By Aimable Mugara
Rwanda Human Rights and Democracy
June 13, 2010
H. E. General Paul Kagame
Office of the President
Republic of Rwanda
P.O. Box 15 Urugwiro Village
Kigali – Rwanda
Fax: +250 572431
Copy:
Prosecutor General
Martin Ngoga
National Public Prosecution Authority
BP 1328
Kigali – Rwanda
Fax: +250 589501
Commissioner General Emmanuel Gasana
Rwandan National Police
Kigali – Rwanda
Fax: +250 586602
Chief Executive Officer
Editor-in-Chief
The New Times Publications SARL
Immeuble Aigle Blanc
P.O. Box 4953
Kigali – Rwanda
A Citizen’s Weekly Open Letter to General Kagame, President of the Republic of Rwanda
Dear General,
There are 9 weeks left before the elections. This is my thirteenth letter and there are 9 letters left. This week presents us again with an image of chaos in Rwanda, a place where the entire world is now starting to notice that it is run by people with no respect for human rights whatsoever. People who are hell-bent on staying in power at any cost. Many of us know that this thirst for power is due to a fear that once the current rulers are out of power, they may face justice. Face justice for all the crimes that have been committed against the Rwandan people since October 1st, 1990 and against the Congolese (DRC) people since 1996.
Earlier this week we witnessed a travesty of justice as “Judge” Maurice Mbishibishi made a fool of himself in front of the entire world. Fortunately, the world is not keeping silent, lawyers from all over the world, from East Africa, to Germany to United States and many other countries are speaking up and letting you know that they are aware of your actions and that they are shocked at your disregard for the rule of law. Some members of the United States Congress also chimed in by introducing resolution H. RES. 1426 in the US House of Representatives. 86 (eighty six) deans of law schools throughout America made their voices heard too. Meanwhile, your former bodyguard Innocent Kalisa fled Rwanda, claiming that he had just escaped from an illegal torture chamber in Kigali, where he saw 20 people get killed by your agents within 2 days.
“Judge” Maurice Mbishibishi shocked the world on Monday when he showed that he had no regard whatsoever to the rule of law. According to the transcripts of Prof. Erlinder’s bail hearing that took place on Monday June 7th, one of the accusations against Prof. Erlinder that “Judge” Mbishibishi allowed as evidence was words that he said in the UN International Criminal Court for Rwanda. The idea that a defense lawyer would be prosecuted for words that he said in a UN court is quite unbelievable. The world is watching and this time round you will not be able to use the 1994 genocide as an excuse for this horrible injustice. Your spokesperson likes to talk about how the same thing would have been done in Germany. This cannot be true because the German Bar Association that represents German lawyers has specifically asked for Prof. Erlinder’s release. This Monday June 14th we will witness Prof. Erlinder’s appeal of his bail denial. We will see whether your government is coming back to reality or whether you insist on digging a deeper hole for yourselves in your imaginary world that has no limits.
Many people who really know about Rwanda were not shocked to hear that your former bodyguard Private Innocent Kalisa has fled the country after what he says were two days of torture at an illegal torture chamber at Kabeza in the capital city of Kigali. According to media sources in Africa, Private Kalisa said “I really don’t know how I got here, I must have been the luckiest person because the two days I spent in a Safe House, 20 people, which is an average of 10 per day were executed.” When he said “Safe House”, Private Kalisa apparently clarified that he meant an illegal torture chamber. When the overall commander of your Presidential Republic Guard, Colonel Tom Byabagamba was asked to comment, he apparently said “Kalisa? If he is the Kalisa, I know, he was working with us but he escaped from prison” without giving any reason why Private Kalisa was “arrested” in the first place.
A paranoid regime that alienates even its closest friends cannot last long. Other top Rwandans who were your friends but have fled the country since last year include: Theoneste Musindashaka, Senator Stanley Safari, Lt. Col. Sam Baguma, Capt. Eliphaz Ndikuyezu, Capt. Claude Bizimungu, Capt. John Wuwintari, Capt. John-Bosco Muhizi, Capt. Theobal Gakumba, Capt. John Ontabuka, Jean Pierre Kagubare, Lt. Gen. Kayumba Nyamwasa and Col. Patrick Karegyeya. Not to mention the countless others who have been jailed recently after you suddenly developed a distrust for them.
Mr. President, 9 weeks before the so-called “elections”, there are no signs of any elections. All we can see is a country that is disintegrating day by day. Your supporters in the West who gave you weapons and political cover to fight the war and take power by force are now starting to second-guess themselves. How will this end? Enough blood has been shed since you appeared on the Rwandan politico-military scene. It is time to stop.
Aimable Mugara
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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