RWANDA CANNOT BE THE JUDGE AND THE JURY
By Dr. Nkiko NSENGIMANA
Chairman of the Coordinating Committee of FDU-Inkingi
Lausanne, December 22, 2011
The political party United Democratic Forces (FDU-Inkingi) strongly protests against the decision of the Appeals Chambers of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) on the case of Pastor Jean UWINKINDI who might soon be transferred to Rwanda for trial.
By creating the ICTR, the UN Security Council raised hope for a restorative justice and reconciliation. Indeed, prior to the creation of the ICTR, the United Nations conducted investigations: reports of UN experts accused the two Rwandan belligerents in 1994 of having both committed crimes against humanity and serious violations of the international humanitarian law during the period spanning from January 1st, 1994 to December 31st, 1994; the crimes that fall under the ICTR mandate [1]. There are other reports from Human Rights Watch (http://www.hrw.org), Amnesty International (http://www.amnesty.org) and International Centre for Human Rights and Democratic Development (http://www.ichrdd.ca), which accuse the Rwandan Patriotic Army (RPA) of war crimes, crimes against peace and humanity, before, during, and after the 1994 genocide.
On October 1st, 2010, the UN published the Mapping Report which establishes beyond any reasonable doubt the direct criminal responsibility of President Paul Kagame and his army in war crimes, crimes against humanity; the crimes that could be described as genocide, committed in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Several reports and investigations for several years, such as the ones from the Spanish judge Fernando Andreu Merel and the French judge Jean Louis BRUGUIERE point the accusing finger at the responsibility of President Paul Kagame and the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) in the assassination of President Juvenal Habyarimana, on April 6th, 1994 and in the massacres of civilians in Rwanda and the DRC. Other reports from Roberto Garreton, Michael Hourigan, Gersony, which were smothered for sure, but still available, corroborate the responsibility of the RPF in war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide, committed against civilians. Many testimonies of former members of the RPF, such as Lieutenant Abdul RUZIBIZA [2], and recently, Dr. Theogene Rudasingwa, former chief of staff of President Paul Kagame, attest to the responsibility of President Paul Kagame of Rwanda in this terrorist act that triggered the Rwandan genocide.
How can anyone reasonably entrust to the Rwandan justice system, whose lack of independence vis-à-vis the executive branch led by the party-state RPF and its President is obvious, the right to judge a person who is already in the hands of the international justice, which is supposed to be above all political considerations?
Furthermore, the ICTR cannot ignore reports from international NGOs on violations of human rights in Rwanda. For instance, Rwanda was ranked in 2010 among ten worst countries worldwide in terms of freedom of expression, rivaling North Korea, Syria, Iran and Burma. The ICTR certainly does not ignore that the people in these countries are terrified and have no right to speak freely and that once in court, such a right is even less.
By this outrageous decision to send the case to Rwanda, the ICTR confirmed what its prosecutor, Mr Boubacar Jallow, asserted when he alleged that the conditions for a fair trial in Rwanda had been fulfilled and that the judiciary is independent and impartial. How can one dare to make such assertions when we see on a daily basis how defendants are treated in Rwanda? The speech of President Paul Kagame, during the opening of the 9th “Mass of reconciliation”, revolting against the ICTR decisions with regard to the military trial of BAGOSORA’s group, left no doubt about the guidelines for the outcome of the trials in Rwanda. This indeed confirmed the line of thought of President Kagame, who, on several occasions since 2010, has already condemned Ms. Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza, Chair of FDU-Inkingi, before her hotly contested and politically motivated trial, is closed.
The lack of independence of the Rwandan justice system is mostly due to the fact that the people in power and winners of the 1994 civil war are themselves accountable to justice and cannot allow the justice system they already control to judge them. Instead, they prefer headlong rushes accusing anyone who dares to talk about their own crimes. This lack of independence of the Rwandan justice system and its inability to prosecute crimes committed by RPF members of should have already been filled by the ICTR, if it had properly fulfilled its mission, instead of privileging political considerations in choosing the people to prosecute while sparing some key players simply because they belong to the camp of the victors of the civil war of 1994. Ms. Carla Del Ponte [3], former prosecutor of the ICTR and the International Criminal Tribunal for the ex-Yugoslavia (ICTY) who wanted to prosecute the alleged crimes against RPF members was immediately removed from her office within the ICTR, owing to pressures from Kigali and its apologists.
