Kigali — President Paul Kagame, yesterday, took a swipe at Rwanda's foreign critics for trying to define what Rwandans want, assuring them that Rwandans have learnt from the past and they know what they want more than anyone else.
Addressing tens of thousands of people, including foreign dignitaries and diplomatic corps who gathered at Amahoro National Stadium, to commemorate for the 16th time, the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, President Kagame, said that Rwanda's progress will not be deterred by patronising foreign critics who want to impose their will on the Rwandan people.
In a 50 - minute speech that drew massive applause from the crowd, Kagame, said that what happened in 1994 was a result of bad national and international politics. And, it will not happen again because Rwanda has learnt from its past.
"The convergence of bad national politics and bad international politics resulted into what we commemorate today," Kagame said. "We have no power to change bad international politics, but, we as Rwandans have the power to change bad politics of our country and that is where we should concentrate."
"As we pray and as we express our sorrow and sadness, we also have to come out with our heads high and raised, and with absolute commitment that we can shape our future - a better future that our people deserve and it is within us to achieve," Kagame said.
The President dismissed claims by foreign critics, who argue that there is no political space and freedom of expression.
He accused foreigners, who, under the pretext of human rights and freedoms, meddle into Rwanda's politics by propagating claims of abuse of rights, lack of political space among other blatant lies about the government.
Kagame drew applause from the crowd when he scoffed at the criticism about lack of freedom of expression.
"These fellows abuse people, they abuse me. They draw cartoons, they call me Hitler. I'm not bothered at all. I just hold them in contempt, that is all," he said.
"You are even free to abuse people, and you turn around to complain that you have no freedom to express yourself?"
Kagame went on to say that Rwanda does not need lessons in democracy, justice, social and economic transformation, because there is no better teacher than the experience Rwandans have gone through.
The President, further accused foreign critics of trying to impose "political hooliganism" on Rwandans by bringing people who lack values and culture and placing them in positions where they seek to portray them as opposition leaders. He emphasised that for such people to impose hooligans, it is an insult to the dignity, values and integrity of the Rwandan people.
"It is an expression of contempt that these people have for Rwandans and Africans. They think Rwandans can be governed by hooligans. To that we say a big no," Kagame said.
The President accused some Western countries of preferring to criticize his government over supposed lack of freedoms, while ignoring their own responsibility for their role in the Genocide.
"What freedoms are you teaching me if you can't take responsibility for the politics that killed one million people in Rwanda," Kagame observed.
President Kagame called upon the Rwandans to fight to be the best they can be, with the understanding that they owe it to themselves. He went on to remind that while Rwandans build friendships and partnerships, they are the ones on the frontline to build and shape the future of the country.
Kagame added that for those who extend a hand of partnership, the Rwandan people shall respond in the same measure or more. But, for those who extend a fight, they should be prepared for a fight they will never forget.
The president urged Rwandans to not only commemorate the genocide but also draw strength from the pain and devastation they went through, to develop themselves and their country.
President Kagame reiterated the Government's continued support to the Genocide survivors and called upon Rwandans to help those dealing with trauma and other effects of the Genocide, saying that those who committed the Genocide should not be allowed the satisfaction to see those who survived helpless and desperate.
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Kagame is now becoming a power monger and dictator just like Museveni, this is retrogressive and detrimental to African demaocracy, from Elias Mhegera, Dar es Salaam, Tel 255-754-826272, mhegeraelias@yahoo.com
Here we go Africa is getting aware of the evil external forces with their two faces and sweet tooth. All those evil external forces care for is to view Africa negatively by their dirty and nasty behaviour towards Africa and Africans. AFRICANS AND AFRICA WAKE UP.
Dear your excellence Sir, Thanks you for the speech on this important day in the history of Rwanda. Indeed as you said, "The convergence of bad national politics and bad international politics resulted into what we commemorate today, » what can we do to avoid the convergence of bad forces lies much in destroying the bad national politics. Always bad politics attracts similar external politics from those either intending to nurture self destruction or those intending to propagate it for selfish ends.
I agree with you, Rwanda has to contend with enemy forces that does not desire to see Rwanda progress; these we must contend selflessly. However, Mr. President, while there may be exaggerations from human rights bodies about the human rights observance in Rwanda; not all is false. Rwanda Government should acknowledge some of the gloss failures in protecting individual Rights. Before we can condemn those who do research on the way government agencies abuse people rights we should take inventory of our actions first.
Mr. President, you need to seriously look at the justices system in Rwanda and how many innocent people have been denied due process of law and the right to be heard by an impartial judicial body. Seriously, Mr. President you will be surprised to learn how so many people have fallen victim of injustice at the hand of Gacaca court. Gacaca courts can condemn an innocent person and this persons chance to be heard by the Supreme Court is out of Question and then you can dare to boast of justice in Rwanda and human right observance!!
Mr. President what can you make of the case of Pr. Peday Ntihanabayo who was wrongly sentenced to life imprisonment and is jailed in Gitarama prison for the crime he did not commit. Where is Justice for him and may be for many more that could be there simply because Gacaca court enjoys the thing you hate more called Bribe!
