Your source for credible news Issue no 010
SPECIAL EDITION
RUSESABAGINA
IN THE DOCK Breaking: Rusesabagina appears in court for pre-trial hearing Page 2 Belgian authorities were on Rusesabagina’s case for money transactions to terrorist militias Page 3 Rusesabagina Regrets Terror Attacks, Seeks Forgiveness From The Victims Page 6 Rusesabagina’s allies throw a smokescreen in ploy to conceal crimes as their man faces the music Page 7 Court says ‘Given Rusesabagina’s recent history of terrorism, he is a high flight risk’, denies bail, orders he be remanded 30 days Page 14
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Breaking: Rusesabagina appears in court for pre-trial hearing
Rusesabagina was arraigned before Kagarama Primary Court in Kigali.
By Jean Gatera Paul Rusesabagina, the head of MRCD-FLN, who was arrested for terrorism-related on the 31st of August appeared in Court today at 10 AM. This was at Kagarama Primary Court with his lawyers David Rugaza and Emiline Nyembo as Prosecution laid a total of 14 charges against the suspect. During the hearing Rusesabagina’s lawyer questioned the court’s jurisdiction over his client, “given that Rusesabagina was not a resident of Kagarama Sector in Kicukiro (Kigali), and that his client was not a resident of Rwanda, and that nor was he
present when the alleged crimes were committed.” The attorney further asserted that his client should not be tried for crimes committed by a different party [the MRCD’s armed wing FLN] simply for having entered into a partnership. Rusesabagina’s lawyer argued that his client should be granted immediate released. The defense strategy was seemingly to separate MRCD and its military wing the FLN, but the prosecution showed that the two could not be separated from Rusesabagina. “Rusesabagina can’t be separated from MRCD-FLN actions. As the leader of the groups, he took
responsibility; and in questioning, he admitted to the actions of the groups and even said that he regretted forming them. Hence, he (Rusesabagina) cannot be separated from their actions,” the prosecutor maintained. On the subject of jurisdiction, Prosecution argued that Rusesabagina was arrested at Kanombe Airport, and owing to the fact that he had property in Rwanda, the court had jurisdiction in pre-trial detention matters. Prosecution further exposed to the court that Rusesabagina’s citizenship or permanent residency did not provide immunity to crimes committed in Rwanda. Also, Rwanda tries foreigners
that commit crimes, the prosecution reminded the court. To the Defense’s claim that their client was a victim of his freedom of expression, Prosecution pointed out that what the suspect did was more than express his views. The prosecution elaborated the charge that Rusesabagina knowingly financing terrorist attacks and pointed to evidence. On the charge of financing terrorism, Rusesabagina’s lawyer argued that “it was a case of small charitable amounts”. Prosecution disagreed, saying that “amounts in the range of US$ 20,000 could not be seen as charity.”
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Belgian authorities were on Rusesabagina’s case for money transactions to terrorist militias, court hears
Terror suspect Rusesabagina consults with his lawyers during the court proceedings at Kagarama Primary court in Kigali. Among the many revelations was how Belgian authorities have been investigating Rusesabagina for wiring money to his terror groups.
By Jean Gatera Paul Rusesabagina, the head of MRCD-FLN, who was arrested for terrorism on the 31st of August appeared in Court today in the morning at at Kagarama Primary Court with his lawyers David Rugaza and Emiline Nyembo as Prosecution read a total of 14 charges against him in the pre-trial hearing of his case. Rusesabagina was arrested late last month and unveiled to the media in Kigali on 31 August in a development that sent tongues wagging internationally. In a televised show with Rwanda Broadcasting Agency, President Kagame said Rusesabagina “willingly brought himself to Rwanda and there was never any wrongdoing in his apprehension.” During the morning session of today’s hearing Rusesabagina’s lawyer questioned the court’s jurisdiction over his client, given that Rusesabagina was not a
resident of Kagarama Sector in Kicukiro (Kigali), and that his client was not a resident of Rwanda, and that nor was he present when the alleged crimes were committed. The attorney further asserted that his client should not be tried for crimes committed by a different party (the MRCD’s armed wing FLN) simply for having entered into a partnership. In a case that continues to excite a lot of international attention, Rusesabagina’s lawyer argued that his client should be granted immediate bail “since he has never committed a crime.” The Defense’s strategy seemingly was to separate MRCD from its armed wing, FLN. Prosecution, however, showed that the two could not be separated from Rusesabagina. “Rusesabagina can’t be separated from MRCD-FLN actions. As the leader of the groups, he took responsibility; and in questioning, he admitted to the actions of the
groups and even said that he regretted forming them. Hence, he (Rusesabagina) cannot be separated from their actions,” the prosecutor maintained. Prosecution further exposed to the court that Rusesabagina’s citizenship or permanent residency did not provide immunity to crimes committed in Rwanda. Also, Rwanda tries even foreigners that commit crimes, court was reminded. To the Defense’s claim that their client was a victim of his freedom of expression, Prosecution pointed out that what the suspect did was “more than express his views.” Rusesabagina knowingly financed, and has been financing terrorist attacks, said Prosecution, pointing to evidence. On the terrorism financing charge, Rusesabagina’s lawyers argued that “it was a case of small charitable amounts”, but Prosecution disagreed, saying that amounts in the range of 20,000 Euros could not be seen as charity.