The ICTR should be independent with regard to the Rwandan government and should also resist any pressure from Kigali’s supporters to help restore confidence that the Rwandan people had placed in it; from this tribunal, the Rwandan people expected fair justice, the source for a genuine national reconciliation.
Considering the fact that the Rwandan government has decided to close the offices of the Rwandan League for the Promotion and Defense of Human Rights (LIPRODHOR), it is difficult to imagine what prompted the ICTR judges to decide the transfer of Rev. Jean UWINKINDI in such a capharnaum where there is neither faith nor law and where the so-called justice is only made at the whim of one man who harasses, tortures, imprisons and kills at will anyone who dares express an opinion that is different from his.
More surprising is the fact that this iniquitous decision was taken at the time the world is witnessing the travesty of justice to which political opponents are subject. These include, Ms. Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza, Chair of FDU-Inkingi, Mr. Deo MushayidiI, Chair of PDP-Imanzi, and Mr. Bernard Ntaganda, founding Chair of PS-Imberakuri.
The obvious involvement of RPF leaders in the Rwandan tragedy and their co-responsibility in the genesis and the execution of the Rwandan genocide lead to the conclusion that the RPF regime has no moral authority to lead and manage the country or to judge other people presumed guilty of involvement in the Rwandan genocide or other crimes against humanity committed in Rwanda within the period that falls under the ICTR mandate.
This decision of the Appeals Chambers of the ICTR ought to be condemned in the strongest energy; it calls upon all justice-loving people to stand up so that such a decision never takes effect.
Notes:
[1] See: The preliminary report S/1994/1125 and the final report S/1994/1405 of the impartial Commission of Experts of the United Nations on the Rwandan genocide of 1994, Boutros Boutros-Ghali et al, The United Nations and Rwanda, 1933 - 1996, New York, July 1996.
[2] Lieutenant Joshua Abdul Ruzibiza, Rwanda, l'histoire secrète, 1990-2001, Edition du Panama, 2005.
[3] Confrontations with Humanity's Worst Criminals and the Culture of Impunity
LE RWANDA NE PEUT PAS ETRE JUGE ET PARTIE
Par Dr. NKIKO NSENGIMANA
Lausanne, le 22 décembre 2011
Les Forces Démocratiques Unifiées (FDU-INKINGI) protestent énergiquement contre la décision prise par la cour d’appel du TPIR concernant le cas du pasteur Jean UWINKINDI qui devrait être transféré au Rwanda prochainement pour y être jugé.
En créant le Tribunal Pénal International pour le Rwanda (TPIR), le Conseil de Sécurité des Nations Unies avait suscité l’espoir d’une justice réparatrice et réconciliatrice. Les Nations Unies avaient en effet mené des enquêtes avant de créer le TPIR ; les rapports des experts des Nations Unies accusent les deux belligérants rwandais en 1994 d'avoir tous deux commis des crimes contre l’humanité et des violations graves du droit humanitaire international pendant la période allant du 1er janvier 1994 au 31 décembre 1994, crimes sous mandat du TPIR [1]. D’autres rapports, notamment ceux de Human Rights Watch (http://www.hrw.org), d’Amnistie Internationale (http://www.amnesty.org), du Centre International des Droits de la Personne et du Développement Démocratique (http://www.ichrdd.ca), accusant l’armée patriotique rwandaise (APR) de crimes de guerre, de crimes contre la paix et l’humanité avant, durant et après le génocide de 1994, existent.
Le 1er Octobre 2010 les Nations Unies ont publié le Rapport Mapping établissant de manière incontestable la responsabilité pénale directe du Président Paul KAGAME et de son armée dans les crimes de guerre, crimes contre l’humanité, voire les crimes qui pourraient être qualifiés de génocide, commis en République Démocratique du Congo.
