Rwanda’s 1994 genocide and 2010 election
January 23, 2010 in International Greens
In a story posted to Digital Journal California Green Ann Garrison writes about the 1994 genocide in Rwanda and the influence memories of that time will have on elections to be held in that nation in 2010.
U.S., UK, and their allies justify their military support of Rwanda with the genocide narrative that identifies Rwanda as the Israel of Africa and its Tutsi population as the Jews, who deserve special protection because they have suffered a holocaust. The hero of this narrative is Rwandan President Paul Kagame, described as the extraordinary leader who has led Rwandas in their rise from the ashes of genocide, to swear, like the Israelis, “Never again.”……To register and get a ballot line in Rwanda, a party must first convene, and the Democratic Green Party of Rwanda has now tried to convene five times, only to be met with bureaucratic obfuscation and, on October 30th, violence. Their members have been harassed and arrested.
The full text of the report is below the fold, but does not include links and photos at the original story.
Rwanda’s 1994 genocide
and 2010 election
The memory, consequence, and disputed histories of the 1994 Rwanda Genocide, loom large in Rwanda’s memory. Whether openly discussed or not, they will hugely influence the nation’s 2010 national election.
Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza, leader of the United Democratic Forces of Rwanda arrived at the Kigali, Rwanda Airport on 01.17.2010, returning from 16 years in exile to register her party, in preparation for Rwanda’s August 2010 elections. Frank Habineza, leader of the Democratic Green Party of Rwanda, and Bernard Ntaganda, leader of the Parti Social Imberakuri, met her at the airport. All three parties are trying to register and field candidates, including presidential candidates, in Rwanda’s August 2010 nation elections.
Rwanda as the Israel of Africa
Rwanda, under the leadership of Rwandan President Paul Kagame and the ruling Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF) Party, is a close ally of the United States. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, speaking in Kenya at the outset of her 2009 tour of the African continent, pointed to Rwanda as a “beacon of hope for Africa,” just as her husband, former President Bill Clinton so often does. On September 24, 2009, Bill Clinton presented one of his Global Citizenship Awards to Kagame, for leadership in public service. Two days later, at his Saddleback Church in Orange County, evangelical Pastor Rick Warren, who has made Rwanda one of his “purpose driven nations,” presented Kagame with the second International Medal of P.E.A.C.E., having presented the first to George Bush at the close of 2008.
U.S., UK, and their allies justify their military support of Rwanda with the genocide narrative that identifies Rwanda as the Israel of Africa and its Tutsi population as the Jews, who deserve special protection because they have suffered a holocaust. The hero of this narrative is Rwandan President Paul Kagame, described as the extraordinary leader who has led Rwandas in their rise from the ashes of genocide, to swear, like the Israelis, “Never again.”
Rwanda, the Commonwealth, and human rights
Kagame, however, stands accused of war crimes, crimes against humanity, autocratic rule, and political repression, by human rights defenders the world round. On 02.06.2008, a Spanish Court indicted forty of his top military officers for “crimes including genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and terrorism, perpetrated over a period of 12 years, from 1990 to 2002, against the civilian population, and primarily against members of the Hutu ethnic group.” They did not indict Kagame himself, stating that he could not be prosecuted as long as he remains a sitting head of state.
Prior to the Commonwealth Heads of Government’s acceptance of Rwanda into the Commonwealth in November 2008, the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative Group objected, presenting a report, written by Kenyan Judge and legal scholar Yash Pai Ghai, who wrote: “We believe that overwhelming evidence, conveniently ignored by leading Commonwealth states, demonstrates that the government of Rwanda is not sufficiently committed to the protection of human rights and to democracy.”
His report elaborated and cited evidence of compromised courts, flawed elections, and human rights violations.
Journalist Derek Ingram, wrote, also for the Commonwealth Human Rights Group, in “Commonwealth Conversation”:
“On Rwanda it [the Commonwealth] should wait for next year’s presidential elections, send a strong observer group to decide whether they are fair (the last ones were not) and then consider the application at the next CHOGM in 2011.” -Journalist Derek Ingram, writing for “Commonwealth Conversation,” Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative Group
The Commonwealth Heads of Government welcomed Rwanda nevertheless, thanks to the enthusiastic sponsorship of Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and British Prime Minster Gordon Brown, and Rwanda’s elections are now scheduled for August, seven months away.