At 11:30 AM, Court adjourned to consider the defense’s objections on its competence. When it resumed at 1pm, the Court rejected all three of the Defense’s positions. As Rusesabagina was arrested in Kigali, the Court deemed that a pre-trial detention hearing was within its jurisdiction and competence. Prosecution then detailed why Rusesabagina should not be granted bail as it continues with its investigations. “Rusesabagina’s terrorist enterprise began as far back as 2009 with evidence of his collaboration with one Noel Habiyaremye of the FDLR terrorist militia,” the Prosecutor said. “When Habiyaremye was arrested and extradited to Rwanda, Rusesabagina then partnered with Gen. Wilson Irategeka of the same terrorist group.” Prosecution then informed the court that it had evidence of communication and money
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Issue no 010 Special Edition >> from page 3 transfers between Rusesabagina and FDLR. “We also have paperwork that was handed to us by Belgian Police showing the money trail from Rusesabagina to militia outfits in this region,” the Prosecutor said as he pleaded his case for Rusesabagina to be kept in detention since this indeed was a man “that could not be safely bailed”. The Prosecutor also revealed that during their preliminary investigations, Rusesabagina had acknowledged giving 20,000 Euros to his FLN fighters, and that he had raised a total of 300,000 Euros for the same militia. With paper trail of financial transactions obtained from Belgium and other sources, it was exposed how Rusesabagina transferred money to FLN through intermediaries in Burundi, Seychelles, Madagascar and DR Congo. Court asked Rusesabagina to enter a plea to the charges laid against him but he indicated that he preferred to enter a plea to each individual charge as the case progressed. “I will not add anything to my written submissions, for now. I spoke extensively about the crimes I am accused of with both prosecution and investigators and all my responses to these accusations are well documented in my file before court,” Rusesabagina said. On accusations of FLN connection, Rusesabagina admitted links to the group and said: “ I also responded to the crimes that
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FLN has committed on Rwandan territory. This was not the mission we had given them. I also apologised for this.” According to one of his defense lawyers, Emeline Nyembo, her client did not wish to enter a plea, fearing self-incrimination. “Our client thinks he can’t enter plea on each of the charges because, while he accepts committing some of the acts, he cannot qualify them as criminal offenses. He does not want to end up incriminating himself,” she said as his defense team tried to look for holes in the prosecution evidence. While acknowledging that some of the evidence was obtained from their client’s computer and mobile phone, the Defense said that it was not “definitive proof that it was written by Rusesabagina personally”. Rusesabagina also claimed that after the “Hotel Rwanda” movie, people assumed him to be a millionaire and solicited all sorts of financing. “The money I sent was for different reasons, some of it was for humanitarian purposes,” Rusesabagina said. Defense also pleaded that Rusesabagina was sick, that he posed no flight risk as prosecution had all his travel documents. They said he would be willing to abide by any court restrictions if granted bail. Rusesabagina, speaking on his bail hearing said that he would not flee if it was granted. “Like my lawyers have said, I am sick. In the past two weeks, I have been to hospital three times.
I request to be given bail and I assure Court that I will not flee from justice,” he said. Prosecution strongly opposed bail and indicated that it would present more proof from testimonies of victims of the attack to autopsy reports. It also had testimonies of 82 children that were forcefully recruited into FLN, MRCD’s military wing. Crucially, given the nature of charges and the fact that he had evaded justice for so long, they argued that he would do so (try to evade justice) again if given the chance. On the defense proposal of a cash surety Prosecution asked, “How do you determine the amount worth the value of people who lost their lives for instance?” After hearing both submissions, the Judge adjourned proceedings to Thursday, 17 this month, when
Court will pronounce it’s ruling on the pre-trial detention hearing. The Rwandan Investigation Bureau, which announced the arrest of Rusesabagina, handed his case over to Prosecution on last week on 9th after completing its investigations. Paul Rusesabagina was the subject of an international arrest warrant following several armed attacks killing civilians and destroying property in Southern Rwanda. His organization MRCD-FLN claimed responsibility for an attack on unarmed civilians in Nyabimata, Nyaruguru District in June 2018 and in Nyungwe, Nyamagabe District in December 2018. In 2019, Rusesabagina’s deputy, Callixte Nsabimana was arrested and pled guilty to terrorism and charges related to MRCD-FLN attacks.
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Survivors of FLN terror attacks hail arrest of Rusesabagina, demand quick justice By Yves Muneza Survivors of FLN terror attacks that took place in different parts of Rwanda in 2018 and 2019 have expressed gratitude to the country’s leadership for the arrest of terror masterminds like Paul Rusesabagina and Calixte Nsabimana. FLN is a terror outfit and armed wing of a terrorist organization MRCD of which one of its leaders is Rusesabagina. MRCD operates from Europe and whose leaders comprise of genocide revisionists like Paul Rusesabagina and Faustin Twagiramungu. Rusesabagina was arrested on the 30th of august this year and stands accused of terrorism, arson, kidnap and murder while Twagiramungu roams still in Belgium. Residents of Nyaruguru, Nyamagabe, Nyamasheke and Rusizi districts in the South and Western province were victims to the attacks; there are those that were shot and sustained serious injuries, those that were taken hostages by the terrorists and those whose properties have been looted. Narrating his ordeal as to what happened on the night of 1st, July, 2018 in Nyaruguru David Ngendakumana, 32, one of 15 people that were taken hostage by the terrorists said that the terrorists were very prepared, they had done a lot of mapping before launching assaults, to the extent that they knew everybody’s name on the fateful day.
“They first knocked on my door, it was around 10:30 pm and we were in bed,” said Ngendakumana. “Before I got out of the bed, they had already broken in and we were at gun point; one of them called my name and instructed me to go down and to give him my phone. As I was thinking about what was happening, I was slapped; I handed them my phone!” Ngendakumana’s and his wife were rounded up and ordered to walk outside. Some of them (attackers) remained behind, and took 6 kilograms of beans, 10 kilograms of maize. “We were then taken to a spot where other people had been convened. While we were there we heard gunshot sounds and we were told to collect every item that they had looted and run towards the nearest forest – Pafor Forest.” Ngendakumana narrated that they spent the night with their captors, until early in the morning when they were rescued by Rwanda Defense Force troops. “We had been abducted, and were held for more than five hours. We thought we might not survive but the security forces were quick to intervene in our cases, we were given some food and we were assured of security,” said Ngendakumana. He says that together with members of his family and his neighbors who suffered the night they were abducted, they felt it such great news when they heard that Rusesabagina, the mastermind of the group that attacked them in
David Ndengakumana, 32, from Nyaruguru district, one 15 people who were taken hostage by the terrorists by the FLN terrorists.
Nyabimata, had been arrested. The wave of the attacks that mostly took place in the surroundings of the thick Nyungwe Forest, which the infiltrators had used to carry nasty attacks, extended to neighborhoods of Nyamagabe, Nyamasheke and Rusizi district. At least four buses, from Alpha and Omega express companies carrying passengers from those areas heading to Kigali were torched and six people died. Desire Ngirababyeyi was one of the drivers of Alpha Express Company whose bus was shelled with a rocket when he decided to speed by the terrorists on the evening of 9thJuly 2019. Luckily for them, together with all his passengers they came out of the burning bus alive. They were then taken hostage for a while, before being released.
aimlessly deep in the forest to flee the gunmen. “They had blocked the road with a huge tree trunk and we could see a few meters ahead of our bus that a passenger bus was in flames, we were stopped immediately. Anybody that dared look at their phone or try to compose a number was shot immediately,” she said, adding: “that’s how one of my fellow passengers died.” Marthe says she came to know that one of the responsible people (Rusesabagina) has been arrested. “I wish to see him rotting in prison!” she exclaimed. With the involvement of the Rwanda Government – mainly through local governments, RDF and Rwanda National Police – all the 59 people affected (including the families of six people that lost their lives) have received support to carry on with their lives.