Plusieurs rapports et enquêtes menées depuis plusieurs années, comme celles des juges espagnol Fernando Andreu MERELLES et français Jean Louis BRUGUIERE pointent du doigt la responsabilité du Président Paul KAGAME et du FPR dans l’assassinat du Président HABYARIMANA, le 06 avril 1994 ainsi que dans les massacres des populations civiles au Rwanda et en République Démocratique du Congo. Les Rapports Roberto GARRETON, Michael HOURIGAN, GERSONY, étouffés certes, néanmoins disponibles, corroborent la responsabilité du FPR dans les crimes de guerres, les crimes contre l’humanité et les actes de génocide, commis à l’encontre des populations civiles. Plusieurs témoignages d’anciens membres du FPR, comme celui du Lieutenant Abdoul RUZIBIZA [2], ou très récemment celui du Dr Théogène RUDASINGWA, ancien directeur de cabinet du Président Paul KAGAME, attestent de la responsabilité du Président rwandais dans l’acte terroriste déclencheur du génocide rwandais.
Comment peut-on raisonnablement confier à la justice rwandaise, dont personne n’ignore le manque d’indépendance vis-à-vis de l’Exécutif du Parti-Etat FPR et de son Président, pour juger une personne se trouvant entre les mains de la justice internationale, censée être au-dessus des considérations politiques ?
Par ailleurs, le TPIR ne peut pas ne pas être au courant des rapports des ONG internationales sur les violations des droits de l’homme au Rwanda, à tel point que par exemple le Rwanda a été classé en 2010 dans les dix derniers pays au niveau mondial, en ce qui concerne la liberté d’expression, rivalisant ainsi avec la Corée du Nord, la Syrie, l’Iran ou la Birmanie. Le TPIR n’ignore surement pas que les populations de ces pays sont terrorisés et n’ont pas du tout le droit de s’exprimer librement et qu’ils le seront encore moins au tribunal.
Par cette décision scandaleuse d’envoyer ce cas au Rwanda, le TPIR confirme ce que son procureur Monsieur Boubacar JALLOW avait soutenu en motivant sa requête soi-disant que les conditions pour un procès équitable y étaient désormais remplies, que le système judiciaire y est indépendant et impartial. Comment oser faire de telles affirmations lorsqu’on constate tous les jours la façon dont les accusés sont traités au Rwanda ? Le discours du Président Paul KAGAME durant l’ouverture de sa neuvième « messe de réconciliation », se révoltant contre les décisions du TPIR sur les procès des militaires du groupe BAGOSORA ne laisse plus d’espace d’équivoque aux orientations de ce que devrait être l’issue des procès au Rwanda. Ceci ne faisait que confirmer la ligne de pensée du Président KAGAME qui, à plusieurs reprises depuis 2010, a déjà condamné la présidente des FDU Mme Victoire INGABIRE UMUHOZA, avant que son procès très contesté et somme toute politique, ne soit clôturé.
Le manque d’indépendance de la justice rwandaise est due en grande partie au fait que les tenants du pouvoir et vainqueurs de la guerre de 1994, sont eux-mêmes redevables envers la justice et qu’ils ne peuvent permettre à une justice qu’ils contrôlent de les juger, préférant au contraire faire des fuites en avant en accusant de tous les maux quiconque ose évoquer leurs propres crimes. Ce manque d’indépendance de la justice rwandaise et son incapacité à juger les crimes commis par les membres du FPR, aurait dû être comblés par le TPIR, s’il avait rempli sa mission convenablement, au lieu de privilégier des considérations politiques dans le choix des personnes à poursuivre, tout en épargnant certains acteurs de premier plan, lorsqu’ils appartiennent au camp des vainqueurs de la guerre de 1994. Mme Carle DEL PONTE [3], ancien procureur du TPIR et du TPIY, a voulu engager des poursuites contre les crimes imputés aux membres du FPR et a été aussitôt démise de ses fonctions au sein du TPIR, suite aux pressions de Kigali et de ses apologètes.
Le TPIR devrait faire preuve d’indépendance vis-à-vis du gouvernement rwandais et résister à toutes les pressions de ses défenseurs, pour contribuer à restaurer la confiance que les Rwandais avaient placée en lui ; de ce Tribunal, ils espéraient une justice impartiale, source d’une véritable réconciliation nationale.
Au moment où le gouvernement rwandais vient de décider la fermeture des bureaux de la LIPRODHOR ( la Ligue Rwandaise pour la Promotion et la Défense des Droits de l’Homme), on peut mal s’imaginer ce qui a poussé les juges du TPIR à décider le renvoi du pasteur Jean UWINKINDI dans un tel capharnaüm, où il n’y a ni foi ni loi, et où la soi-disant justice n’est rendue que selon l’humeur d’un seul homme qui harcèle, torture, emprisonne et tue à sa guise tous ceux qui osent exprimer une opinion différente de la sienne.