Rwanda Elections, August 2010
If the three viable opposing parties, the United Democratic Forces-Inkingi, the Democratic Green Party of Rwanda, and the Parti Social-Imberakuri are allowed to register and participate in free and fair elections, they have a good chance, in coalition, of defeating Rwandan President Paul Kagame and his ruling Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) Party.
However, that’s a very big IF.
To register and get a ballot line in Rwanda, a party must first convene, and the Democratic Green Party of Rwanda has now tried to convene five times, only to be met with bureaucratic obfuscation and, on October 30th, violence. Their members have been harassed and arrested.
The Parti Social Imberakuri has been allowed to register, but the Rwandan Parliament now threatens to take their registration away.
The FDU will now begin its attempt to register, but Rwandan Minister of Internal Security Sheikh Mussa Fazil Harerimana has already warned the FDU’s Umuhoza “against revisionist and Genocide denial pronouncements.”
The memory, consequence, and disputed histories of what we know as the 1994 Rwanda Genocide, loom large in Rwanda’s memory, national consciousness and future as it heads into this national election year, which will conclude in August 2010 polls. Hence, the headline in the Sunday version of the Rwanda New Times, referred not to the upcoming election but to Ingabire’s assertion that not only Tutsis, but also Hutus were killed in the Rwanda Genocide of 1994: “Ingabire espouses Double Genocide Theory.”
Victoire Ingabire spoke to the elephant in the room, and the reaction, in the press from Kagame’s RPF Party, has been swift and vitriolic, accusing her of both “revisionism” and “divisionism,” regarding the history of the mass killings in Rwanda in 1994.
Rwandan exiles in the United States and Europe, and seasoned Africa reporters, including Keith Harmon Snow and David Barouski, describe this as a very tense, sensitive, and volatile situation.
Upon her arrival in Kigali, Mrs. Ingabire declared:
“We totally agree and are conscious that there has been a genocide against Tutsis and we seriously and continuously advocate that all those who were responsible be brought before the courts of justice. We also agree that there have been other serious crimes against humanity and war crimes[against Hutus]; those who committed them have to bear the legal consequences. We must all the time remember those tragedies, make sure they don’t get ever repeated. We also need to ensure that people’s lives are effectively and strongly protected by laws.”–Hungry for truth, peace and justice
Alain Kamanzi said on January 24, 2010
This is totally politics and genocide deniers who are hiding behind “green environment”
Why not teaching people how to plant trees for a better and healthy environment? Stop mixing yourself in politics? These two things don’t match. Just run after frogs and plant trees but do not deny genocide commited to Tutsis. Go to hell!
Anonymous said on January 24, 2010
Miliarty support? Sources?
Anonymous said on January 24, 2010
Militarty support? Sources?
Mugabo said on January 24, 2010
I do not understand this Tutsi who denies the killing of many hutus killed over the country and outside the country. Mr Kamanzi please stop to bring a threat here. every time some says that many hutus have been killed you call that person a genocide denier? what is this? how many hutu have been killed in kibeho (rwanda), how many hutu killed in Congo, can you count. In rwanda the government only support the tutsi widows and tutsi orphans? what can you call this? no hutu are allowed to one of his family killed by Tutsi? what is this? no tutsi is allowed to be judged in TPIR in arusha and any one who tried this has been sacked by USA, UK, supported by canada, belgium etc.. What can you call this? When some one says that the tutsi have been killed. you said stop please do not continue….
lies, fabrication and cover up? any one who try to say the truth about rwanda genocide wherever is coming from is persecuted? What can you tell this?
Who is the genocide denier!
kwizera said on January 24, 2010
Paul kagame is a known killer that has personally machine gunned children and women prior to 1994 official genocide year.
More than ten witnesses are prepared to testify when the time comes!
Kiknizi said on January 25, 2010
Stop propaganda:
1. Kibeho killings were necessitated by criminals who were hiding in that camp, everynight snikking out to kill genocide survivors. The camp had to be closed, not by pleas but by force, hence some loss of life.
