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Kigali — Government has put contingents of the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) serving under UN-backed peacekeeping operations on standby for pull out, if the UN publishes a report alleging that Rwandan troops were involved in mass killings in the DRC between 1994 and 2003.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs Minister and Government Spokesperson, Louise Mushikiwabo, made the announcement, yesterday, during a news conference to clarify on the government's position on the recently leaked draft UN report.
"We are waiting to see what the United Nations does with this report, but we are very seriously considering pulling out our troops," Mushikiwabo said, adding that the RDF contingent commander in Darfur has already been instructed to be prepared.
"Our troops are on standby; it is up to the United Nations," the Minister said, adding that the government is not happy about the imminent troop withdrawal, but was being forced to.
She further pointed out that the leaking of such a report was not an isolated act, but rather part of a larger pattern aimed at discrediting Rwanda's achievements. "It is a report with an agenda," Mushikiwabo stressed.
"How could the UN accuse Rwanda's army of raping and killing, and at the same time, want them to be the dedicated army that can protect people around the world," she said. "If they (UN) label us as a Genocidal army, then they should be able to find another army to do it."
Army and Defence Spokesperson, Lt. Col. Jill Rutaremara, told The New Times that they were ready to pull out.
"The Rwanda Defence Force [RDF] has finalized a contingency withdrawal plan for its peacekeepers, in response to a government directive, in case the UN publishes its outrageous and damaging report," Rutaremara said.
"The withdrawal will apply to the RDF peacekeepers serving under the United Nations African Union Mission in Darfur [UNAMID] and the United Nations Mission in Sudan [UNMIS]," he added.
Reacting to a question regarding the possible involvement of Kofi Annan - the UN Secretary General during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi - Minister Mushikiwabo said that work on the yet to be published report started and was funded during his tenure.
She said Kofi Annan is a man whose record, as far as Rwanda is concerned, is pitiful.
"He failed miserably," she said. "I am not surprised and my Government is not surprised that he (Annan) would be the one making sure that there is funding for this kind of report to ensure that it was an important gesture he would pose before he leaves office," Mushikiwabo stressed, adding that the involvement of Annan in the making of the report is unquestionable.
In a statement released last week, the Government described the draft report as malicious, offensive and ridiculous, adding that it appeared that the UN was trying to divert international attention from its latest failure in the Great Lakes Region.
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It is saddening to read from self-declared academics that the leaked human rights report on the behaviour of the tutsi led regime of Rwanda in the aftermath of the 1994 genocide is simply an attempt, quote, by all means to prove a double genocide and tarnish Rwanda in the process goes without saying. Talking about tarnish I think some Rwandan citizens did this job in 1994 when they set upon their fellow countrymen and women. How can someone else be responsible for tarnishing the image of a country where victorious victims and their butchers are quite happy to lock themselves in a vicious circle of violence and terror? Ref # The proof of genocide does not lie in numbers or weaponry but in the plan and motive. Some of the remarks made by William A. Schabas read more like an assessment of a genocide competition where some people can pretend to have the monopoly of being the true victims of genocide than anyone else. It is misleading to pretend that the deliberate killing innocents that falls short of being classified as genocide is not worth mentioning. One would agree that the very definition of genocide is in itself a social construct that lacks any sort of objectivity. The Rwandan genocide has been both a product and a further cause of an enormous African crisis; its very occurrence was a symptom, not treating it by denouncing any kind of human right abuse can only help to spread the disease. From a criminological point de view, a crime is a crime, be it called genocide, mass killing, calculated violence, assassination etc... And those found responsible for such acts should be denounced and, if possible, prosecuted. Why people are are so determined to lock themselves into stereotypical rhetoric and use binary opposed terms to promote one identity against another? The behaviour of the tutsi led government of Rwanda is more like the behaviour of an abuse child who grew old to become, himself, a child abuser. The use of calculated violence to control, by the actual Rwandan government, is the motivating factor for people who write reports like the one that has been leaked in Le Monde news paper and not a vicious need to deny the 1994 so called genocide.
" .. Peacekeepers On Standby for Pull Out - Mushikiwabo .."
Would the monster do that?
Threats. Empty Threats.
We dare this cowardly, murderous genocidaire Kagame to stand up to the white man.
[No. He shines at killing unarmed innocent Hutu kids.]
[Then either his no longer foreign-protected, sorry ass will be dragged screaming to The Hague OR his mangy, no-longer-foreign-protected giraffe-neck will collide with the machette of the people whose loved ones - millions of them - he murdered.]
Once again we see your true colours. Chokora doesn't acre about Rwanda, he never speaks about anything positive about Rwanda. Chokora is a stupid Interahamwe whose goal is to destroy Rwanda and Rwandans. The only thing is that he cannot understand how great the country is doing and will continue to do. He chooses to not to understand that even the ones who ran away are returning because they are starting to realize the FDLR and Interahamwe are foolish, senseless, dazed, erratic, and aimless. People are realizing that this little snake is headless. Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza is there great hope, but this criminal will pay for her actions. The more people continue to return to Rwanda, the more Victoire Ingabire will be exposed. That is why people like Chokora want to continue spreading lies about people being killed upon return, they don't care that FDLR and Interahamwe are killing innocent Hutus for trying to leave, or that they are raping and killing Congolese. FDLR/Interahamwe are committing outrages crimes in the mountains, the UN knows this. The UN claims the Rwandan Army is committing crimes (killings, raping), but wants them to send the army to protect people around the world....that's doesn't seem odd Chokora? Would you send a child Molester to teach children? The UN has statements from witnesses who will testify that FDLR/Interahamwe are committing these crimes. I cant wait to see your spin on when it comes out.
It does not mean that the the development of Kigali and the Kagame ambition to kill all opposants, give you free ride to minimaze the Crime committed in Congo, a crime has to be defited by any means not hide bihind your Red herring arguments. How do you think about those Tutsi killed in 1994? Why not fell the same for those Hutu killed in Congo? Do be hypocrite of course "La verite Blesse"
I do feel for innocent people, but do you believe Kagame is targeting innocent people? Why would he invite those who committed crimes back and integrate them into society and kill innocent people? The innocent people you speak of are being used by the FDLR/Interahamwe as shields. They are the ones killing and raping innocent people, but you foolishly want to blame Kagame. I believe Kagame is doing the right thing by chasing those criminal genocidaires who continue to cause a threat to Rwanda security, those who do not want to lay down there weapons should be hunted down. Those people unfortunately are using innocent yet foolish people who followed them into the Congo and kill the ones whose family escapes. They're starting to see the truth about those FDLR/Interahamwe and escaping back to Rwanda when they can, but it's difficult because if you escape they kill your family.
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