The Hard Truths We Must Swallow: Rwanda is Wreaking Havoc in Congo

http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/comment/88649

COMMENT & ANALYSIS

The Hard Truths We Must Swallow: Rwanda is Wreaking Havoc in Congo

Alice Gatebuke

2013-08-14, Issue 643

http://pambazuka.org/en/category/comment/88649

Printer friendly version

The government of Paul Kagame continues to relentlessly support, arm and command rebel groups such as the M23, which commit war crimes and human rights violations in Congo

The Rwandan Genocide was 19 years ago. Though the genocide ended in 1994, its consequences are still deeply felt today. For myself and other survivors, those memories are ever present. We have never forgotten the horrors we lived through as unimaginable violence overtook our country. We grapple with mixed emotions, trying to process and come to terms with today's reality. Our struggle has evolved from physical survival to that of the emotional turmoil caused by our trauma. Some days, we are grateful to be alive, to breathe, and to feel. Other days are fraught with anger, guilt, and sadness. We wrestle with endless, unanswerable questions. Many days we feel unworthy to be alive. We cannot comprehend why we are still alive and why many others perished. Why me, we wonder? Why not my family or friends? We wonder why we had to witness their demise and are angry because we felt so helpless. Try as we might, we can never reverse the darkest moments of our lives. We cannot undo the damage, no matter how hard we wish we could. The genocide was real, it happened, and we live with its consequences to this very day. I was a powerless child, but still, what if there was something I could have done? And what if it happened again?

It is precisely this fear of another genocide carried out by the perpetrators of the genocide of 1994 that motivated the current Rwandan government's first invasion of Congo in 1996. It is this fear that has sustained the Rwandan government's justification for repeated intervention in the Congo over the last 16 years. And it is precisely why the world continues to live with the consequences of the Rwandan Genocide. Even though as survivors of the Rwandan Genocide we understood the security the Rwandan government sought when they first invaded Congo, we did not sanction the human catastrophe they triggered. We did not sanction the torture, rape, and possible genocide of women, children, and the elderly that were targeted in Congo when the Rwandan Government sent troops inside of Congo for 'our protection'. And we certainly did not sanction the government of Rwanda's 'Six-Day War' against Uganda over a diamond mine inside Congo, leaving significant numbers of Congolese people dead, injured, and displaced. And even now, we do not sanction the violation of the United Nations arms embargo, undermining of peace deals and processes, and commanding proxy rebel groups who kill, torture, rape, and displace people, while illegally capturing cities in Congo. And most of all, we do not sanction any attempt to annex any part of Congo in our name.

Since the first invasion, more than five million people have died in Congo, making it the deadliest conflict since the Second World War. And many of those deaths lie at the hands of the Rwandan government. These are hard truths we must swallow. Not only must we come to terms with crimes that were committed against us, we must now deal with crimes committed in our names. These crimes are not simply committed in our names, the survivors of the Rwandan Genocide, but in the name of the entire global community that stands still, providing tacit approval. They are also committed for the same international community that justifies, excuses, and protects the Rwandan government, as it continues to wreak havoc in the Congo. Though we could not stop or stand up against the violent acts that were committed against us during the Rwandan genocide, we can and we must stop and stand up against crimes committed against others, crimes committed in our name in Congo. 

After sixteen years of invasion and intervention through proxy groups, it is still difficult for people in the international community to accept that the Rwandan government is guilty of anything but justified intervention in Congo. But members of the international community must look past the glowing economic reviews, look past the constant denials and well-oiled public relations machine, and deal with the hard truths. The Rwandan government is committing unspeakable crimes against humanity in the Congo under false pretenses, and we must stop it. U.S. President Barack Obama understood this when as senator, he authored and passed into law the Democratic Republic of Congo Relief, Security and Democracy Promotion Act, PL 109-456 in 2006 that called for accountability for those of Congo's neighbors that destabilize the country. And he understood it last summer when he cut $200,000 in military aid to Rwanda. And he understood it last December when he personally made a call to Rwandan President Paul Kagame and asked him to cease support of the M23 rebel group, currently wreaking havoc in Congo.