2. Congo: camps were overflowing with genocidaires, ex-Far, etc. Everyday waging battles across the border, they had to be pursued. But how could they be disarmed without using force? And people who killed one million were in Congo, they had to be followed there at any cost. US went to Iraq and Afghanistan to pursue one person who had killed 3000 only! P’se discuss hutu killings intheir context!
Mugabo said on January 25, 2010
Mr Kknizi,
If you are not a fanatic, extremist you may be an ignorent or you are not a Rwandease. there is not justification for killing the innocents people. Kibeho and congo is a very tiny example. We can mention the killing of the hutu in different prisons, and every where. we have seen these scenario with our own eyes. the killing of the hutu in congo is even if beyond the rwanda planning some Western countries were behing killing. Kengo wa Dodo went into the UN security council to ask the help to take the refugees far a way from the border and the western close the ears as they have a plan. The congo wealth. The Bible say ” you will know the truth and the truth will set you free”. lie to the westerners as you always do but do not like to the rwandans.
Frank said on January 26, 2010
I am not condemning those tutsis who are saying hutus were not slaughtered. U know what!? Most of them are civilian and were hiding to escape INTERAHAMWE during 1994 genocide. Kiknizi, are u away of what happened in Byumba Stadium in April 1994? Where a good number (around 1500) of internally displaced innocent people were
massacred by RPA soldiers. U know what? Lizinde, the then Prefet of Byumba was denied access to the stadium the same day while preparations for the killing was taking place? For your information, there was no INTERAHAMWE among them ( no genocide against tutsis was perpetrated there, the war was over coz the then government soldiers had left the area). This is one of many other examples across the country. Where do I stand? I was in Rwanda in 1994, I witnessed what happened and I don’t need anybody to convince me about GENOCIDE OF TUTSI perpetrated by some Hutus . Those who deny this have their own reasons but their can’t rewrite History and change the course of what happened (There was a plan to exterminate each and every Tutsi human kind) and I strongly condemn the killers and all those who deny the undeniable. Having said that, my strong condemnation also goes to those who get furious and extremely angry, when it comes to issues relating to MASS KILLINGS perpetrated by some soldiers of the then RPF. like I said before, this is another undeniable fact, history about these killings cannot be rewritten otherwise. So, my fellow Kikinizi, if you are not informed just go and ask people from former Byumba, Ruhengeli, and Kibungo. They will tell you. Am I espousing DOUBLE GENOCIDE THEORY? At this level NO since there is no inherent report produced by independent ORGANS/bodies to refer to. But, I have been asking myself : Is there any linkage between denial, revisionism, genocide ideology and the fact of saying that Hutu were also massively killed by some RPF soldiers? I think those who create this link should rethink twice and ask the right questions like: did some RPF soldiers really murdered/killed innocent people? Are these accusations baseless? (don’t be governed by emotions or political credo, read different related independent reports: there are many)? Before I end my intervention I would simply put to Victoire Ingabire: Is it really the right moment/time to raise these issues? Isn’t it too early to speak out about these killings which are considered as taboo in this country? Are you really the right person? (….)Mentioning these killings is like “war declaration” against RPA/F and I am telling you, troubles are ahead. But, though I am not encouraging you to “commit suicide”, I express my respect to you: you are the first-if not the last-who have publicly dared scratching this calvary reality.
Frank said on January 26, 2010
Mr Kknizi,
Would you please bear with me for some spelling errors throughout my intervention? My English is not good as yours.
Uwamahoro said on February 3, 2010
Frank, you are 99% right in what you say. the only 1% goes to the fact you think that this is not the time to mention the Hutu killings by RPF. I undertand how risky that is but again if we don’t speak the truth out, nothing will change and misery will stay in Rwanda. I trully think that we, Rwandas are lucky to have somebody like Ingabire having the courage to speak the truth out.
Uwamahoro said on February 3, 2010
Kknizi is just one of the people who denies the truth no matter what (depending on what he/she wants). People like this don’t really help in situations like this. They just make things worse.
