[Since 1994, the world witnesses the horrifying reality : the Tutsi minority (14%) ethnic domination, the Tutsi minority ethnic rule, tyranny and corruption in Rwanda. The current government has been characterized by the total impunity of RPF criminals, the Tutsi economic monopoly, the Tutsi militaristic domination with an iron fist, and the brutal suppression of the rights of the majority of the Rwandan people (85% are Hutus), mass-arrests and mass-murder by the RPF criminal organization.
So long as justice and accountability for RPF past and current crimes are ignored and delayed, Peace and Stability will remain illusive and impossible in Rwanda=>ASIF]
Y ROBERT MUKOMBOZI
Perth, Australia
Rwanda entered the 2011 edition of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) with a fair share of shame.
The tiny east African country was put under pressure in the run up to CHOGM 2011 in Perth, Australia on accusations it was serious veering off course in terms of basic standards acceptable by the commonwealth League -both on human rights and democracy.
The Australian government made its position clear to the Rwandan President Paul Kagame that it was prepared to push Rwanda, and other countries accused of human rights violations and suppression of democratic values harder.
Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard said countries like Rwanda would be put under pressure to ensure they respect the value of human rights and democracy as a key requirement among commonwealth member countries.
The same message was sent to Kagame by the Australian Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd as well as Queen Elizabeth II, who stressed that commonwealth countries, uphold the fundamental standards and values of human rights and democracy for a better future of the commonwealth.
The Rwanda leader raised his profile while vouching for more opportunities for the African continent.
He said Africa needed to be given a fair increase in the share of global trade.
But as the Rwandan President Paul Kagame grappled to cope with the diplomatic backlash at the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting, Rwandans, Burundians and DR Congolese descended on Perth streets in droves to protest his participation at the meeting.
From Violation of human rights, muzzling of the opposition and media to rape and plunder of natural resources in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the battle for Rwanda’s positive outcomes was shrinking.
As the outcry of peaceful protesters rocked Perth, Rwanda’s membership in the commonwealth ended up getting shaken alongside Malaysia and Sri Lanka, whose President Mahinda Rajapaska actually survived an arrest attempt shot down by the Australian Attorney General.
The over 200 protestors chanted “Kagame is a killer”, “Kagame release political prisoners”, “Bring Kagame to justice for war crimes and crimes against humanity”. They also questioned the Rwandan leaders’ morality when he spends a whopping $20,000 on a hotel room per night while Rwandans live under $1 a day and the country dependent on +50% aid.
In fact, Mr Gervais Condo, the leader of Rwandan National Congress’ international relations Department said, it was time for the international community to put pressure on the Rwandan government to open up for political pluralism, press freedom and human rights.
“As RNC, we are urging the international community buddies to ensure that Rwanda upholds standards set by the commonwealth. We want President Paul Kagame to release all political prisoners, respect freedom of the press and stop forceful repatriation of refugees,” Mr Condo told a mammoth gathering of protesters at the Esplanade Friday.
The Rwanda National Congress and United Democratic Forces (UDF) also supported the Protests.
In Rwanda, leaders of political parties are languishing in prisons scattered around the country on fabricated charges of treason, inciting ethnic violence, sectarianism and genocide revisionism among other forms of vague accusations. They are currently imprisoned under cruel and inhumane conditions in Kigali.
Ms Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza, Mr Bernard Ntaganda, Mr. Deo Mushayidi, Mr Charles Ntakirutinka, Ms.Seraphine Mukamana are among the critical opposition voices that are perishing in prisons.
Military officers that have tried to promote democracy, the rule of law and political pluralism have also been exiled, particularly, former Chief of Staff Lt.Gen. Kayumba Nyamwasa (who survived an assassination attempt on 19th June 2010 in Johannesburg, South Africa) and former external intelligence chief Colonel Patrick Karegeya have been forced to flee the country.
Some like Col. Rugigana Ngabo have found a permanent place in jail without trial.
The media in Rwanda is also under attack. In July 2010, Mr. Jean-Léonard RUGAMBAGE, a journalist and critic of the government, was murdered.
Many newspapers that are critical of government have been forced to shut down journalists are now operating online from exile because of threats to their lives.
Such gross abuse of human rights and freedoms in Rwanda is what has raised concerns within the commonwealth, making the country a subject of the bloc’s monitoring system.
Now Prime ministers and presidents from 54 member states are considering a recommendation that a commissioner be appointed monitor human rights in countries especially Rwanda, Sri Lanka and Malaysia among others.
Analysts at the CHOGM 2011 meeting said Rwanda, Malaysia and Sri Lanka recorded the lowest mark on their scorecard, which may have forced Mr Kagame to cancel his meeting with the Rwandan diaspora at Hyatt Hotel in Perth.
He delegated his Ambassador to Australia and Japan, Dr Charles Murigande and Foreign Affairs Minister Louis Mushikiwabo to proceed with the meeting.
African SurViVors International (AS International) is an international nonpartisan charity organization devoted to defending human rights. It’s an organization working to promote democracy and national reconciliation, inside countries of the African Great lakes Region.
AS International centers its work on the twin concepts of freedom of self-determination and freedom from tyranny. These ideals include the belief that all human beings have the rights to speak freely, to associate with those of like mind, and to leave and enter their countries. Individuals in a free society must be accorded equal treatment and due process under law, and must have the opportunity to participate in the governments of their countries;
AS International’s ideals likewise find expression in the conviction that all human beings have the right to be free from arbitrary detainment or exile and from interference and coercion in matters of conscience. ASI does not support nor condone violence.
The Truth can be buried and stomped into the ground where none can see, yet eventually it will, like a seed, break through the surface once again far more potent than ever, and Nothing can stop it. Truth can be suppressed for a “time”, yet It cannot be destroyed. ==> Wolverine