Desire Ngirababyeyi was one of the drivers of Alpha Express Company whose bus was shelled with rocket when he decided to by-pass the terrorists on the evening of 9th July, 2019
“I was shot two times in my leg and I still carry fragments in my left feet. Life after has never been the same,” said Ngirababyeyi. “I still drive the bus but every time I pass in the forest the flash of the memories makes me a bit dizzy. But I have come to get used to it. I wish to see government delivering justice to each of us who was affected,” he added. Marthe Kamanzi was one of the passengers that were traveling from Rusizi to Kigali when their bus was ambushed and torched. She narrated how a passenger who was sitting close to her was shot during the fracas to get out of the bus and died on the spot, while she and other people ran
And now they are looking forward to receiving justice, with the trial of Paul Rusesabagina and Callixte Nsabimana.
Marthe Kamanzi
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Rusesabagina Regrets Terror Attacks, Seeks Forgiveness From The Victims By KT Press
Nyaruguru district and those of 6 people killed in NLF attacks in Cyitabi Sector, Nyamagabe district, all of which will be presented in court.
Hotel Rwanda ‘hero’ Paul Rusesabagina on Monday said that he regrets the attacks that claimed lives of innocent Rwandans in the south western part of the country, pointing out that he seeks forgiveness from those affected.
More evidence will include testimonies of parents and relatives of the people killed in the NLF attack as well as pictorial evidence of things destroyed by NLF attackers.
The 66-year old, who faces 13 charges including terrorism, conspiracy to create an illegal armed group and murder, among others, preferred not to plead guilty or not, on the charges during the pre-trial hearing at Kicukiro Primary Court, stating that he would prefer to explain himself on each charge when the trial goes into substance. Court resumed the hearing in the afternoon after Judges ruled that Kicukiro Primary Court has the jurisdiction to try the pre-trial hearing of Rusesabagina since he was arrested in the territory the court has jurisdiction over, which is Kicukiro district. Rusesabagina’s lawyers had raised several obstacles, including challenging the competence of the court but they were all overruled, allowing the pretrial hearing to continue. Flanked by his lawyers, David Rugaza and Emeline Nyembo, Rusesabagina carefully listened as Prosecutors detailed the charges, dating back to 2009, when he allegedly financed former members of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), with an aim of starting armed groups to fight the Government of Rwanda. Prosecution stated important reasons as to why Rusesabagina should not be granted bail. Prosecutors said that his activities to wage war against the Government of Rwanda started way back in 2009, when he was the head of PDR Ihumure, where he was facilitating members of FDLR, through a one Col. Noel Habiyaremye. Court heard that Rusesabagina later worked with Gen. Wilson Irategeka, the leader of the
Rusesabagina speaks out Upon taking the floor, Rusesabagina said that throughout his interactions with investigators and prosecution, he has been clear that if there are some bad actions that were committed by the groups he supported, leading to loss of lives, he regrets them.
FDLR breakaway faction, the National Council for the Democratic Renewal (CNRD), with the main purpose of forming armed organisations to wage war against the Government of Rwanda. Prosecutors dwelled more on the activities of National Liberation Front (NLF), the armed wing of Rusesabagina’s Rwandan Movement for Democratic Change (MRCD) coalition, highlighting the attacks carried out on Rwandan territory between 2018 and 2019, mentioning how the attacks left scores dead and many injured while homes were ransacked. Prosecutors said they have letters detailing Rusesabagina’s activities, including some given to Rwanda by Belgian authorities, as well as chats involving Rusesabagina and others who were plotting to overthrow the Government of Rwanda, as well as money transfer evidence. Prosecutors further mentioned money transfer details to support armed groups, including money sent by Mukangamije Tatiana, Rusesabagina’s wife, amounting to $970, in 2019, to Nsabimana Callixte, the NLF Spokesperson,
who was in Comoros at the time, which was part of the support. In more revealing details, Prosecutors said Belgian Police shared many documents with Rwanda, detailing different fundraising and money transfer activities led by Paul Rusesabagina and his people, involving hundreds of thousands of euros and dollars, which were aimed at sustaining NLF operations. Among other things, Prosecutors say they have detailed testimonies of survivors of the attacks by NLF in the southwestern part of Rwanda, especially in the districts of Nyaruguru and Nyamagabe, who will be witnesses in the trial, including young children who were kidnapped and forced to join the armed activities. Prosecutors said that all these will be presented in court when the trial goes into the substantive phase. It was revealed in court that 82 children were forcefully recruited into NLF. Prosecutors also said that they have autopsy reports of 3 people who were killed in the attacks between June and December 2018, in Nyabimata Sector,
“I regret these actions and I am seeking forgiveness from all Rwandans as well as the victims and all those who were affected by these actions,” Regarding the 2009 claim by Prosecution that as President of Ihumure, he sent financial support to a one Col. Noel Habiyaremye, with the aim of starting an armed group, Rusesabagina said that at the time he wasn’t the President of PDR Ihumure. At the time, he was the president of the Rusesabagina Hotel Rwanda Foundation and he occasionally supported Rwandan refugees financially, out of kindness, a claim which Prosecutors dismissed. He however doesn’t deny sending the money, but by claiming that he was the President of PDR Ihumure then, Rusesabagina said that Prosecutors want to add more weight to the charge. On sending money to CNRD’s Gen. Irategeka, Rusesabagina said it is true he sent 3000 Euros to the former but he sent it out of kindness after he pleaded to him for support. He said that the amount sent to Gen. Irategeka of CNRD was to
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>> from page 6 support him personally, in a charitable way but the money was not meant to finance the creation of an armed group or to NLF. On the amount his wife sent to Callixte Nsabimana, he said it was also for ‘survival’ because his wife is known to Nsabimana, since her mother originated from the same place as his mother. Rusesabagina said that when the film Hotel Rwanda came out, many Rwandan refugees looked at him as a millionaire and often reached out to him for financial
support and for those he supported, he did so out of kindness, not because he was financing their armed activities. Prosecutors however punched holes in his claims, pointing out that the chats and correspondences as well as pronouncements by Rusesabagina on media and other recordings say otherwise. On the alleged money transfers, he said it is true money from his end was sent to some individuals under NLF or other groups but out of the many names he was shown, he only recognised 2
people, a one Munyemana Eric and Marie Claire Ingabire, who were known to him but he was not the one initiating these transfers.