Plus étonnant encore, cette décision inique vient d’être prise au moment où le monde entier assiste à la parodie de justice à laquelle sont soumis les opposants politiques comme Mme Victoire INGABIRE UMUHOZA, présidente des FDU-Inkingi, M. Déo MUSHYAYIDI, président du parti PDP-Imanzi ou encore Me Bernard NTAGANDA, président-fondateur du parti PS-Imberakuri.
L’implication de plus en plus évidente des responsables du FPR dans le drame rwandais et leur coresponsabilité dans la genèse et l’exécution du génocide rwandais amènent à conclure que le régime du FPR n’a l’autorité morale ni pour diriger et gérer le pays ni pour juger les autres présumés coupables d’implication dans le génocide rwandais ou d’autres crimes contre l’humanité commis au Rwanda dans la période sous mandat du TPIR.
Cette décision de la cour d’appel du TPIR est à condamner avec toute la vigueur nécessaire, et ceci interpelle toute personne éprise de justice à se mobiliser pour qu’elle n’ait jamais d’effet.
Notes:
[1] Cfr. : Le rapport préliminaire S/1994/1125 ainsi que le rapport final S/1994/1405 de la Commission Impartiale des Experts des Nations Unies sur le génocide rwandais de 1994 ; Boutros Boutros-Ghali et al, The United Nations and Rwanda, 1933-1996, New York, July 1996).
[2] Lieutenant Abdul Joshua Ruzibiza, Rwanda, l'histoire secrète, 1990-2001, Edition du Panama, 2005.
[3] Confrontations with Humanity's Worst Criminals and the Culture of Impunity
Conflict minerals crackdown backfiring in Congo -UN
By Jonny Hogg and Graham Holliday
Fri Dec 30, 2011
* U.S. rules boost smuggling of Congo minerals - report
* Former rebel leader controls illicit trade route to Rwanda
* Congo minerals used widely in cell phones, computers
KINSHASA, Dec 30 (Reuters) - A U.S. crackdown on so-called "conflict minerals" in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo has backfired by pushing trade deeper into the hands of criminals and smugglers, including at least one former rebel leader, a U.N. report said on Friday.
The finding underscores the difficulty faced by both the United States and Congo governments in choking off funding to eastern Congo's roving armed bands, believed responsible for thousands of rapes and killings of villagers.
In an effort to pressure Congo's rebels, the United States adopted a law last year requiring the Securities and Exchange Commission to write rules forcing companies to prove minerals they derived from Congo are "conflict free".
But the rules have not been finalized due to wide opposition from companies and industry groups, creating uncertainty that has led international trading firms to virtually stop all purchases from Congo.
"(This) has mainly led to a loss of production and increased criminality, which I think everyone would agree is not a great result," Gregory Salter, who worked as a consultant for the United Nations report, told Reuters.
Eight years after the official end of a war that killed more than five million people, Congo has struggled to tackle rebel groups and criminal elements within its own armed forces that haunt the densely forested east and enrich themselves on illegal mining.
Congo has some of the world's largest deposits of minerals including tin and coltan used in making cell phones and computers, but decades of conflict and corruption mean most of the population remains mired in poverty, a situation made worse by "conflict mineral" crackdown, the UN's Group of Experts report noted.
"This refusal (by international companies) to purchase untagged material left many exporters... bereft of their main, or only customers, and therefore incomes," the group stated. Congo exports dropped by around 90 percent following the decision by firms not to accept minerals from the region, mining officials told Reuters earlier this year
"(It) appears to have increased the need for fraudulent operators to seek or accept military assistance in their mineral smuggling operations," the report continued.
A former rebel, who is now a general in the Congolese army, is implicated in illegal mineral trafficking, the group said.
Bosco Ntaganda, who is subject to an ICC arrest warrant for war crimes, controls the supply of minerals from the Congolese city of Goma into neighbouring Rwanda, which has seen a rise in smuggling in 2011, the report stated.
