Good People,
Atleast someone was able to stand up to
tell Kagame off. He had played a beast in sheep’s skin, responsible for killing
and rapping innocent Congo women and children and destroying Congo for his
selfishness and greed.
Kagame should be taken to ICC Hague to
clear his name against Congo killings and destructions. He is the reason Bosco
did what he did to terrorize Congo with illegal Rebel groups of his making putting
stupid unreasonable demands to Congo.
It is unacceptable and Kudos to Pres.
Kikwete, he did Africa proud........
Judy Miriga
Diaspora Spokesperson
Executive Director
Confederation Council Foundation for Africa Inc.,
USA http://socioeconomicforum50.blogspot.com
Diaspora Spokesperson
Executive Director
Confederation Council Foundation for Africa Inc.,
USA http://socioeconomicforum50.blogspot.com
ICC Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda answers your questions on Bosco
Ntaganda and Kenyan cases
Published on Mar 22, 2013
International Criminal Court Prosecutor, Fatou
Bensouda says it's a good day for victims in the Democratic Republic of Congo -
after the transfer of rebel leader Bosco Ntaganda to the Hague and earlier this
week we saw efforts by lawyers of Kenya's president-elect, Uhuru Kenyatta, to
have his ICC case reviewed. And there've been questions over the witnesses in
the cases relating to Kenya's post-election violence in early 2008. In an
exclusive interview with the BBC's Anna Holligan - the ICC Prosecutor began by
explaining the significance of Ntaganda's surrender - for the Congolese
people.
Rebel leader Bosco Ntaganda surrenders in Rwanda
One of Africa's most wanted warlords has
surrendered. Rwandan-born Bosco Ntaganda led a faction of the M23 rebels in DR
Congo, and has been on the run for a year.
He walked into the US embassy in Rwanda's capital, Kigali, and asked to be taken to the International Criminal Court. The court accuses him of crimes against humanity.
Al Jazeera's Nazanine Moshiri reports.
Source, credit to Aljazeera- http://www.aljazeera.com/video
FAIR USE NOTICE: This video has been posted to further advance our understanding of environmental, political, human rights, economic, Technological, democratic, scientific, and social justice issues which constitutes a "fair use" of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107 for research and educational purposes.
He walked into the US embassy in Rwanda's capital, Kigali, and asked to be taken to the International Criminal Court. The court accuses him of crimes against humanity.
Al Jazeera's Nazanine Moshiri reports.
Source, credit to Aljazeera- http://www.aljazeera.com/video
FAIR USE NOTICE: This video has been posted to further advance our understanding of environmental, political, human rights, economic, Technological, democratic, scientific, and social justice issues which constitutes a "fair use" of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107 for research and educational purposes.
Any WARLORD watching this.... This is your fate for crimes against
humanity since the ICC set up in 2005 !!!
--- On Sat, 6/1/13, Abdalah Hamis
From: Abdalah Hamis
Subject: [wanabidii] Rwanda’s reaction to Pres. Kikwete’s statement is shochking
To: "Wanabidii"
Date: Saturday, June 1, 2013, 10:34 AM
Subject: [wanabidii] Rwanda’s reaction to Pres. Kikwete’s statement is shochking
To: "Wanabidii"
Date: Saturday, June 1, 2013, 10:34 AM
RWANDA’S REACTION TO PRESIDENT
KIKWETE’S
STATEMENT IS SHOCKING TO SAY THE
LEAST!
On
26 May 2013 in Addis Ababa the UN Secretary General, Mr. Ban Ki-moon and the
Chairperson of the African Union Commission Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, convened
the first meeting of the Regional Oversight Mechanism of the Peace, Security and
Cooperation Framework for the DRC and Region.
It
was at this important meeting where the President of the United Republic of
Tanzania, H.E. Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete made what many level headed commentators
have referred to as candid and commonsensical remarks about the protracted
conflicts in the Great Lakes Region.
President
Kikwete - a seasoned and consummate diplomat who has helped broker many peace
deals in Africa - remarked that it was high time Rwanda and Uganda gave serious
attention to peace talks with FDLR and
ADF
rebels respectively.