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charges he faces and the fact that he had eluded justice for a long time. They said he would do so again given another chance.
He said that he does not recognise the documents in possession of the Prosecution. His lawyer David Rugaza said that the documents from Belgium and those obtained from his computer or phone are not strong evidence to incriminate their client.
Rusesabagina told the court that he is not in good health and that he has been to the hospital 3 times since he arrived in Rwanda, pleading to court to consider that and release him on bail. He emphasized that he is ready to continue with the legal process.
After lengthy deliberations, Prosecutors said that Rusesabagina would be a flight risk if released on bail, given the nature of
The hearing has been adjourned to Thursday, September 17, when the court will pronounce itself on the matter.
Rusesabagina’s allies throw a smokescreen in ploy to conceal crimes as their man faces the music By Moses Gisa Known members of groups behind crimes of terrorism in Rwanda, the MRCD-Ubumwe of Paul Rusesabagina, have fabricated propaganda accusing the Rwandan Government of “carrying terror activities to Canada.” They allege this is “happening” in the cities of Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, and Edmonton. Their move, however, is seen by many as a smokescreen to conceal MRCD’s own crimes of terrorism against Rwandans, “especially now that Rusesabagina is going to face the law,” observers point out. Speaking on the anti-Rwanda platform Radio-Ubumwe, hosted by a renowned Genocide denier Esperance Mukashema, MRCD Henchmen Francois Mutuyemungu, and “BEM” Emmanuel Habyarimana claimed that “the Rwandan government is establishing intelligence cells and deploying operatives to hunt down Rwandan refugees in Canada.” They single out Antoinette Umuraza with her husband whom they identify as Afande Kawunga, Marie Michelle Umuhoza and others. “These are the people that have been sent to disturb our peace,” claimed Mutuyemungu. These are the words of desperate people that will say anything now that their boss Rusesabagina is in lawful custody, a commentator remarked. “They will say anything, and smear anyone,
but they are the real criminals!” Mutuyemungu for instance is a member of terrorist Callixte Nsabimana’s armchair terror group Rwandese Revolution Movement (RRM). “These are international terrorists responsible for armed attacks on innocent civilians in Rwanda; they connived with their leader Rusesabagina who is awaiting prosecution. The arrest of the big fish in the anti-Rwanda terrorists’ camp is a thorn in the flesh for the hostile groups. They will concoct anything to taint the image of Rwanda on the global scene,” reacted a political observer on Twitter. According to sources, Umuraza, one of the people being smeared, is a retired police officer who relocated to Canada with her family. She’s living a private life, not involved in politics or any other matter related to public service. As for Umuhoza the former spokesperson of Rwanda Investigation Bureau, she is currently in Canada for medical reasons as indicated by her institution. Not long ago the same anti-Rwanda groups were falsely claimed she had “fled the country”. “These people are accomplices in Rusesabagina’s case; soon they will have their day in court. Rusesabagina committed crimes against Rwandans by founding and funding a terrorist militia group, FLN that killed innocent
civilians, injured many, looted, and burnt their properties,” a Facebook user commented, reacting to the talk show. In the same talk show on “Radio-Ubumwe”, “BEM” Habyarimana, a self-exiled former defense minister claimed Rusesabagina “has equal rights to possess guns and ammunition just like the Rwandan government.” Habyarimana’s utterances were seen by many as fresh incitement to violence by Rusesabagina’s people. Relatedly, a fortnight ago Rusesabagina’s right-hand man Vincent Biruka who serves as Secretary-General of CNRD- called on Rwandans to revolt against their elected leadership. “There are running out of steam and the world is narrowing down on them. They have now resorted to incitements after failing on the so-called armed struggle to liberate Rwanda; their survival out there is short-lived.” a social media user reacted denouncing Biruka
Rusesabagina, Nsabimana, BEM Habyarima, and Biruka have been perpetrating crimes targeting the Rwandan people. Through their terrorist militia, National Force of Liberation (FLN), they orchestrated armed attacks on the Rwandan soil. They include attacks of June, December 2018 in the Rwandan Southern and Western Province which claimed 6 innocent civilians and injured several others, setting ablaze commuter buses, looting citizens’ belongings and holding them hostage before the people were rescued by RDF troops. Their former ally and FLN spokesperson Nsabimana spilled the beans on Rusesabagina and his MRCD-FLN allies’ role in destabilizing Rwanda and their plot to overthrow the government. Nsabimana pleaded guilty on 16 counts including terrorism, kidnapping, armed robbery, arson, murder, Genocide denial, forgery and causing bodily harm among others.
MRCD henchmen Francois Mutuyemungu (Left) and BEM Habyarimana in full gear to sanitize Rusesabagina as he faces trial soon
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Paul Rusesabagina At Home And Face To Face With His True Self By KT Press There is a yawning chasm between the oft repeated assertions about Rwanda, and the country as it really is. Few events could have been better designed to expose this distance between perception and reality, than the arrest of Paul Rusesabagina, hailed as a hero by much of the world’s media, but well known by Rwandans themselves, to be something quite different. We are yet to know the exact details of Rusesabagina’s arrest, other than that it surprised almost everyone, including the accused himself, and seems to have gone off like clockwork. After understandably being caught somewhat on the hop, the tireless, organised, highly committed army of Rwanda’s detractors have been quick to regroup. With a keen understanding of what plays well to Western ears, the media especially, they have lost little time in trotting out the tried and tested narratives against Rwanda. “Paul Rusesabagina, kidnapped in Dubai and brought to Rwanda has been denied access to lawyer, consular visits…” We are constantly reminded that Rusesabagina is a “Humanitarian” who allegedly saved exactly, 1,200 people at Hotel des Milles Collines. “Humanitarian” is now a title for Rusesabagina, which he has used to sign off letters written denouncing the Rwanda government, to among others, the Pentagon. His “International Counsel” has
written to the United Nations special rapporteur on torture, and other cruel, inhuman or degrading punishment.” It is not clear if they are alleging that these cruel and inhuman acts are being meted out on Rusesabagina, but that does not seem to matter much. The point is to condemn and depict Rwanda, always referred to as Kagame, as being capable of such crimes. The truth of it, or otherwise, a mere detail. Mr Rusesabagina, the appeal to the special rapporteur inform us, was “abducted, disappeared, and subjected to extraordinary rendition…” Only a few days since his arrest, and we are already in the parallel world of what psychologists term “the illusion of truth” or more crudely, courtesy of Joseph Goebbels, the Nazi propagandist, “repeat a lie often enough, and it becomes the truth.” There are some certainties in this evolving scenario. One is that like many before him, who have been extradited to Rwanda, Rusesabagina can be assured of all his legal rights, beginning with the right to choose his own counsel, and if he wishes, consular visits from the Belgian Embassy in Kigali. Following the 1994 genocide against Tutsi, every institution had at best to be rebuilt, or established from scratch. Few sectors have had more time, energy and resources lavished on them, than the institution of justice. Every necessary reform to bring it to international standards has
either been accomplished, or is being implemented.