"The level of recorded domestic production of tin, tungsten and tantalum ores (in Rwanda) continues to be higher than industry analysts consider the real level of production to be... suggesting that material from the DRC is being smuggled into Rwanda, and then tagged as of Rwandan origin," the report said.
Mineral exports from Rwanda are expected to reach $150 million by the end of 2011, up from $118 million in the last financial year between July 2010 and July 2011.
Last month Rwanda returned more than 80 tonnes of minerals to Congo and Rwandan officials have told Reuters that the tagging system, which allows minerals to be traced back to their mine of origin, is working at "nearly 100 percent".
Congo's armed forces have faced repeated allegations of operating illegal mining rackets, and last year Congolese president Joseph Kabila suspended mining in the region for six months in an effort to demilitarise the industry.
Congolese Minister of Mines, Martin Kabwelulu, has dismissed accusations that the Congolese army were involved in illegal mining as "rumours" but said he backed the U.S. legislation to clean up the mining sector.
"For me the Dodd-Frank law is very good, because it stops the criminals from working," he told Reuters by text message.(Writing by Richard Valdmanis)
RWANDA: KAMIKAZI STRATEGY FOR DEFEATING DICTATOR KAGAME
By Malik Azaad
Dear Pen Fighters, as of today, Thursday, July 14, 2011, African Dictator is dedicating our “Say What” window to our regular bloggers, especially those who offer creative solutions to confronting and removing African dictators.
The first blogger chosen to post in this window is Kamakazi, a prolific Rwandan blogger on AfricanDictator.org. Kamikazi not only analyses what the Butcher of Rwanda is suffering from, and the treatment that could help him, but more importantly, what Rwandans need to do to remove him from power. As a beginning of this task, she proposes what she calls “an elders’ council” without a political baggage that “must be able to reach out to all the opposition groups – call it alliance for peace/change.”
Here is Kamikazi’s contribution that first appeared as a response in AfricanDictator.org
KAMIKAZI STRATEGY FOR DEFEATING DICTATOR KAGAME
Tyrant Kagame Suffers from Sociopath
I have done some research on Sociopath order and have concluded that President Kagame is a sociopath. This is antisocial personality disorder. Individuals with this disorder have little regard for the feeling and welfare of others. This disorder begins in adolescence through adulthood.
Symptoms of this disorder:
Not learning from experience
Inability to form meaningful relationship
Inability to control impulse
No change in behavior after punishment
People with this disorder exhibit criminal behavior. They don’t consider other peoples wishes, welfare, or rights. They can be manipulative and may lie to gain personal pleasure or profit. They exhibit impulsiveness, aggressiveness, irritability, and a reckless disregard for their own safety and the safety of others.
Gender (males more likely to suffer from this disorder)
Family history of this disorder puts one at higher risk
Experiencing neglectful parenting as a child
Belief that antisocial behavior is justified because of difficult circumstance
Treatment of the disorder:
Unfortunately, most people with this sociopath reject treatment and therefore recovery rates are low. My analysis is that Dictator Kagame has some of the symptoms of sociopath. He has no empathy towards others; he is devoid of ethical and moral standards.
For Kagame, it is normal to lie, cheat, steal, kill, torture, and violate the rights of others. In the same vein, most rulers with this disorder tend to be dictators and Kagame manifests 3 basic traits of a dictator:
Denial of reality: He has difficulty accepting; he sees only what he wants to see and avoids what he doesn’t want to see.
He’s a narcissistic because he believes he is the center of the universe and everything else resolves around him. Because he is a narcissistic, he is limited in thinking, selective in his views, narrow in his vision, intolerant of dissent, solicitous of praise and adulation, often surround himself with yes men, distrustful of everyone ( except his close henchmen who feed him only the information he wants to hear. He is rigid and inflexible and his approach and attitude towards opposition is never to compromise or negotiate.
Kagame rules by fear. His cronies and henchmen live in state of fear as well. It’s true that those who are feared by the people in turn fear the people who fear them. He is afraid of his own shadow, he is afraid of criticism, and most of all he’s afraid of the truth.
Elders’ council to coordinate removal of Kagame
We have got to know the enemy, his strength and weaknesses. You will find his weaknesses and exploit it. Kagame is operating by seizing the civil service, media, judiciary, security forces, election commission, and control of banks. Kagame packs these institutions with his cronies and subvert them to serve his interests. For a revolution to succeed we have to wrest control of one or more of these institutions. We have to get the sequence of reforms correct.