He
said, and correctly so, that it was evident the barrel of the gun cannot bring
about the ultimate answer as testified by the recurrence of fighting in our
region. He never condoned the role that the FDLR rebels played in the 1994
genocide. He was being reasonable and pragmatic.
Rwanda
should know better than any other country that there is no way Tanzania would
condone or sympathize with the perpetrators of genocide. To make such
insinuations is, quite frankly, a demonstration of breathtaking ignorance about
Tanzania’s enviable and unparalleled history - the history of speaking out
against any forms of crimes and injustices. Moreover, for Rwanda to make such
insinuations is to show just what a short memory span this country
has.
Admittedly,
genocide brought about painful and unforgettable misery to the people of Rwanda
but its spillover effects were felt well beyond its borders. The effects of
genocide were felt right inside Tanzania which had to shoulder the burden of
providing for thousands of Rwandan refugees.
By
the way, Tanzania has a long history of taking good care of Rwandan refugees
both before and after genocide. The sons and daughters of the Rwandan refugees
benefitted from Tanzania’s generous education system by studying, for free, at
the country’s Universities and many of them are now occupying high positions in
the Government of their motherland.
So
given the foregoing, I have to say that I have been taken aback by our
neighbors’ over-reaction to what was a completely innocuous statement by
President Kikwete. Indeed, what the President said could (and should) have been
said by other leaders a long time ago. What he said is a no-brainer!
It
is commonsensical! Negotiations have a much better chance of resulting into
durable peace than the use of force. Thus, I find the reactions from Rwanda not
only disturbing but also objectionable and utterly impudent! What is even more
shocking is the discourteous behavior shown by the Rwanda’s Foreign Minister.
She
seems to be getting too much big for her boots as to suggest that President
Kikwete’s statement was absurd! She even has the audacity to ask that he should
retract it. If anything, I think it is our Foreign Ministry which should summon
the Ambassador of Rwanda in Dar es Salaam and ask him to clarify his Minister’s
inadvisable utterances.
For
far too long now the international community has adopted a softly softly
approach with respect to Rwanda and this has meant that this tiny country gets
away with literally everything, even murder. Rwanda has become like a spoiled
child - untouchable and overly sensitive to everything even the slightest
suggestion of censure. Rwanda has a tendency of not taking kindly any form of
criticism whether from within or without. And its leadership comes across as
snobbish and delusional. May be the western countries’ plaudits about its so
called success story have finally got into the heads of Rwandan leaders so much
that they think they know it all.
For
Rwanda to say that they cannot engage in talks with FDLR rebels because of their
role in 1994 genocide is to allow themselves to be the captives of the past.
History is replete with numerous instances of former sworn enemies burying their
hatchets and extending an olive branch to one another for the sake of peaceful
coexistence and future prosperity. This happened in South Africa where ANC and
other progressive movements sat down with the perpetrators of one of the most
brutal and inhumane policies in the history of mankind (apartheid) and agreed to
work together in an inclusive and democratic society. Similarly, after many
decades of committing some of the most heinous crimes against the people of
Angola, UNITA is now part of the democratic government of that country. And in
2011, US and its allies initiated direct talks with some elements of the Taliban
in Doha (Qatar), if my memory serves me well.
Rwanda
should wake up and smell the coffee! Being delusional has not worked and won’t
work. It is now close to 20 yrs since the 1994 genocide and during all that time
Rwanda has not been able to achieve its objectives visa vis FDLR rebels through
the use of force. Any sane person in Kigali should see the wisdom of changing
the tactic/strategy which is, for all purposes and intents, what our President
said in the Statement. Rwanda should understand that by calling for direct
talks, Tanzania does not suggest, by any stretch of imagination, that the
architects and executors of genocide should go scot free. Not at all! Talks can,
and indeed should, offer the mechanism of dealing with known perpetrators of
genocide by isolating them from non-perpetrators such as those born after 1994.
This is just one example of approaching talks. I am sure there are many
others.