cuffs. Not all that begins well, ends as it began.
The transformation has been enough to instil confidence in Rwanda’s justice system, from every country in the world, including Scandinavian countries which most pride themselves on the most strict observance of human rights, that they can extradite suspects to the country.
The gratuitously, ostentatious chorus of Rusesabagina as a Humanitarian is also likely to quickly wither under the first light shone on it. How he became celebrated as a humanitarian hero, may be a story more worthy of Hollywood than the one that brought him fame, and no little fortune.
Hyperbolic claims of denial of access to lawyers, torture, and most sinister of all, “disappearances” will ring hollow to anyone who cares to properly scrutinise the system that is now entertaining Rusesabagina. And indications are that talk of abductions are also wide of the mark. When during a Rwanda Television interview, he was asked how Rusesabagina came to be arrested, President Kagame observed wryly, that when the story is eventually fully aired, it will become clear that Rusesabagina travelled to Rwanda of his own accord. Hinting at some subterfuge, he said Rusesabagina came voluntarily, willingly, although he may have been under the impression, he was heading to a destination other than his native land. “There was no wrong doing involved, he came of his own volition…except perhaps telling a fib, that might be the only wrong doing…” Far from being abducted or rendered, by all accounts, Rusesabagina had a particularly pleasant trip. He enjoyed the kind of inflight service most of us who travel economy class, only ever imagine. What intrigues, is where in Africa he believed he was going, and why? Either way, he disembarked refreshed, and no doubt expecting a VIP reception. It is not too fanciful to imagine that at first, he may have thought the police waiting on the tarmac part of his escort, to yet another luxury hotel. They were there to accompany him of course, but not as he had anticipated.
Rusesabagina as dossier is handed over to the prosecution service
A comfortable if not luxurious journey, ending with him in hand-
It is above all as egregious an example as any, of the scorn in which Africa, in general, and in this case, Rwanda in particular, is held in the West. The most cursory of research would have rang alarm bells, before a Hollywood director ever called, camera, action. But Rwandans it seemed did not matter enough to be consulted in anyway other than as nodding heads to what had already been decided. Yolande Mukagasana was one of the survivors who was sheltered at the hotel, before being transferred to the Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF) controlled zone. She had known Rusesabagina well enough to be present when he went to ask for his wife’s hand in marriage. After the marriage, she and Rusesabagina’s wife would develop a close friendship. Both nurses, they also worked together, and it was Mukagasana who comforted her friend through a miscarriage. She remembers a man who was deeply involved in the politics of the time. The friendship would come under some strain in 1993, when Mukagasana’s husband, Joseph Murekezi, asked his wife to exclude him from visits to the Rusesabagina home, because of the latter’s increasingly strident extremism. The two women continued to be close, however, and it was Rusesabagina’s wife, who arranged for Mukagasana who was being hunted, to be allowed to take refuge at the Mille Collines hotel. By then, as she recounts in her
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for Development and Democracy (MRND), but there, dear film buffs, ends the similarities.
book, Not My Time To Die, she was all that was left of her family. Her husband, Murekezi had been murdered before her eyes, and she would later learn that so too had been her children. Hotel de Mille Collines had become a world in of itself. It was the base from where the UNAMIR (UN Mission in Rwanda) force commander, lieutenant-General Romeo Dallaire, tried to do what he could to fulfil what was left of his mission, after he had been effectively abandoned by his superiors in the Security Council. It was where any Western foreigner who had not been evacuated from Rwanda could be found, where Captain Diagne Mbaye of the UN Senegalise contingent, under Romeo Dallaire, was quietly, without fuss or fanfare, going about his heroics, saving as many people as he could. Captain Mbaye would sadly be targeted by the Rwandan army, and killed. It was the place where many desperate people, Yolande Mukagasana among them, took refuge. Dallaire had begun to negotiate safe passage for refugees to go into the RPF controlled zone, and to safety. Inevitably, it became a place of great interest to what there was of international media. So much so that Jean Kambanda, the Prime minister, would complain fretfully, that the hotel was too exposed to international gaze. The genocidal establishment still believed it could conceal the crime from the world’s eyes. It is because of this, as much as anything else, that the order was given for no murders to be committed at the hotel, for the time being. In the meantime, however, something had to be done, to bring more under government control. The Belgian management had left Rwanda, leaving the way clear for the genocidal government to install their own man. Rusesabagina was sent from the Hotel Diplomate which he managed, and which had become the headquarters for the genocidal government, to go and keep an eye on things at the Mille Collines.
