Abeba le 26 mai dernier.

Cette initiative du président tanzanien a été accueillie très positivement par les associations des sociétés civiles rwandaise, ougandaise et congolaise en Europe, et les partis politiques d'opposition rwandaise, qui disent estimer que cette démarche est un pas inéluctable, car elle conduirait « au dialogue à tous les niveaux y compris à l'ouverture de l'espace politique intérieur verrouillé par le parti-Etat FPR (Front Patriotique Rwandais) de Paul Kagame depuis son accession au pouvoir par les armes en 1994 ».

La proposition de Kitwete a suscité également un enthousiasme dans les milieux congolais, dont le pays paie un lourd tribut des conflits qui ravagent la région depuis plusieurs années. « Le plan Kikwete apporte ses nouveautés opérationnelles qui devront désormais intégrer des négociations à envisager entre les pouvoirs des pays à problèmes avec leurs propres fils, rebelles ou non », relevait un article repris sur le site 7sur7.cd.

KIGALI S'OPPOSE

Cependant, si à la proposition de la Tanzanie, le président ougandais Museveni s'est déclaré prêt à « discuter avec ceux qui veulent discuter et isoler les autres », le régime de Kigali en a apposé une fin de non recevoir. Sa ministre des Affaires étrangères, Louise Mushikiwabo, a qualifié d' « aberrante » la main tendue du Président Kikwete.

Après des jours de silence, l'homme fort du Rwanda, le Général Paul Kagame a profité de la cérémonie de graduation de 45 officiers de l'école militaire de Nyakinama (Nord), le lundi le 10 juin, pour faire un bref commentaire à la proposition de son homologue tanzanien. « (…) J'ai préféré garder le silence car ça (les propos de Kitwete NDRL) ne méritait pas un commentaire. Il (Kitwete NDRL) parlait pour ne rien dire, c'est un inculte (Injiji) et négationniste, je préfère le laisser dans son négationnisme (Ingengabitekerezo) ».

Suite à cette proposition, les relations entre les deux voisins sont désormais glaciales. Ibuka, l'influente organisation des survivants du génocide, a parlé d'« insulte » et somme Kikwete de se rétracter sous peine de « saboter » par avance l'action de la force d'intervention rapide en cours de déploiement dans l'Est de la RDC, et qui sera dirigée par un général tanzanien.

Quant au refus de Kigali de négocier avec les FDRL, les commentaires vont bon train. Si certains trouvent que le gouvernement de Kigali a complètement raison de ne pas parler avec ceux qu'il ne cesse de qualifier de « terroristes, génocidaires », d'autres voient dans ce refus, une ferme volonté du régime, fermé à tout dialogue avec l'opposition.

« Si Kagame ne veut pas négocier avec les FDRL, accepte-t-il au moins de négocier avec l'opposition non armée ? » se demande un commentateur sur un forum de la diaspora Rwandais en Belgique. « C'est devenu la règle pour les pouvoirs dictatoriaux de chercher à décrédibiliser l'opposition, pour justifier le rejet de dialogue avec elle.

Pour Kadhafi, ses opposants armés étaient des « rats », des « chiens ». « Quant à l'opposition syrienne, ce n'est que des « terroristes » pour Bachar Al-Assad. Il n'y a rien d'étonnant donc d'entendre Kagame traiter ses opposants de terroristes, génocidaires, négationnistes», souligne un autre commentateur sur le forum.

-“The root cause of the Rwandan tragedy of 1994 is the long and past historical ethnic dominance of one minority ethnic group to the other majority ethnic group. Ignoring this reality is giving a black cheque for the Rwandan people’s future and deepening resentment, hostility and hatred between the two groups.”

-« Ce dont j’ai le plus peur, c’est des gens qui croient que, du jour au lendemain, on peut prendre une société, lui tordre le cou et en faire une autre ».

-“The hate of men will pass, and dictators die, and the power they took from the people will return to the people. And so long as men die, liberty will never perish.”

-“I have loved justice and hated iniquity: therefore I die in exile.

-“The price good men pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men.”

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