Despite all these steps from the Obama administration to address the conflict, the Rwandan government continues to relentlessly support, arm, and command rebel groups such as the M23, while these groups continue to commit war crimes and human rights violations in Congo. It is precisely because we refuse to swallow these hard truths that the Rwandan government continues to commit such atrocities unchallenged and with impunity. If we can muster the courage to face these truths, we can impose accountability measures consistent with the degree of suffering and instability wrought by the Rwandan government against the Congolese people. We can and we should sanction and impose travel bans on and freeze the assets of identified Rwandan military personnel responsible for committing atrocities in Congo. And we should cut or withhold military aid to a dangerous regime that wages and sponsors war and conflict in the territory of another nation. 

Survivors of the Rwandan Genocide mourned and commemorate the 19th anniversary of the genocide this past spring. As we commemorate our loved ones, we continue to grapple with traumas of our past, and issues of our present. Our responsibility lies in what we do with our future, and how we stand up to evil perpetrated against our neighbors. We, along with the rest of the world, must no longer refuse to swallow difficult and painful truths, and dedicate consistent focus and action towards resolving the deadliest conflict since the Second World War in Congo. 

* Alice Gatebuke is a Rwandan genocide and war survivor, Cornell University graduate, and a human rights activist. She is a co-founder of African Great Lakes Action Network (AGLAN).

---

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The Hard Truths We Must Swallow: Rwanda is Wreaking Havoc in Congo

http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/comment/88649

COMMENT & ANALYSIS

The Hard Truths We Must Swallow: Rwanda is Wreaking Havoc in Congo

Alice Gatebuke

2013-08-14, Issue 643

http://pambazuka.org/en/category/comment/88649

Printer friendly version

The government of Paul Kagame continues to relentlessly support, arm and command rebel groups such as the M23, which commit war crimes and human rights violations in Congo

The Rwandan Genocide was 19 years ago. Though the genocide ended in 1994, its consequences are still deeply felt today. For myself and other survivors, those memories are ever present. We have never forgotten the horrors we lived through as unimaginable violence overtook our country. We grapple with mixed emotions, trying to process and come to terms with today's reality. Our struggle has evolved from physical survival to that of the emotional turmoil caused by our trauma. Some days, we are grateful to be alive, to breathe, and to feel. Other days are fraught with anger, guilt, and sadness. We wrestle with endless, unanswerable questions. Many days we feel unworthy to be alive. We cannot comprehend why we are still alive and why many others perished. Why me, we wonder? Why not my family or friends? We wonder why we had to witness their demise and are angry because we felt so helpless. Try as we might, we can never reverse the darkest moments of our lives. We cannot undo the damage, no matter how hard we wish we could. The genocide was real, it happened, and we live with its consequences to this very day. I was a powerless child, but still, what if there was something I could have done? And what if it happened again?

It is precisely this fear of another genocide carried out by the perpetrators of the genocide of 1994 that motivated the current Rwandan government's first invasion of Congo in 1996. It is this fear that has sustained the Rwandan government's justification for repeated intervention in the Congo over the last 16 years. And it is precisely why the world continues to live with the consequences of the Rwandan Genocide. Even though as survivors of the Rwandan Genocide we understood the security the Rwandan government sought when they first invaded Congo, we did not sanction the human catastrophe they triggered. We did not sanction the torture, rape, and possible genocide of women, children, and the elderly that were targeted in Congo when the Rwandan Government sent troops inside of Congo for 'our protection'. And we certainly did not sanction the government of Rwanda's 'Six-Day War' against Uganda over a diamond mine inside Congo, leaving significant numbers of Congolese people dead, injured, and displaced. And even now, we do not sanction the violation of the United Nations arms embargo, undermining of peace deals and processes, and commanding proxy rebel groups who kill, torture, rape, and displace people, while illegally capturing cities in Congo. And most of all, we do not sanction any attempt to annex any part of Congo in our name.