But
talking of genocide, am I wrong in recalling that even President Kagame himself
was once found to be complicit in this crime by a French Magistrate? I recall
that Rwanda’s reaction to this finding was, as we have come to expect, fast and
furious to the extent of severing its diplomatic relations with France. Again,
this goes to show that this “spoiled child” can’t stand any sort of censure or
straight talking. I also recall that as recent as last year a UN report revealed
that Rwanda’s Kagame had committed or assisted in committing genocide in
DRC!
Despite
all this compelling evidence, neighbors of Rwanda are still ready to engage that
country in talks. Why can’t Rwanda show the same attitude? And lest he forgets,
Kagame himself and his RPF henchmen come from a background of rebellion. They
were rebels operating from Ugandan forests before taking over power in 1994.
However, despite their “rebels” status they were invited and took part in the
Arusha peace process of the early 1990s.
Finally,
I have a gut feeling that Rwanda doesn’t want FDLR rebels to go away that’s is
why it is vehemently opposing the suggestion of talks which is one sure way of
ending this conflict once and for all. This because, the perpetual presence of
FDLR rebels in DRC gives Rwanda a convenient excuse to interfere in the DRC’s
affairs thereby making the country ungovernable for its own economic and
geopolitical interests. I read somewhere that Rwanda’s army – which is one of
the biggest for a country of that economy and size - is mainly sustained by the
exploitation of DRC’s natural resources. So, Rwanda goes into the DRC on the
pretext that it is in hot pursuit of the FDLR rebels but in actual fact what it
does is to plunder the resources.
And
Rwanda is particularly angry with Tanzania because by being part of MONUSCO in
DRC, its misdeeds will be exposed and curtailed by our non-nonsense troops. So
the over-reaction to our President’s innocuous statement should not be seen in
isolation. It is part of the frustration born out of the uneasy situation which
Rwanda finds itself in as a result of our troops being part of the UN/SADC
intervention force in DRC.
I
submit.
Concerned
Citizen
Email: ecu@un.org
On May 26, at the AU summit in Addis Ababa, Tanzania’s President JakayaKikwete made a statement that will go down in history as the wisest ever. Speaking during the meeting for the parties concerned by the regional Peace Security and Cooperation Framework for the Democratic Republic of Congo, President Kikwete urged local Governments to address issues they have with armed opponents, including the Rwanda’s FDLR based in Congo.
Parution: Saturday 1 June 2013, 02:43
Par:Professor Charles Kambanda
Open Letter of support to president
Kikwete’s wise statement on
Rwanda’s FDLR
Tanzania is the main contributors to the
3,069 peacekeepers of the UN international brigade of intervention aimed at
targeting rebel groups operating in Eastern Congo including M23.
UN Secretary General
Email: ecu@un.org
May 29, 2013
RE: OPEN LETTER OF SUPPORT TO PRESIDENT KIKWETE’S WISE STATEMENT ON
RWANDA’S FDLR AT 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF AFRICAN UNITY, ADDIS ABABA
On May 26, at the AU summit in Addis Ababa, Tanzania’s President JakayaKikwete made a statement that will go down in history as the wisest ever. Speaking during the meeting for the parties concerned by the regional Peace Security and Cooperation Framework for the Democratic Republic of Congo, President Kikwete urged local Governments to address issues they have with armed opponents, including the Rwanda’s FDLR based in Congo.
We, The Rwandan Dream Youth Worldwide, wish to ask the UN to support Hon.
Kikwete’s statement and call for negotiations between the Rwandan Government and
the FDLR in order to put an end to the sufferance caused by two decades
conflict.
Since it came to power in the wake of the 1994 genocide, Paul Kagame’s
Government focused on wiping out the Hutu rebels who desperately took up arms
after the massacre of hundreds of thousands of refugees by the Rwandan army in
the forests of Congo. We have to make it clear that the settlement of the FDLR
issue is an absolute prerequisite to secure stability in the East of
Congo.
In order to achieve and sustain peaceful cohabitation between DRC and
Rwanda, it is crucial to address once for all the issue of the Rwandan refugees
who are still on Congo’s soil. The troubling fact is that the Rwandan Government
is enthusiast to the cause of Kinyarwanda speaking Tutsi Congolese claiming to
be excluded in their own country while the same government keeps ignoring the
issue of Rwandan refugees who have spent decades in wretched conditions in
DRC.