... said on May 25, 2010
Ann,
I’m curious to know which countries in Africa you’ve actually traveled to.
Agaculama said on July 24, 2010
Dear Ann,
1/ Your concise article is a very interesting one: it resumes the situation in Rwanda that could become a new apocalyptic situation.
2/ The reactions of some readers/comment givers are also interesting, still showing a visceral bipolarisation of the Rwandan community.
3/ What is a “genocide denier”, according to a functional definition, or a “negationist”, according to the RPF-derived government definition, or a “rejectionist”, according to Mrs Hilary Clinton’s definition?
3-1/ Nobody with a minimal degree of intelligence and IQ can deny that Rwandans have been killed throughout the wars, starting on October 01 1990, and the apocalyptic Rwandan genocide, starting on April 06 1994, by the terrorist attack against the Rwandan civilian presidential Falcon-50 plane.
3-2/ These wars have been imposed by force to the peaceful Rwandan nation by soldiers and guerilleros coming from a foreign country (Uganda), with foreign identity cards (Uganda+++, Tanzania, Burundi, Zaïre, Erythrea, Ethiopia…), foreign Military Regimental numbers (Uganda+++), foreign languages (Swahili, English…)… So this is an invasion or neocolonization war.
3-3/ These wars were unjustifiable because Rwandan government accepted the principle of multiparty democracy, allowed already new political parties, accepted the internationally moderated repatriation of the old Tutsi refugee load…
3-4/ These wars and the Rwandan genocide were mandatory for the RANU/RPF/RPA/Kagame guerilla, the first goal of which was “TO SEIZE THE POWER”, or in Spanish, as written by the Spanish Judge Don Fernando Andreu Merelles “PARA TOMAR EL PODER”. RANU/RPF/RPA/Kagame pertinently knew that, because of the Rwandan population arithmetic (85% Hutu, 14% Tutsi, 1% Twa), they would never (NEVER) win democratic elections, universally based on the “One man, one vote” principle. So a coup d’Etat was mandatory for these neocolonialist mercenaries, backed by Uganda and US decision makers, and also by the servant UK Anglo-Saxon pole.
3-5/ So unethic and unjust wars derived to global unjust and unethic behaviours, leading to a real genocide.
3-5-1/ On the Hutu extremist side, justification of mass murders was to protect the Rwandan nation against the “ENI”, the enemies and their accomplices, Tutsi and so called “moderated Hutu”, meaning the Hutu people being against the MRNDD dominating presidential party.
3-5-2/ On the RANU/RPF/RPA/Kagame, de facto extremist, side, justification of mass murder was multiple: quantitative reduction of the Hutu population by mass murders (Bakiga, Hutu of the Eastern and Soutrh-Eastern provinces, floating bodies on both Kagera river and Lake Victoria, Kibeho, Eastern Congo/DRC killings of Hutu refugees…), alibi-killings of the interior Tutsi considered as “Class Five: to be eliminated” because, staying in Rwanda, they were considered as accomplices of MRNDD/Juvénal Habyarimana/Hutu regimes.
3-6/ IN FACT, A RWANDAN GENOCIDE DENIER IS SOMEBODY WHO DENIES THE TRUTH OF THE ROOTS THAT LEAD THE RWANDAN NATION TO THE GENOCIDE.
3-6-1/ We know that RANU/RPF/RPA/Kagame planed all this tragedy since years, withy the complicity of Eastern Africa leaders like Ugandan Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.
3-6-2/ Just read both French (Judge Bruguières) and Spanish (Judge Andreu Merelles) Warrants Of Arrest, and you will understand the real roots, causes and consequences of this Rwandan tragedy that is a tragedy for the whole humanity.
3-6-3/ So the real “genocide deniers”, “negationists” and “rejectionists” are the partisans of RANU/RPF/RPA/RDF/Kagame junta that denies its crual responsability in war crimes, crimes of genocide and crimes against humanity, starting with Rwandan people in 1990, and Zaïrian/Congolese people in 1996.
Truth, Justice, Peace, Reconciliation and Charity for all the Banyarwaanda.
Agaculama, a green greyish bat flying day and night above Rwanda.