Since the first invasion, more than five million people have died in Congo, making it the deadliest conflict since the Second World War. And many of those deaths lie at the hands of the Rwandan government. These are hard truths we must swallow. Not only must we come to terms with crimes that were committed against us, we must now deal with crimes committed in our names. These crimes are not simply committed in our names, the survivors of the Rwandan Genocide, but in the name of the entire global community that stands still, providing tacit approval. They are also committed for the same international community that justifies, excuses, and protects the Rwandan government, as it continues to wreak havoc in the Congo. Though we could not stop or stand up against the violent acts that were committed against us during the Rwandan genocide, we can and we must stop and stand up against crimes committed against others, crimes committed in our name in Congo. 

After sixteen years of invasion and intervention through proxy groups, it is still difficult for people in the international community to accept that the Rwandan government is guilty of anything but justified intervention in Congo. But members of the international community must look past the glowing economic reviews, look past the constant denials and well-oiled public relations machine, and deal with the hard truths. The Rwandan government is committing unspeakable crimes against humanity in the Congo under false pretenses, and we must stop it. U.S. President Barack Obama understood this when as senator, he authored and passed into law the Democratic Republic of Congo Relief, Security and Democracy Promotion Act, PL 109-456 in 2006 that called for accountability for those of Congo's neighbors that destabilize the country. And he understood it last summer when he cut $200,000 in military aid to Rwanda. And he understood it last December when he personally made a call to Rwandan President Paul Kagame and asked him to cease support of the M23 rebel group, currently wreaking havoc in Congo.

Despite all these steps from the Obama administration to address the conflict, the Rwandan government continues to relentlessly support, arm, and command rebel groups such as the M23, while these groups continue to commit war crimes and human rights violations in Congo. It is precisely because we refuse to swallow these hard truths that the Rwandan government continues to commit such atrocities unchallenged and with impunity. If we can muster the courage to face these truths, we can impose accountability measures consistent with the degree of suffering and instability wrought by the Rwandan government against the Congolese people. We can and we should sanction and impose travel bans on and freeze the assets of identified Rwandan military personnel responsible for committing atrocities in Congo. And we should cut or withhold military aid to a dangerous regime that wages and sponsors war and conflict in the territory of another nation. 

Survivors of the Rwandan Genocide mourned and commemorate the 19th anniversary of the genocide this past spring. As we commemorate our loved ones, we continue to grapple with traumas of our past, and issues of our present. Our responsibility lies in what we do with our future, and how we stand up to evil perpetrated against our neighbors. We, along with the rest of the world, must no longer refuse to swallow difficult and painful truths, and dedicate consistent focus and action towards resolving the deadliest conflict since the Second World War in Congo. 

* Alice Gatebuke is a Rwandan genocide and war survivor, Cornell University graduate, and a human rights activist. She is a co-founder of African Great Lakes Action Network (AGLAN).

---

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Umusirikare mukuru Liyetena Koloneli mu ngabo za Tanzaniya ukomoka mu Rwanda ngo yaba yatorokeye mu Rwanda n'amabanga menshi!

http://www.shikama.fr/umusirikare-mukuru-liyetena-koloneli-mu-ngabo-za-tanzaniya-ukomoka-mu-rwanda-ngo-yaba-yatorokeye-mu-rwanda-n-amabanga-menshi-/nkusi-joseph

Umusirikare mukuru Liyetena Koloneli mu ngabo za Tanzaniya ukomoka mu Rwanda ngo yaba yatorokeye mu Rwanda n'amabanga menshi!/Nkusi Joseph

by [[ Twandikire kuri: info@shikama.fr ]], mahoriwacu@gmail.com August 18 2013

Nyuma y'aho Kagame na Kikwete batangiriye iteranamagambo, urubuga Mpekuzihuru ruratangaza ko Abatanzaniya benshi batangiye kwibaza ku mutekano w'igihugu cyabo babihereye ko abanyarwanda benshi bari mu nzego z'ubutegetsi n'iza gisirikare.

Umunyarwanda umwe ngo wari warihishe mu ngabo za Tanzaniya ufite ipeti rya Liyetena Koloneli yaba amaze iminsi atorokeye i Kigali n'amabanga menshi. Mpekuzihuru iremeza ko uyu musirikare ngo amaze iminsi ataza ku kazi kandi ngo nta mpamvu.