Thousands of Rwandan refugees are reluctant to return due to political
intolerance prevailing in the country. Opposition politicians, human rights
activists and journalists are permanently in danger of being murdered, put in
jail or forced to exile.
In our opinion, it is not possible to address Congo’s M23 issue and ignore
Rwanda’s FDLR issue. We are convinced that Hon. Kikwete’s statement could be a
stepping-stone to a stronger commitment from all the stakeholders. Tanzania has
always been part of all processes meant to bring peace, justice and democracy to
Rwanda, that is why we urge the UN to consider talks between Rwandans hosted by
Tanzania.
Faithfully.
The Rwandan Dream Youth
Cc
- Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)
- EAC Heads of States
- The President of the United States of America
- The African Union
- East African Legislative Assembly (EALA)
- All Embassies Accredited to Rwanda
- The National Assembly of Tanzania
- The Rwanda Civil Society Platform
- Ibuka
In response to the Tanzanian president Kikwete’s statement on Sunday May
26th 2013 on the right way forward for sustainable peace in the Great Lakes
region, Kigali’s regime of president Paul Kagame has become hysterical. Two
examples of such subsequent attitudes are 1) the fact that it is resorting to
lies as usual to avoid addressing the root causes of the regional and persistent
instability; 2) it is diverting attention by naming and shaming anyone
supportive of that new rational approach to the pending question which is
hindering overall development of the region. Understandably, having built its
policies on lies for almost the last twenty years in power, if the foundations
of Kagame’s regime had to change in that new logical direction, it would be its
end. That is what explains the hysteria about possible talks between Kigali and
FDLR.
The lies in one of such examples, which is a letter written by Alice Umutoni, Vice Coordinator of the organizing
committee of the 19th Commemoration of the Genocide against Tutsi in Rwanda in
the U.S.A., are many but a selection was here made to make a point.
Probably the author who addresses the letter to Barack Obama demanding the
American president to review his state visit to Tanzania following Kikwete’s
statement thinks that people have very short memory.
The UN Mapping Report published in October 2010 explains that instead of
the millions of Congolese she alleges FDLR might have killed, the latter has
been protecting Hutu refugees in DRC who have been victims of RPF soldiers who
overall with other allied forces from Burundi and Uganda committed war crimes,
crimes against humanity and crimes of genocide nature if brought in front of a
court.
The open letter to the American president brings us as well an
argumentation based on a judiciary case related to the killing of innocent
Americans Rob Haubner and Susan Miller killed in Bwindi Forest in 1999, again
counting on people’s ignorance of facts on the Rwandan recent history.
The two Americans were killed in a staged crime by Kagame’s RPF at the
height of the war with Hutu rebels at the time with the aim of tarnishing their
image in the eyes of the US government.
Unfortunately for Kigali, the culprits that it produces as perpetrators of
the odious crime, once heard by the American judiciary, it was found out that
they had been tortured in Kami camp in Rwanda to accept the commission of the
crimes.
Rwanda’s incongruous response to Tanzanian
President Jakaya Kikwete proposal for
a political
solution to the
Congo crisis.
Parution: Saturday 1 June 2013, 02:43
Par:Professor Charles Kambanda
The
Addis Ababa Peace Security and
Cooperation Framework for the Democratic Republic of Congo signed in February of this year highlighted that the UN intervention
brigade meant to take on all armed groups in DRC must be backed by a politically
sustainable strategy. At the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the
Organization of African Unity, celebrated in Addis Ababa, the Tanzanian
President Jakaya Kikwete underscored the necessity of talks between the
governments of Rwanda, Uganda and DR Congo with the armed groups fighting these
governments from Congolese territory. In particular, the Tanzanian president
suggested that President Paul Kagame of Rwanda ought to hold direct talks with
the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Rwanda [FDLR], the Rwandan armed
rebel movement operating from the Congolese provinces of North Kivus. President
Kagame has adamantly rejected President Kikwete’s proposal.