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Arriving at Rwanda Investigation Bureau, Suited and booted
It is barely a five minute drive from what was Hotel Diplomate to Mille Collines, five minutes during which Rusesabagina would go from just another cog in the genocidal machine, to world fame, or infamy, depending on whether you view him from Hollywood, or Rwanda. The new man quickly established his own fiefdom at the four star hotel. First order of business was to disconnect all the telephones, which had been a link to the outside world, for the refugees especially. Now the only telephone left was at the top of the hotel, in what became a communications centre, accessible only to the authorities, including the leadership of the Interahamwe, and anyone else Rusesabagina chose to grant permission. According to Mukagasana, and other survivors, he also set about enriching himself. Sabena, the Belgian management company, had left instructions that no one was to be charged to stay at the hotel, but it was now under new management. Everything, from shelter, water and food was to be at a cost. If you ran out of cash as many did, you wrote cheques, Tacian Ndorimana, signed several. He now lives in Belgium, and has watched, aghast, as the man who extorted every last cent he had, was hailed a humanitarian hero. If you had no cash, and had fled to the hotel without stopping to grab your chequebook, as many did, you ended up drinking chlorinated water, from the hotel swimming pool, as many did. In the film, Hotel Rwanda, much is made of supposed negotiations between Rusesabagina and the Interahamwe. As every survivor,
and even the UN peacekeepers would have informed any researcher, had they asked, there were no such negotiations, except perhaps, about how to share the loot. Perhaps the most grotesque claim of all, was depicting Rusesabagina as “Africa’s Schindler.” It is easy to see why Hollywood latched on to this. The accepted norm is that no African story is viable, unless it has a Western perspective. Here was a story with not only such a perspective, but the symmetry too was uncanny. Oscar Schindler is said to have saved 1,200 Jews from the Nazis, and lo and behold, Rusesabagina manages to save 1,200 Tutsi from the Interahamwe. What fortuitous coincidence, the film gods must have been smiling. The truth, however, was grimacing. Oscar Schindler was a complex, extraordinary man. A German industrialist in Nazi occupied Poland, he begun by insisting to the Nazis that his Jewish workers must be spared, because they were essential to the war effort, and ended up recruiting more Jewish people, not because he needed them, but because they needed him. Although a member of the Nazi party, it was nevertheless a dangerous game to play. He managed to maintain the fiction, by a combination of charm, guile and a lot of bribery. His story, Schindler’s list, was told in a film by Stephen Spielberg. In fairness to Hollywood, there is a point of comparison. Just as Schindler was a member of the Nazi party, Rusesabagina was also member of the extremist National Republican Movement
Oscar Schindler risked his life and fortune to save the lives he did, and was a poorer man by the time the Nazis were defeated. Rusesabagina more than vindicated the trust put in him by the genocidal government, and was an infinitely richer man, by the time the genocidal forces were defeated. So much richer in fact, that he would be able to purchase at least two properties in Brussels, almost immediately after leaving Rwanda. One used his fortune to buy time for desperate people facing a genocide, the other extorted money from the victims, and would not even offer them water, unless he was paid. “The Rwandan government accuses Rusesabagina of falsely claiming to have saved people…” is a line repeated in almost every Western newspaper that has published a story on the subject. In fact, the Rwanda government has said precious little on the subject. It is the survivors of the genocide, like Mukagasana, Ndorimana, and others, who have consistently voiced their shock, and some distress at what they see as perverting the truth. And yet, none of this, is what would land Rusesabagina in the dock. He is primarily a victim of his own hubris. An image of him had been constructed, and he could not resist the temptation to inhabit it. Looked up to by the anti Rwanda forces because of his fame, he seems to have come to believe that he must be the man destined to lead them. The moment the armed groups he is accused of financing, and which he himself has admitted to head, crossed over into Rwanda, to murder unarmed civilians, was the moment he invited Rwanda’s security services to take a close interest in him. That interest has now led to a home coming he had neither wanted nor anticipated.
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Why international media will not cover the substance of Rusesabagina’s crimes By The New Times This oft-quoted statement by Toni Morrison, the American Nobel Laureate for Literature, is essential for anyone interested in understanding what’s going on with the media coverage of Paul Rusesabagina’s arrest: “The function, the very serious function of racism is distraction. It keeps you from doing your work. It keeps you explaining, over and over again, your reason for being. Somebody says you have no language and you spend twenty years proving that you do. Somebody says your head isn’t shaped properly so you have scientists working on the fact that it is. Somebody says you have no art, so you dredge that up. Somebody says you have no kingdoms, so you dredge that up. None of this is necessary. There will always be one more thing.” Major international media houses—the likes of CNN, BBC, The New York Times, The Washington Post, Reuters and others—are distracting the public from the substance of the crimes that Paul Rusesabagina is accused of and diverting people’s attention to the procedure of his arrest. The distractions are so glaring that the uninformed or misinformed reader, the real target of the misleading reporting, would be forgiven for thinking that Rusesabagina was arrested for designating himself as a “hero” or for being a “critic.” The first distraction was the story of “kidnap”, which has now been upgraded to “rendition.” What makes this a distraction is that no country has complained that its territorial integrity was violated by the “rendition” or “kidnap” of Rusesabagina. Even when it is clear that Rusesabagina came to Rwanda on his own volition, the media insists on the kidnap and rendition narrative. When they don’t do that, they raise alarm denouncing the possibility that Rusesabagina was “tricked” or lured into turning himself in. “Suspects on the run don’t have to consent to their arrest,” a veteran Kigali lawyer told me as I was researching for this article.
Lawyer David Rugaza (left) interacts with Paul Rusesabagina.
“They, in fact, get arrested because they didn’t know they would be arrested. Being lured into a trap is not a unique circumstance for arresting a suspect, especially those on the run like Rusesabagina. Rendition and kidnapping have meanings and what happened to him isn’t one of them,” he said, before adding, “if there are procedural issues that need to be challenged, that’s fine. There are provisions for challenging that under Rwanda’s laws. However, the most important part is that Rusesabagina was needed in Rwanda and he is here.” In other words, the rest is a distraction. The second distraction was media coverage’s suggestion that it was somewhat improper for someone of Rusesabagina’s celebrity to get “paraded in handcuffs.” Surely, celebrities don’t come any bigger than Bill Cosby, a Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient. His parading in handcuffs does not need reminding, and the internet is awash with pictures captured by the same media houses that have suddenly found it improper to parade and handcuff celebrities. In fact, a number of celebrities who have been arrested on much lesser crimes than terrorism and rape have been paraded in handcuffs. The third distraction is the claim that Rusesabagina’s family and
lawyers have been denied access to him and that he faces the risk of torture. However, the family and lawyers concede to the fact that they are not physically present in Rwanda. Unless the allegation is intended to act as a distraction, what kind of access do they expect if they are not physically present in Rwanda where their family member and client is? Similarly, how do they know that Rusesabagina is undergoing torture when they don’t have access to him? On the contrary, I have it on good authority that Rusesabagina has been talking to his family on the phone. Rusesabagina has also stated that he has been “treated with kindness” and was given the right to choose his legal defence: “I have been offered an option to choose my defense team. Investigations are still ongoing, I do not want to discuss details of a matter before the court. I do not want to discuss my charges because this is an issue that is before court and investigations,” he said in the interview.
someone who handled cases that involved similar international media coverage, what he thinks about the international media’s failure or refusal to discuss the substance of Rusesabagina’s arrest, including terrorism crimes (particularly the concern for the victims of the attacks by FLN –Force for National Liberation -- the armed wing of Rusesabagina’s political party MRCD (Movement for Change and Democracy in Rwanda) and his own recordings announcing the launch of the armed struggle in the lead-up to the attacks.