To begin to fight Kagame effectively, we need a small group of people- call them elders’ council to coordinate the activities, composed of imminent and respectable personalities who have no political baggage. They must be able to reach out to all the opposition groups – call it alliance for peace/change
Rwanda Speaks Out On Kagame's 'Stolen' Phone, Medical Documents
Rwanda government has spoken out on the reported theft of President Paul Kagame's cell phone and confidential medical documents during a trip to Uganda.
The country's Ambassador to Uganda Gen. Frank Mugambage has a few minutes ago told our news desk that indeed there was something 'minor' stolen from Kagame's aides.
"Yes, something very minor belonging to the President's staff went missing," says Mugambage.
"But it's not true that Kagame's cell phone and documents were stolen. I think police and hotel staff are following up the matter," adds Mugambage.
"The media is hyping the issue. Why are you following it up? If President Kagame's phone was stolen, we would be pursuing the matter," he notes.
However, informed State House sources say a hi-tech mobile phone and tightly guarded medical documents belonging to Kagame were on Christmas day robbed from his suite at Mweya Safari Lodge in Queen Elizabeth National Park by unknown people.
Kagame and his family members arrived in Uganda on December 23 for a five-day state visit. They spent the better part of their time at President Yoweri Museveni's upcountry home in Rwakitura, Kiruhuura district.
It's very unclear how hotel staff could break through Kagame's security ring to walk away with his property.
Three suspects have been detained at Kasese police station.
Observers say if the lost item was 'minor' police would not be interested in the matter.
Security sources say Kagame surrounds himself with an "iron security ring."
During a trip to Kigali early this year, Museveni warned Kagame that Uganda was a hub of dangerous thieves.
The revelation could embarass Uganda's presidency at a time when Kagame and Museveni are working tooth and nail to mend fences after years of strained relations.
###
Documents stolen from Kagame team
Unspecified documents belonging to Rwanda’s presidential entourage that had accompanied President Paul Kagame to Uganda for the Christmas holidays were stolen at a tourist lodging facility in Kasese, senior security officials from Rwanda and Uganda confirmed yesterday.
However, by last evening there were still conflicting accounts on the incident. Some security sources yesterday indicated that the stolen documents, which reportedly included some electronics, belonged to President Kagame.
But a senior official speaking from Kigali in a telephone interview said the stolen property belonged to President Kagame. But a senior official speaking from Kigali in a telephone interview said the stolen property belonged to President Kagame’s personal doctor. The official, who asked not to be named, identified Kagame’s physician as Dr Gasakure.
“It could have happened to Dr Gasakure because he does not enjoy the same security detail accorded to the president,” the source explained. He, however, added that the case was reported to the Ugandan authorities by the doctor and that President Kagame’s security team are not involved in pursuing the case.
Three arrested
At least three people were arrested by the police in Kasese on boxing day. The suspects are all employees of Mweya Safari Lodge in Queen Elizabeth National Park where the incident happened. President Kagame and family spent the Christmas holidays in Uganda and were hosted at the lodge.
The Uganda police, however, appeared shy to discuss details of the incident. Police Spokesperson Asuman Mugenyi last evening promised to give details of the incident, but by press time he had not returned our repeated calls.
Kasese District Police Commander Moses Kafeero declined to acknowledge the arrest, but one of the suspects confirmed he was at police and recorded a statement. Daily Monitor has learnt that the case was registered as 59/25/12/11 at Kasese Police Station.
One of the suspects said: “I did not steal but I was there recording a statement on security matters.” The trio were released on Wednesday on police bond, police sources said. “We resolved to release them because there was no complainant after the arrest. Our investigations all doubted how these people could easily beat the presidential security to reach the property,” the police source said.
The source added that ever since President Kagame left on Monday, there was nobody following up the matter. Details of how the theft happened were also scanty but security sources in Rwanda said someone must have gained access to Dr. Gasakure’s room and stolen the property.
The motive of the theft has also not been established. President Kagame, his wife Jeannette, children Anse, Brian and Ian were welcomed by President Museveni and his wife Janet last Thursday at the Uganda-Rwanda border in Katuna. The two presidents launched the re-construction of Mbarara-Katuna-Kigali Road at the Uganda-Rwanda border.