The comical response from the Government of
Rwanda (GoR)
Rwanda’s foreign minister and the GoR spokesperson’s response was that
her government does not envisage talks with FDLR, a group her government refers
to as genocidaire (a group responsible for genocide). The survivors of
the Tutsi genocide associations, which are sponsored by Kagame’s government,
have condemned the Tanzanian president’s proposal citing the same reason. Some
of the Tutsi genocide survivors’ organizations have termed President Kikwete a
‘genocide denier’. It should be recalled that the traditional unresolved ethnic
conflict (between the Hutu and Tutsi) in Rwanda is the direct cause of the 1994
crimes of international concern including genocide against the Tutsi and the
1996/99 crimes of international concern including genocide against the Hutu in
Congo as documented by the UN Mapping Rapport.
Counter “genocide” accusation between the Hutu
and Tutsi
The
Rwanda Patriotic Front/Army (RPF/A) is a predominately Tutsi political and
military group. The Democratic Front for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) is a
predominately Hutu political and military group. In 1990, RPF/A attacked the
then Hutu-led government of Rwanda. The civil war between the predominately
Tutsi rebels and predominately Hutu government was characterized by horrific
crimes of international concern including genocide. Both sides used
international crimes, including genocide, as a military and political tool; to
weaken, demoralize and humiliate the ‘enemy’ as well as demonizing the ‘enemy’
for political triumph and international sympathy for ‘our’ group. Whichever side
would win the war, it was clear during the Rwandan ethnic civil war that the
victor would demonize the vanquished ‘enemy’. The Tutsi victors, led by Kagame,
did exactly that.
The
Tutsi won the civil war
RPF
wasted no time; they sought and received a UN resolution condemning the “Rwandan
genocide”. The UN set up an international tribunal, the ICTR in Arusha Tanzania,
to hold perpetrators of Rwandan genocide accountable. For political reasons, the
ICTR did not try any Tutsi perpetrator. RPF then set to ‘market’ their narrative
of the “Rwandan genocide”. The Hutu, the vanquished, were labeled evil,
perpetrators of the Tutsi genocide. The Tutsi were innocent victims. RPF/A made
it a taboo and illegal to mention the international crimes, including genocide,
RPF/A had committed against the Hutu in Rwanda and Congo. The vanquished Hutu
did not give up either. They created their force, FDLR. In essence, until 2005
when Kagame divide FDLR and “repatriated” some FDLR top commanders, FDLR was to
the Hutu what RPF/A was to the Tutsi. Either ethnic group needed an armed group
to protect their group against extermination.
Each ethnic group (Tutsi and Hutu) has
perpetrators and victims of international crimes, including
genocide
No
country in contemporary history has politicized and legitimized horrific crimes,
including genocide, like Rwanda. Both Tutsi and Hutu have extremists who are
ordinarily considered heroes for perpetrating horrendous crimes against the
‘enemy’ ethnic group on behalf of ‘our’ ethnic group. The insane ethnic ‘common
consciousness’ among ordinary Hutu and Tutsi legitimizes horrible crimes,
including genocide, against ‘our’ enemy. Each ethnic group has its “ethnic
crusaders”. The Rwandan “ethnic crusaders”, Tutsi or Hutu, can do or say
anything to sustain and market their ethnic narrative no matter how ridiculous
and false their narrative might be. Rwanda’s political culture operates on the
axis that the victor takes it all and their narrative becomes the oppressive law
and biased story/history. Today it is the Tutsi in power and their narrative
prevails. For over thirty years prior to 1994, it was the Hutu in power, their
narrative prevailed.
Propaganda aside, each side has stinking criminals
(devils) and innocent people (good guys). If Kagame cannot negotiate with the
Hutu rebels because the Hutu rebels are accused of genocide … because the ICC
indicted the leader of the Hutu rebels (FDLR) … then Kagame puts his own alleged
crimes in issue.