A source also intimated to me that a representative of the Belgian embassy visited Rusesabagina at his jail cell at Remera Police Station. So, what’s the media distraction all about?
“It is not the first time they are doing this [distraction],” the prosecutor said. “In 2010, a foreigner who had been engaging in genocide denial was arrested and charged under Rwandan law. Even before his charges were read out, there was a petition that was making rounds across his home country calling for his release. I happened to visit that country. I met some of those petitioners in a public forum. I asked them whether they knew what the charges were. They didn’t because their petition was before the prosecution had initiated charges. So, I asked them ‘what are you petitioning against?’ None of them could reasonably answer my question.”
Contempt for “native institutions”
The petition, as is the media
I asked a former prosecutor and
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onslaught on the procedure of Rusesabagina's arrest, was a distraction. It is a contemptuous reaction to Rwanda’s institutions. As noted above, the media is awash with a multitude of allegations against the government, ranging from procedural to substantive breaches of rights (torture, denial of access, etc) from a team of lawyers (and spokesperson) that has not bothered to meet Rusesabagina for client-to-lawyer interactions. This contempt also explains the coverage by The Washington
Post that Rusesabagina had been detained by the “state-run Rwanda Investigation Bureau” as if to suggest that he is being held captive by a rogue entity that is about to pass him over to a “native court” for trial. At the centre of the wilful manipulation of the media is Ms. Kitty Kurth, the Spokesperson of the Rusesabagina Foundation, the orchestrator of the grand distraction. One would be tempted to think that this is a briefcase foundation. For one thing, the Foundation acts as if it has an open-ended mandate in taking up
the criminal responsibilities of its founder, Rusesabagina, without owning up to prior knowledge of his criminal activities, including the recorded statements and actions advancing armed groups. Otherwise, the Foundation can’t have its cake and eat it, too. Indeed, if the officials of the Foundation are acting on their own or in their new capacities vis-à-vis the circumstances that their founder finds himself in, then they also need to disclose their new status in order for them to be taken seriously by Rwanda's Justice system and other
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international entities they are engaging. If the foundation is a vehicle for criminal behaviour, as Ms Kurth’s role seems to suggest, then this is of interest to Rwandans in their quest to bring Rusesabagina to justice. Ms. Kurth can play these double roles only because the media, as a functional tool in this distraction, allows her to get away with it. Indeed, as Morrison would put it, it is racism that informs the contemptuous view of Rwanda’s institutions.
Opinion: Do bystanders to genocide need reminding that moderation is for Rwandans to define? book, President Kagame mentioned the disturbing aspect of the publication. “Seeing someone who was convicted and imprisoned, given a platform to write a book denying the history that led to his imprisonment is a problem,” the President said.
By The New Times Among the things that have not changed since the last genocide of the 20th century claimed more than 1 million Tutsi lives is the way in which bystanders and accomplices to the crime have attempted, time and again, to not only rewrite history but also to impose the contours of acceptable speech in Rwandan society and, subsequently, the terms of reconciliation. Activists and organizations operating from countries that first denied the occurrence of genocide in order to evade their responsibility to protect are today at the forefront in the fight to overthrow the RPF-led government. The RPF is a prime target for being the only military force that opposed the extermination project. Logically, accomplices have vested interests in rewriting history. In this endeavor, they have found willing partners in those whose direct involvement in the mass murder or sectarian political interests require this rewriting. Consequently, Rwanda and the survivors of the genocide perpetrated against the Tutsi have had to deal with genocide denial, revisionism, and minimization. Genocide denial and revisionism often go hand in hand. The denial of facts legally-established beyond a reasonable doubt necessarily leads to a revision of
history. As such, it is no longer surprising to learn about the publication of books such as In Praise of Blood’. - only two decades after the genocide. In this book, Judi Rever advances a theory of double genocide that is entirely discredited and is strongly rejected by serious researchers. Equally unsurprising, although he is not a mere bystander, but an active participant in the intellectual wing of the genocidaires in his capacity as the chairperson of the genocidal constitution in 1978, is Filip Reytiens’ use of anonymous sources, genocide suspects and genocide convicts, to build cases from scratch against the RPF. In the same vein, Jean Kambanda, the former prime minister of the genocidal government who pleaded guilty to crimes of genocide and was sentenced to life imprisonment by the ICTR, recently published, from his jail cell, a book entitled "Les Intera-
hamwe du FPR- RPF Killers ". Judi Rever, Filip Reytiens, Jean Kambanda, and other “critics” of the Rwandan government, in reality critics of the genocide against the Tutsi, such as Paul Rusesabagina or Ingabire Victoire have a thing in common: They shamelessly shift from denial to revisionism or use a combination of the two in this agenda. Where they do not simply deny the reality of the genocide against the Tutsi, they attribute the responsibility to the RPF or quite simply promote the double genocide theory. The political utility of these attempts, as has been argued before, is to level the field between genocidaires and those who defeated them or to reverse responsibilities. In his recent interview with the Rwandan Broadcasting Agency on September 6th, 2020, while referring to Jean Kambanda’s
Indeed, it is a shame to see unscrupulous publishing houses, activists, and organizations operating from countries whose inaction or direct support for genocidal forces facilitated mass crimes, continue to lend a hand to the denial and revisionist propaganda under the guise of freedom of expression. In their understanding of what freedom of expression should be, individuals and western NGOs that masquerade as "defenders of human rights and democracy" have not found other more credible figures to promote their agenda. Yet, it should have been a warning sign for genuine defenders of human rights and democracy that the attempts of their chosen human rights activists to discredit the RPF-led government have genocide denial and revisionism as a foundation. If such attempts to discredit the Rwandan government must involve the rewriting of history and constant attacks on the memory of victims of the genocide, then obviously the criticisms they put forward as far as the present is concerned are either too dubious or illegitimate
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>> From page 11 grounds to mobilize the Rwandan people against the current dispensation. However, far from doing a work of introspection on the responsibility of their countries of origin in the tragedy of 1994 and taking their own responsibility in the criminality, they have turned to uninhibited genocide denial and revisionism; consequently, those activists and western NGOs continue to interfere undermine the process of nation-state building undertaken by the RPF. Unable to recognize the extraordinary progress in Rwanda and the improvement in the living conditions of Rwandans, they continue, from the height of their insufferable arrogant ignorance, to blame the Rwandan leadership for all sorts of evils while remaining loudly silent on the unwillingness of their home countries to shoulder their responsibilities: the minimum would be to arrest and prosecute those responsible for the genocide. Ironically, they portray their own tolerance of crime and the sheltering of criminals as "modera-