Urubuga  Mtanzaniya narwo mu cyumweru gishize rwasohoye inkuru yitwa " Kagame yishingikirije iki?". Uru rubuga ngo rukaba rwarabwiraga Leta ya Tanzaniya ko hari intasi nyinshi za Kagame zihishe mu nzego z'ubutegetsi n'igisoda by'iki gihugu. Rwakomeje ruburira Tanzaniya ko nitareba neza izisama ijuru ryayiguye hejuru!

Amakuru ava muri Tanzaniya akaba avuga ko uyu musirikare  bagenzi be ngo bari bamaze iminsi bamukurikiranira hafi ku buryo nta kibazo kubura kwe byaba biteye. Umwe mu basoda waganiriye n'uru rubuga Mtanzaniya nawe yemeje ko gukurikiranira hafi uyu mwofisiye byatumye amabanga ya gisirikare adasoka.

" Nibyo koko, uyu mwofisiye amaze iminsi ataza ku kazi... iki kibazo cy'uko yariho akusanya amabanga ya gisirikare ngo ayashyire leta ya Kigali ndakeka ko cyatewe imboni hakiri kare n'ababishinzwe mu gisirikare."

Umuvugizi w'igisirikare cya Tanzaniya Meja Erick Komba, kuri telefoni yeigendanwa,  nawe yirinze kugira icyo atangaza avuga ko iki kibazo kitoroshye agomba kubanza kukivuganaho n'abamukuriye mu gisoda.

" Si ukubera ko nanga guha amakuru abenegihugu, iki kibazo kirakomeye ni uko mwebwe mutumva uburemere bwacyo. Kuki abasirikare benshi batoroka ntimubivuge! Ni ibisanzwe, hari abatorokera mu Rwanda n'abandi dufunga. Nimureke mbanze mvugane neza n'abankuriye maze muzaze ejo  ku wa mbere tuvugane mu biro byanjye."

Ibinyamakuru byinshi muri Tanzaniya biremeza ko Kagame yohereje za maneko nyinshi mu nzego z'ubutegetsi n'ubwa gisirikare muri Tanzaniya. Aha twabibutsa ko hari abasirikare ba RDF bamaze iminsi batorotse igisoda cya Kagame bashyize  hanze imigambi mibisha Kagame afitiye ibihugu bituranye n'icye. Ntimwibagirwe n'ubuhamya ba basore b'abanyarwanda baherutse guhunga urugamba muri RDC, batanze kuri BBC yerekeranye n'imigambi ya Kagame mu gutera Tanzaniya na RDC. Uyu musirikare ashobora kuba yafashwe na Tanzaniya hakurikijwe ayo makuru yatanzwe n'abo banyarwanda, bikaba bigaragara ko n'abandi benshi bazafatwa mu minsi iri imbere.

Mu gihe tukiri kuri iyi nkuru, twabibutsa ko Kagame ngo yaba yaranohereje abandi basoda 3000 muri RDC bo kuzagaba ibitero muri za Lubumbashi, Kinshasa na Kisangani mu gihe Goma yafashwe na RDF. Mu cyumweru gishize 2000 muri bariya bari bamaze gufatwa na Leta ya RDC.  Urubuga rwanyu Shikama rurakomeza kubakurikiranira ibiriho bibera muri RDC na Tanzaniya tutibagiwe no mu Rwanda.

 

Nkusi Joseph

Shikama.fr

http://www.inyenyerinews.org/amakuru-2/tanzanian-army-senior-officer-goes-awol-suspected-to-be-in-rwanda-with-confidential-information/

Tanzanian Army Senior Officer Goes AWOL: Suspected to be in Rwanda with Confidential Information

August 19, 2013 by Rwema IT Webmaster Leave a Comment

A high ranking army officer with the rank of Lt Col from the People's Defence Forces (TPDF), who is believed to be a native of Rwanda, has disappeared in controversial circumstances, leaving behind a cloud of doubt that his action might have been accompanied by loss of some useful information from the military.

It is reported that the officer who went AWOL is lieutenant colonel, but the TPDF agents are monitoring his movements, the news of the disappearance of this officer reached Tanzanian newspaper on Sunday for the first time even though he may have left Tanzania in the middle of the week.