He was accused of complicity in the death of Eliezar Mpumuje during the 94 Genocide. Yet at the material time Pr.Peday was not present since he was then a refugee and it is on record that he is one of those rescued by RPF and remained in their protection to the end of war.
A lot of appeals have been made to the office of Mme Domitila Mukantaganzwa but have only fallen on deaf ears. It seems for her justice for an individual is trivial. Nothing can trivialise a human being without consequences however lowly that person may be.
Ms Mukantaganzwa knows the truth about the whole matter. She actually knows that Pr. Peday is being falsely accused by people who are out to revenge for personal reasons which Mukantaganzwa should be taken to task to explain. She knows these people.
We strongly believe that Gacaca court has no power whatsoever to sentence an innocent person to life imprisonment and we might add that there is no power any where under any jurisdiction can sentence an innocent man to death except it be the power of evil which in any case cannot survive the collective good of men and women of good will.
It might help us to remind ourselves that man comes into society with inalienable rights among which rights to liberty, equality before the law, dignity, security, inter alia and for these ideals, man created State to secure these rights and therefore it is a duty of any responsible government to fulfil these obligation as a parent is to his Children. It is anomalous if state became the abuser of these ends for which it was establish to uphold.
Therefore Mr. President, truly as people we should not be lectured by outsiders about Justice inter alia unless we remain indifferent to these values. For example no body tells us about what to wear, why? Because we dont go naked! Imagine, a case such as the one mentioned above, has been in media for a over two months, appeals have been made to the office of Mukantaganzwa, and the ombudsman but the indifference manifested by her office and the slowness with which the ombudsman have exhibited leaves too much to be desired. When this case will get into human right watch, Government will be to quick to dismiss it, what is going on with you, our people!
Mukabarisa Jewel
Dear your excellence Sir, Thanks you for the speech on this important day in the history of Rwanda. Indeed as you said, "The convergence of bad national politics and bad international politics resulted into what we commemorate today, » what can we do to avoid the convergence of bad forces lies much in destroying the bad national politics. Always bad politics attracts similar external politics from those either intending to nurture self destruction or those intending to propagate it for selfish ends.
I agree with you, Rwanda has to contend with enemy forces that does not desire to see Rwanda progress; these we must contend selflessly. However, Mr. President, while there may be exaggerations from human rights bodies about the human rights observance in Rwanda; not all is false. Rwanda Government should acknowledge some of the gloss failures in protecting individual Rights. Before we can condemn those who do research on the way government agencies abuse people rights we should take inventory of our actions first.
Mr. President, you need to seriously look at the justices system in Rwanda and how many innocent people have been denied due process of law and the right to be heard by an impartial judicial body. Seriously, Mr. President you will be surprised to learn how so many people have fallen victim of injustice at the hand of Gacaca court. Gacaca courts can condemn an innocent person and this persons chance to be heard by the Supreme Court is out of Question and then you can dare to boast of justice in Rwanda and human right observance!!
Mr. President what can you make of the case of Pr. Peday Ntihanabayo who was wrongly sentenced to life imprisonment and is jailed in Gitarama prison for the crime he did not commit. Where is Justice for him and may be for many more that could be there simply because Gacaca court enjoys the thing you hate more called Bribe!
He was accused of complicity in the death of Eliezar Mpumuje during the 94 Genocide. Yet at the material time Pr.Peday was not present since he was then a refugee and it is on record that he is one of those rescued by RPF and remained in their protection to the end of war.
A lot of appeals have been made to the office of Mme Domitila Mukantaganzwa but have only fallen on deaf ears. It seems for her justice for an individual is trivial. Nothing can trivialise a human being without consequences however lowly that person may be.
Ms Mukantaganzwa knows the truth about the whole matter. She actually knows that Pr. Peday is being falsely accused by people who are out to revenge for personal reasons which Mukantaganzwa should be taken to task to explain. She knows these people.
We strongly believe that Gacaca court has no power whatsoever to sentence an innocent person to life imprisonment and we might add that there is no power any where under any jurisdiction can sentence an innocent man to death except it be the power of evil which in any case cannot survive the collective good of men and women of good will.
It might help us to remind ourselves that man comes into society with inalienable rights among which rights to liberty, equality before the law, dignity, security, inter alia and for these ideals, man created State to secure these rights and therefore it is a duty of any responsible government to fulfil these obligation as a parent is to his Children. It is anomalous if state became the abuser of these ends for which it was establish to uphold.
Therefore Mr. President, truly as people we should not be lectured by outsiders about Justice inter alia unless we remain indifferent to these values. For example no body tells us about what to wear, why? Because we dont go naked! Imagine, a case such as the one mentioned above, has been in media for a over two months, appeals have been made to the office of Mukantaganzwa, and the ombudsman but the indifference manifested by her office and the slowness with which the ombudsman have exhibited leaves too much to be desired. When this case will get into human right watch, Government will be to quick to dismiss it, what is going on with you, our people!
Mukabarisa Jewel