The decision by President Kagame and his family to celebrate Christmas in Uganda is being viewed as a further indication of improving relations between Kampala and Kigali. The Kagames’ visit also came three months after President Museveni, his daughter Natasha Karugire and Janet went to Rwanda on a four-day state visit.
Relations between Uganda and Rwanda became fragile in the late 90s and early 2000s when the armies of the two countries, which had entered DR Congo as allies to fight the late president Kabila later fought each other.
In his remarks, President Museveni hailed the improved good relationship being enjoyed by the two countries since Rwanda was admitted to the East African Community.
Rwanda : des taxes sur les propriétés foncières et les maisons d'habitation
Par Jane Mugeni
Le Site de Musabyimana
29/12/2011
Ce 29/12/2011 a eu lieu à Kigali une réunion dirigée par le premier ministre. Parmi les mesures annoncées figurent celles de taxer tous les propriétaires fonciers ayant des terres de 2 ha (200 m sur 200 m) ou plus. Il en sera de même de toutes les maisons d’habitation sur tout le territoire national.
Dans ce cadre, un recensement a été opéré dans tout le pays. Cette nouvelle taxe, une de plus, s’inscrit bien dans la politique sournoise, -mais combien criminelle !-, pratiquée par le FPR envers les paysans rwandais.
Taxe sur les maisons d’habitation
Il y a peu, plus de 100.000 maisons en paille ont été détruites au Rwanda pour obliger la population à construire des "habitations modernes". Peu de gens ont pu se conformer à cette exigence et sont devenus des « sans-logis ». Comme si cela ne suffisait pas, ceux qui ont ces maisons dites modernes (couvertes de tôles ou de tuiles) sont eux aussi dans le collimateur du pouvoir. Ils devront s’acquitter d’un impôt d’habitation. Il est évident que celui qui ne pourra pas s’en acquitte devra quitter sa maison et devenir lui aussi un « sans-logis ». A terme, dans ces conditions, le citoyen rwandais qui dort à la belle étoile, lui et sa famille, ne pourra qu’être terrassé par la faim et les maladies de toutes sortes et la mort s’en suivra. Le régime de Paul Kagame aura ainsi atteint un de ses objectifs : celle de réduire une partie de la population rwandaise à sa plus simple expression.
Impôt sur la propriété foncière
En novembre 2010, Emmanuel Neretse écrivait sur ce site ce qui suit : « Le régime du FPR de Paul Kagame est en train d’effectuer un recensement de toutes les possessions des terres sur tout le territoire national. Ce qui semble en apparence normal. Mais pour les observateurs avertis, il s’agit d’un pas supplémentaire pour que l’élite tutsi venue d’Ouganda puisse mettre la main sur ce qui restait comme biens appartenant aux paysans.
En effet, après le recensement et l’enregistrement de tous les domaines fonciers, le régime va imposer des redevances aux propriétaires. Les taux seront si exorbitants qu’aucun rwandais moyen ne pourra payer. Il sera donné un délai au-delà duquel la parcelle ou le champ sera vendu aux enchères si les redevances n’étaient pas payées. Devinez qui seront les acquéreurs ? Les riches tutsis venus d’Ouganda qui ont amassé des fortunes en pillant la RDCet en monopolisant toutes les activités commerciales et financières depuis leur conquête du pays. Ainsi la boucle sera bouclée : le paysan rwandais […] sera condamné à ne plus jamais être propriétaire dans un pays qu’il croyait être le sien. Il sera ainsi spolié « légalement » des terres léguées par ses ancêtres pour qu’il comprenne qu’il doit se soumettre aux maîtres qui ont conquis le pays en 1994. [….] La campagne actuelle d’enregistrement des domaines fonciers vise à retirer au menu peuple ce qui lui restait comme biens et qui le liait encore au pays de ses ancêtres, à savoir, la terre. Voici comment une clique de prédateurs sans vergogne peut s’emparer en si peu de temps du pouvoir, de l’avoir et du savoir de tout un pays ».
L’auteur de l’article avait tout prédit.
Avec des dirigeants pareils, le peuple rwandais n’est pas au bout de ses peines.