 

Sources of reliability reported that, TPDF officers have already begun to closely monitor the extinction event for the officer, but with some concerns that the officer may have left with some sensitive and confidential information.

Before disappearing the officer who has played his movements in strict microscope TPDF agents, had been attached to a unit of military communications technologies (IT).

 

The disappearance of the officer only known of one name as Selumbo , has come just days after the emergence of the statements friction between the White House and the Dar es Salaam to Kigali.

 

Source of based tendon same words that defies and that conflict diplomacy, is the advice given by President Jakaya Kikwete President Paul Kagame for him to be willing to sit at a table by the rebel group FDLR fighting Rwanda, from the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC ).

 

Prepared based tendon same Kikwete and Kagame has begun mentioned by some of the curious things to be the first major threat of prosperity, stability and based on solidarity within the East African Community, which the two countries are its members.

 

A few days after that advice, Kagame was quoted by various media agencies in Rwanda was ridiculed Kikwete, even to the point of the speech that the direction of the threats against him.

 

Such statements caused President Paul Kagame, through his speech at the end of July, response, while stating clearly surprised and shocked by ridicule and insults that were directed to him.

 

Citing diplomatic words which are translated by some of the commentators on the issue of diplomacy and political science that carry a strong message, President Kikwete said he had heard all the rhetoric from Rwanda and did not have any intention had been neglected.

 

President Jakaya Kikwete such statements which repealed and that he made a few days in the region to ask illegal immigrants to leave the country, followed by one of Rwandans to leave the country estimated to exceed 5,000.

 

While the situation continues to be doubt and mistrust between Tanzania and Rwanda, in the middle of this week, a sister publication of Tanzania on Wednesday, was the big news with a headline that says, 'What kinamtia Violence Kagame?' Which, among other things, stated how people of Rwandan origin were sensitive vyojipenyeza in public institutions

 

Leak information back to Rwanda for thousands of illegal immigrants along with this current disappearance on TPDF officer confirms about the existence of the direction of the situation between the two countries.

 

Reliable information indicates that the officer is a native of Rwanda who has been working within the TPDF and who is presumed to be people who have close contact with the government of Rwanda, for purposes that has not evaporated to specify.

 

"It is true, that our officer has vanished  and I know the motive behind it … this issue that gathers confidential information of our military and bring Rwanda guess were discovered by our people who are in the military system," pointed out one of the providers of Tanzania Sunday .

 

TPDF Army spokes man, Major Erick Komba, when asked by this newspaper through his phone mobile to the truth of these reports, failed to accept or reject, in what he claims that it is heavy to answer so he should speak first with his officials before the case has been reported.

 

Major Komba explained that soldiers who escaped are many and some were imprisoned for the crime of disloyalty.

 

"Oh, this is a serious issue, I was afraid; you do not see it as a heavy thing? Not that I do not like people get information, give us time first issue we keep the 'analysis', why many soldiers escaped and you report! Waliotoroka many, others have fled to Rwanda and elsewhere and locked up.

 

"We must first speak to my bosses are nizungumzie this well … come to office on Monday (tomorrow)," said Major Komba.

 

Coincide with the event; more information captured by this newspaper noted demanded that now without a doubt about the presence of the Rwandan government agents allegedly planted in sensitive institutions and government departments for making ushushu in the interests of Rwanda.

 

It is alleged that the TPDF an intelligence-based and rooted in and out of the country noted earlier presence of Rwandan spies within the framework of the dollar and their movements have been Conduct established for a long time and situation.

Source: http://www.mpekuzihuru.com/2013/08/afisa-wa-jeshi-atorokea-rwanda-na-siri.html

Article translated from Swahili language

http://www.inyenyerinews.org/amakuru-2/tanzanian-army-senior-officer-goes-awol-suspected-to-be-in-rwanda-with-confidential-information/

Tanzanian Army Senior Officer Goes AWOL: Suspected to be in Rwanda with Confidential Information

August 19, 2013 by Rwema IT Webmaster Leave a Comment

A high ranking army officer with the rank of Lt Col from the People's Defence Forces (TPDF), who is believed to be a native of Rwanda, has disappeared in controversial circumstances, leaving behind a cloud of doubt that his action might have been accompanied by loss of some useful information from the military.

