Hungry for Truth, Peace and Justice

 On 26^th November 2011, President Paul Kagame addressed cabinet members, members of parliament, government officials and the residents of Nduba Sector, Gasabo District in Kigali city gathered in a tree planting propaganda. His address was  seen by many as an opportunity to mock some remarks by visiting US Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Susan Rice, that Rwanda development successes were not mirrored in politics, democratic rule, media, human rights, freedom of assembly, freedom of expression. 

“We are busy building Rwanda and who bring up negative critics on our achievements, is destroyed”, said President Paul Kagame.

In her remarks “as prepared for delivery”,under the title:  “Building a New Nation: Rwanda’s Progress and Potential” , Ambassador Susan E. Rice  on 23^rd November 2011 at the Kigali Institute of Science and Technology  made strong appraisal of development efforts and substantial social progress but insisted that the democratic milestone is still far away to be seen. She said:

“ Rwanda’s economic vitality has moved the country forward.  Social progress has been substantial.  Yet, the political culture in Rwanda remains comparatively closed. Press restrictions persist. Civil society activists, journalists, and political opponents of the government often fear organizing peacefully and speaking out. Some have been harassed.  Some have been intimidated by late-night callers. Some have simply disappeared. Yet, the world is moving rapidly in a different direction.  Across the globe, including in societies where the common wisdom was that freedom would never arrive, we are seeing people demand the right to chart their own future, to organize peaceful demonstrations, and to criticize their own governments.  From an angry young fruit seller in Tunisia, the demand to be heard has spread across North Africa and into the Middle East. It was taken up in Egypt.  Then Libyans demanded the end to Qaddafi’s 42 years of tyranny.  Today, Syrians and Yemenis are being killed by their governments simply for saying what they think about their leaders and their future.  But they will keep speaking out, because they have a universal human right to do so.  And they know it.

These rights to freedom of assembly, freedom of expression, freedom to organize peacefully, are just as vital, just as inherent in Asia, in Latin America and in Sub-Saharan Africa as they are in Europe, America or the Middle East. (…)” End of quotes.

“… why after listing all our achievements, the conclusion of some is that Rwandans don’t have space to express themselves”. There is no place to say nothing nor to say and we don’t respond. Our government has put means in place for Rwandans, including internet infrastructure, to say what they want and where they want. A population of over 10 millions of Rwandans is using that, it’s unacceptable that only about 100 or 150 people should be given special privileges to express themselves and remain unchallenged. What are they? Why then? Amongst them are many who say nothing, or whose words tend to destroy what we have achieved. (…) We are busy building Rwanda and who bring up negative critics on our achievements, are destroyed. We are not sorry for this at all. Actually we don’t do it enough because of those things of freedoms and rights. 

(Original text in Kinyarwanda:  “… Ariko ntabwo nakwemera ngo urambwira ngo abakwiye kuba bavuga kandi batanasubizwa ni abantu bagera nko ku ijana cyangwa ijana na mirongo itanu mu bantu miliyoni icumi n’izindi. Abo se ni iki ? Kubera iki ? Muri bo ko harimo n’abavuga ubusa cyangwa ko muri bo ko hari n#abavuga ibisenya! Igihe turiho twubaka u Rwanda ukaza kuvuga ibirusenya turagusenya. Nta n’umwe twabisabira imbabazi at all, ahubwo ntitubikora bihagije, nabwo bijyanye na kwa kundi kureka abantu gusa ngo bishyire bizane)”.

As for good governance, democracy and human rights. When you promote equal access and you are number one on the planet to empower women, whoever says this is not democracy is “insane”.(…)” , he stated.

 It’s time to speak out Rwandan dictatorship.