First,
Kagame and his RPF/A top commanders have been indicted by both Spanish and
French courts, for crimes of international concern including terrorism and
genocide against the Hutu. Second, the former International Criminal Tribunal
for Rwanda (ICTR) prosecutor concluded investigations into a significant number
of the Tutsi RPF/A top commanders’ international crimes. Kagame himself was
investigated for international crimes. The ICTR prosecutor was prepared to
prosecute Kagame and some of his RPF/A top commanders for international crimes
and ‘possibly genocide’ against the Hutu. President Bush, then Kagame’s buddy,
ordered the ICC not to prosecute Kagame because that would create a diplomatic
crisis between USA and Rwanda (Kagame), a “strategic” US ally in the region.
Third, the United Nations Mapping Report has detailed international crimes,
including, possible genocide, against the Hutu that Kagame and his troops
allegedly committed in Congo against Rwandan Hutu refugees. Kagame himself is a
suspect of the same international crimes. Apparently, Kagame has no moral
authority to condemn the same crimes he allegedly committed and are well
documented. Kagame is praised for having stopped the Tutsi genocide. However, he
allegedly perpetrated genocide against the Hutu.
Demonizing
the “other” ethnic group for political survival
An
ordinary Hutu or Tutsi does not recognize the ‘other’ ethnic group (Hutu or
Tutsi) as legitimate and equal holder of rights and freedoms. The ethnic group
leaders in power always use State apparatus to oppress and exclude the “other’
ethnic group. Kagame’s ruling ethnic clique feels insecure about the “other”
ethnic group. Demonizing the oppressed ethnic group is a psychological catalyst
to justify elimination and exclusion of the “wrong” ethnic group’s access to the
country’s limited resources, as equal stakeholders. Kagame has successfully
demonized the Hutu, the vanquished, with the “genocide” brand name. Proposing
direct talks with FDLR is like “robbing” Kagame of his political survival tool.
Kagame would stop at nothing to resist any call for him to talk peace with his
political and ethnic foes; Hutu, Tutsi and/or Twa.
The
argument that FDLR is a group of people that committed genocide is probably
false
All
FDLR founders and first top commanders, until around 2005, “renounced” the Hutu
rebellion. They all serve in Kagame’s government now. These commanders were
never prosecuted or given amnesty. Kagame insists the FDLR founders who accepted
to join his government are innocent. It follows, therefore, that Kagame’s
concern with FDLR is not genocide. Kagame is scared of the military capacity of
FDLR which remains one of the few serious threat to his dictatorship. If the
founders of FDLR and its top commanders are not guilty of genocide, how does
Kagame explain that FDLR is a group of ‘genocidaires’? There is no known
criminal law theory to justify the” FDLR genocidaire” theory as Kagame claims.
In Kagame’s social-political paradigm, FDLR signifies a Hutu armed rebellion
which threatens his monopoly of power and authority. The ICC has indicted the
top FDLR commander, Gen. Mudacumura. However, Gen. Mudacumura was not indicted
for genocide. If FDLR has committed genocide, as Kagame insists, why didn’t the
Rwandan government hand over evidence for genocide to the ICC for Mudacumura to
be indicted for genocide?
It
is evident that Kagame’s “hypersensitivity” to the Tanzanian leader’s proposal
is a defense mechanism, motivated by his fear for what would happen to his Tutsi
clique if he is forced to share power with his political and ethnic foes.
Conclusion
President Kikwete’s proposal is the only meticulous way to go for
sustainable peace in Congo. Kagame ought to accept direct talks with all his
political opponents including the Hutu rebels (FDLR). The government of Rwanda’s
hilarious response to president Kikwete’s proposal is regrettable but not
surprising. Kagame’s political survival is pegged on demonizing, assassinating
and imprisoning his political opponents. Genocide, an unfortunate crime Rwandans
have been subjected to, has been Kagame’s major tool for oppressing and
terrorizing Rwandans in general and political opponents in particular. Although
some people in FDLR could have committed genocide against the Tutsi, there is no
clear evidence to prove that FDLR as a group committed genocide.
In any case, Gen. Kagame is not a court of
law. Kagame himself, and a significant number of people in his Tutsi
clique-controlled government, are accused of horrible crimes, including
genocide, against the Hutu refugees in Congo. The Tanzanian government should
use its political and economic capacities to pressure Gen. Kagame into a
dialogue with his political opponents including FDLR
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