It is reported that the officer who went AWOL is lieutenant colonel, but the TPDF agents are monitoring his movements, the news of the disappearance of this officer reached Tanzanian newspaper on Sunday for the first time even though he may have left Tanzania in the middle of the week.

 

Sources of reliability reported that, TPDF officers have already begun to closely monitor the extinction event for the officer, but with some concerns that the officer may have left with some sensitive and confidential information.

Before disappearing the officer who has played his movements in strict microscope TPDF agents, had been attached to a unit of military communications technologies (IT).

 

The disappearance of the officer only known of one name as Selumbo , has come just days after the emergence of the statements friction between the White House and the Dar es Salaam to Kigali.

 

Source of based tendon same words that defies and that conflict diplomacy, is the advice given by President Jakaya Kikwete President Paul Kagame for him to be willing to sit at a table by the rebel group FDLR fighting Rwanda, from the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC ).

 

Prepared based tendon same Kikwete and Kagame has begun mentioned by some of the curious things to be the first major threat of prosperity, stability and based on solidarity within the East African Community, which the two countries are its members.

 

A few days after that advice, Kagame was quoted by various media agencies in Rwanda was ridiculed Kikwete, even to the point of the speech that the direction of the threats against him.

 

Such statements caused President Paul Kagame, through his speech at the end of July, response, while stating clearly surprised and shocked by ridicule and insults that were directed to him.

 

Citing diplomatic words which are translated by some of the commentators on the issue of diplomacy and political science that carry a strong message, President Kikwete said he had heard all the rhetoric from Rwanda and did not have any intention had been neglected.

 

President Jakaya Kikwete such statements which repealed and that he made a few days in the region to ask illegal immigrants to leave the country, followed by one of Rwandans to leave the country estimated to exceed 5,000.

 

While the situation continues to be doubt and mistrust between Tanzania and Rwanda, in the middle of this week, a sister publication of Tanzania on Wednesday, was the big news with a headline that says, 'What kinamtia Violence Kagame?' Which, among other things, stated how people of Rwandan origin were sensitive vyojipenyeza in public institutions

 

Leak information back to Rwanda for thousands of illegal immigrants along with this current disappearance on TPDF officer confirms about the existence of the direction of the situation between the two countries.

 

Reliable information indicates that the officer is a native of Rwanda who has been working within the TPDF and who is presumed to be people who have close contact with the government of Rwanda, for purposes that has not evaporated to specify.

 

"It is true, that our officer has vanished  and I know the motive behind it … this issue that gathers confidential information of our military and bring Rwanda guess were discovered by our people who are in the military system," pointed out one of the providers of Tanzania Sunday .

 

TPDF Army spokes man, Major Erick Komba, when asked by this newspaper through his phone mobile to the truth of these reports, failed to accept or reject, in what he claims that it is heavy to answer so he should speak first with his officials before the case has been reported.

 

Major Komba explained that soldiers who escaped are many and some were imprisoned for the crime of disloyalty.

 

"Oh, this is a serious issue, I was afraid; you do not see it as a heavy thing? Not that I do not like people get information, give us time first issue we keep the 'analysis', why many soldiers escaped and you report! Waliotoroka many, others have fled to Rwanda and elsewhere and locked up.

 

"We must first speak to my bosses are nizungumzie this well … come to office on Monday (tomorrow)," said Major Komba.

 

Coincide with the event; more information captured by this newspaper noted demanded that now without a doubt about the presence of the Rwandan government agents allegedly planted in sensitive institutions and government departments for making ushushu in the interests of Rwanda.

 

It is alleged that the TPDF an intelligence-based and rooted in and out of the country noted earlier presence of Rwandan spies within the framework of the dollar and their movements have been Conduct established for a long time and situation.

Source: http://www.mpekuzihuru.com/2013/08/afisa-wa-jeshi-atorokea-rwanda-na-siri.html

Article translated from Swahili language