RPF Paranoia over Prof Yash Pal Ghai
By Frank Kagabo
The New Times
October 11, 2009
When one starts thinking that everybody (Rwandans or foreigners) who is interested for one reason or the other has realized that Rwanda is no longer defined by what happened in the past, but by its numerous achievements that are being recognized internationally, others come up with all sorts of false and incredible allegations.
One starts wondering where such individuals live and how they fail to see what the rest be it in Rwanda, the region and beyond are acknowledging and admiring by way of awards and even rendering support in whatever form.
Reading Yash Pal Ghai’s incredible essay in Kenya’s Standard newspaper, one would think that maybe he is misinformed, but when you come to think of it, you get to realize that it is not just that.
There is more to that and it is intended to serve a purpose. One hopes he has not jumped on the band wagon of the now international Genocide deniers’ lobby.
When everybody was “celebrating” the capture of Ildelphonse Nizeyimana, one of the key masterminds, and implementers of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, then somewhere pops journalist Timothy Kalyegila on www.ugandarecord.co.ug with arguably the most incredible allegations against the people who stopped the genocide and even going ahead to insult the memory of those who died because they were who they were.
With the advent of the internet, everyone can say and write whatever they want, but then, the Rwandan people know who did what.
They know who liberated them. And they know those who sought to exterminate a people, for who they are. More importantly, everyone who is interested in the history and future of Rwanda should be able to know that since 1994, the Rwandan society has achieved a high level of unity and reconciliation, and many look into the future.
Even many, who were misled into participating in the Genocide, have admitted their role, many have been forgiven by the survivors and restorative justice has been achieved through the traditional gacaca justice system.
Of course there are many who plotted the Genocide that are still at large and continue on their negative but futile path, in DR Congo jungles and foreign capitals and other cities.
But clearly they are as always on the wrong side of history and the Rwandan people have rejected them.
To become an apologist for those who carried out genocide and are still bent on the same, is morally indefensible. And those journalists with extensive experience ought to know better and not use their publications to give succour to genocidal savages.
The development and social progress and transformation that we are witnessing in Rwanda, is not by accident in my view, it is I believe part of the historic mission of the Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF).
This is one among many other reasons that show what the Rwandan people have struggled for and are still struggling to achieve. One needs not be a genius to see the obvious.
It is clear that Rwanda has achieved a lot since 1994, because of a concrete, clear and shared vision that has been implemented with the guidance of a leadership that cares for its people.
At the same time many of the critics, and those who seek through distorting our history to divide our people, do not seem to realize or decide to negate the fact that there is an emerging generation of young Rwandans, who occupy strategic positions in the economy and society.
They care less about people’s differences perceived or otherwise, and are committed to forging a self sustaining and dignified country that is not defined by the past but by what they want to achieve for themselves.
This is a generation that knows its history as passed down from those in earlier generations who against odds struggled to liberate the country and have provided able leadership.
Related Materials:
What they don’t tell you about Rwanda
What Really Happened in Rwanda?
The truth about the Rwandan genocide
The Truth about the Death of Maj. Gen. Fred Rwigyema
The conquest of Rwanda (1990-1994): Recognizing the international conspiracy
Rwanda: General Marcel Gatsinzi obscures the truth about the Rwandan genocide
Michael Hourigan's Affidavit to ICTR about Habyarimana's assassination
Rwanda: Paul Kagame Sacrificed The Tutsis
Explaining the Ultimate Escalation in Rwanda:How and Why Tutsi Rebels Provoked a Retaliatory Genocide
posted by Mamadou Kouyate @ 6:55 PM
1 Comments:
To: The New Times Editor,
I am trying very hard to understand the arguments of the globally renowned Professor Yash Pal Ghai. My impromptu response to his article was "is that all that he discovered after spending so much money in airfares and hotels"?
He could have obtained the same "research results" from a cyber café in River Road (Nairobi) at zero dollars because this negative stuff has been circulating around the Net for years.
The only new thing that Professor Ghai has added to these generalised allegations and is the weight of his global credentials- which is a rather ill-advised strategy because Professor Ghai has now joined the same dishonoured category as Judge Bruguière.
His motivation is very simple-to create a whiff of impropriety that may delay or lock out Rwanda from the Commonwealth Club. Defence lawyer practice this strategy all the time on behalf of their clients.
They do not have to prove anything tangible as long as they infer contrary possibilities in favour of their clients.
Ghai unfortunately has forgotten that he is now acting for the prosecution.
Therefore he is bound to strictly observe the two basic laws of adducing credible evidence (particularly on an international platform):
a) One must provide absolute proof and actual witnesses to support the allegations.
That is why criminal proceedings take so long -because every piece of allegation must be sifted and corroborated. It is not enough for Professor Ghai to infer that "his Kigali sources" are afraid and must therefore speak in the whispers of anonymity.
b) One must listen objectively to both sides of story before making any conclusions.
Therefore instead of playing convenient middleman, Professor Ghai should be encouraging direct communication between "his Kigali sources" and the government hierarchy- because this direct dialogue is important to the tangible improvement of the governance process.
Finally, Professor Ghai needs to come back to Rwanda anonymously; come in from the east through the refugee rehabilitation centres.
He should visit the local urugwagwa speakeasies in Huye and participate in the umunganda's in Nyamata. He needs to plant bananas and harvest the coffee.
He should learn the language and pick up the hidden nuances. This kind of knowledge is not gleaned at diplomatic cocktails. You have to really meet the people.
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