Page 14-A CHESTER COUNTY INDEPENDENT • Thursday, August 16, 2012
From Page 13-A
Rwanda “genocide denial” because Ingabire has stated that in the genocide Hutus died as well as Tutsis. “The Rwandan government refers to it as the Tutsi genocide. If you say Hutus suffered too, Hutus died too, that’s a crime.” Moore pointed out that Ingabire is “basically looking at life in prison.” Moore further stated that Ingabire boycotted the last part of the trial because it had been corrupt and “so obviously one-sided that she knows that this isn’t going to go her way. It’s not been fair.” Moore disclosed that a recent UN report demonstrated that Kagame’s government is funding M23. M23 is a rebel force within the Congo that Rwanda is funding and supporting in hopes that M23 will eventually take over the Congo. The Congo is known for its mineral wealth. Rwanda has “made a fortune from mining their wealth and using their people” and
The Foundation works to combat all of these atrocities through educating both the public and politicians because “Rwanda is one of the most aid-dependent countries in the world, and they get help without question because there was a huge international guilt after the genocide because people were so afraid to step in while almost a million people were slaughtered.” Moore recently had a part in writing a letter from Rusesabagina and the Foundation to Bill Clinton in which they encouraged the former president to rethink his support for President Kagame’s regime. She is proud of the positive attention and support that the Foundation got because of the letter. Moore was told by Rusesabagina that he believed her writing in the letter was “excellent.” She states “I could live on that compliment for the rest of my life.” The Foundation is currently asking the politicians to “cut military aid. Don’t keep fueling a president who is not open and
Photo courtesy Jordan Moore
Jordan Moore and Aaron Kearney worked at the Foundation together. humanitarian aid but Moore says, “The U.S. cut $200,000 of aid in the last couple of weeks to Rwanda for their military training and then other countries followed suit. I think [Kagame’s] lost
Photo courtesy Kathryne Kurth
Straight Talk Africa. Paul Rusesabagina with hosts Shaka Ssali and Katrina Lantos Swett. the Rwandan government hopes for that to continue if M23 comes to power.
honest with what he’s doing.” The Foundation recognizes the need for
around $60 million in aid from the different countries that have already cut
funding. Other countries are already talking about pulling funding as well just because they don’t want to fund this corrupt regime.” As well as writing letters as part of her internship, Moore wrote a report on the state of healthcare in Rwanda. Moore found most shocking that “17 percent of the people in the country have access to over 81 percent of the medical personnel because the majority of doctors and nurses are concentrated in Kigali and only 17 percent of the people live there. Their average life expectancy is 55.” Moore shared the stories told by a nurse, Claire Uwamutara from Rwanda, who attended a meeting at which President Kagame was present. Uwamutara was told that as a nurse she was suppose to “... limit the number of Hutu births by finding ways to make birthing complica-
tions, such as sewing scissors into the mother’s stomachs as a kind of population control.” According to Moore, Uwamutara worked in a prison for a time too and was given infectious vaccines so that a certain percentage of the inmates would die that way. To Moore, Uwamutara’s stories were really eye opening. Ultimately, Uwamutara’s husband and 9-year-old son were killed. Uwamutara’s husband was in the military and had, like her, refused to kill others based on the regime’s political agenda. Uwamutara was forced to flee the country with her remaining children and only the clothes on their backs. Overall, Moore felt honored to be part of educating others regarding the heartbreaking circumstances of those in Rwanda and working to
make a difference to those who struggle every day there. Her favorite part of the internship was getting “to work day-to-day fighting for something that is so real, then actually seeing results.” She enjoyed working with people who were like-minded and who “… were just as excited about this as I was.” She has advice for those who want to ultimately work in a charitable field. “I would tell them to really think about what they are passionate about. The possibilities are just endless. Choose something you believe in and think is worth fighting for. You can get so discouraged, but if you really want to make a difference, you can.” If anyone wants more information about The Hotel Rwanda Rusesabagina Foundation, visit their website or their Facebook page.