tion,” respect for human rights, and free speech. Emboldened by this support, genocidaires like Jean Kambanda or genocide deniers like Paul Rusesabagina, have felt themselves growing wings to the point of publishing books that deny the very crime they were convicted for or calling for war against the Rwandan government. Similarly, a person like Paul Rusesabagina openly refers to the government as “the enemy of the Rwandan people since 1990”. The promoters of revisionism that is camouflaged in “moderation” his promoters fail to ask the obvious question: “Which Rwandan people was Rusesabagina referring to?” In the video where Rusesabagina calls for war against the “Kagame army”, he accuses the RPF of enacting policies that impoverish the “natives”. In the context of the Great Lakes Region, “natives” is a loaded word. It refers to colonial theories on the origins of Tutsi which are described as invaders akin to settler colonialists who imposed themselves on the indigenous populations –the natives. Such terminology was used to deny Tutsi citizenship rights; similar terminology was
used to fuel hatred that led to genocidal massacres targeting Tutsi since 1959, culminating in the 1994 genocide. At the time, in the late 50s and early 60s, the masterminds of the genocide encouraged the “natives” to throw Tutsi “invaders” in Nyabarongo river so that they return to their place of origin – Ethiopia. In other words, the “Hotel Rwanda Hero” misleads no one in Rwanda as far as his intent and his perceived “moderation” are concerned. His coded language is understood by all; it is the rallying call of genocidaires. Beyond Rusesabagina, however, the failure of introspection on the part of the bystanders during the genocide informs their definition of “moderation” in which those who stopped the genocide and are committed to preventing its recurrence are labeled “intolerant.” For the NGOs, introspection would have them reflect on the reasons their own governments looked the other way while a million people were being massacred; they would reflect on why their countries have not brought to book the killers who fled to their home countries; they would reflect on the reasons why
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their home countries were chosen as a sanctuary for the genocidal killers; they would reflect on the reasons a man they call a hero declared a war on his home country and subsequently took responsibility for attacks that took the lives of innocent people; they would reflect on why they consider these people moderates. If bystanders were genuine advocates of human rights and democracy, they would not have been bystanders in the first place. Moreover, if they had any regret for the indifference then, they would center the perspective of victims rather than those of the perpetrators of crime now; moreover, they would give sanctuary to the former rather than the latter. They would allow the victims to define the terms of reconciliation rather than impose upon them what “moderation” is. If moderation is defined as accommodating an ideology that informed the slaughter of more than a million Rwandans, then radicalness against the ideology is the only antidote against the recurrence of genocide. Bystanders to genocide, unrepentant and indifferent, remain on the wrong side of history.
As they lick their wounds, Rusesabagina's foreign handlers can't spin their way out of his web By The New Times There's a popular saying among smart lawyers that "if the facts are against you, argue the law. If the law is against you, argue the facts, if the law and the facts are against you, pound the table and yell like hell". This is precisely what members of Rusesabagina's terrorist organization National Liberation Front (NLF) and similar allied groups, as well as his foreign supporters, are doing in the aftermath of his arrest on terrorism charges. The most ridiculous and arrogant argument Rusesabagina's foreign handlers and surrogates have come up with is the Presidential Medal of Honor he received in 2005, insisting that somehow the medal bestows
immunity on the recipient and he doesn't have to account for the crimes he committed against the Rwandan people. Never mind the fact that he was awarded the medal on the basis of a false narrative portrayed by Hollywood, that foreigners are even suggesting that the award puts him above the law, is a demonstration of how contemptuous they are for the Rwandan people. Indeed, Rusesabagina isn't the first Presidential Medal of Honor recipient to be arrested, tried, and convicted of crimes. Iconic African American comedian and philanthropist, Bill Cosby was awarded the same Medal of Honor in 2002. The 81-year-old
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>> From page 12 was, in 2018, convicted of drugging and sexually assaulting women and handed up to ten years in prison and ordered to pay large sums of money. Given his advanced age, Cosby may easily spend the rest of his life behind bars. By a strange coincidence, the two men received the medals at different times from the same president: George W Bush. When Bill Cosby was arrested and convicted, America applauded, and a powerful lobby is now actively pushing for his Presidential Medal of Honor to be revoked. Now foreigners including Rusesabagina's American handlers are demanding his "immediate release" because as a recipient of the same medal he is untouchable. The line here is clear: While Bill Cosby's victims were largely white middle-class women, including Andrea Constand on whose case he was convicted, the victims of Rusesabagina's terrorist forces are Rwandans and that's what racism is all about. It's true that Paul Rusesagina perpetrated the most unprecedented fraud on the international community, way before he embarked on his terrorism mission, but the foreigners now screaming can't feign ignorance. He has, on multiple occasions, bragged to foreign audiences about the violence he was unleashing against the Rwandan people and it never occurred to them that they needed to call him out.
Indeed, many of them continued to organize speaking engagements for him, with the sole purpose of smearing the government of Rwanda, as he raised money for his war. In a careful and calculated scheme, Rusesabagina was able to pull off a remarkably successful scam, presenting himself to the Western world as a hero who saved more than one thousand lives during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. It wasn't long before Hollywood, which lives and breathes fiction, released Hotel Rwanda and soon Rusesabagina was launched on the international scene as the "hero". And he wasn't about to put to waste his new profile, as he went on to milk it for all its worth. Contrary to the character created by Hollywood, the true persona of Rusesabagina is captured in the testimonies of the people who sought refuge at the Hotel des Mille Collines. Far from being the humanitarian, he has claimed to be, Rusesabagina, during the genocide, was hand- in- glove with the perpetrators, including Interahamwe militia leaders and military commanders, often pointing out Tutsi targets to the killers. He forced the people who were under siege at the hotel to pay for the rooms and services against instructions from the Belgian proprietors of the facility, who had insisted that he doesn't demand payment from those who were fleeing the killers. Instead, Rusesabagina threw out anyone who couldn't afford to pay. He went on to disconnect the
phone lines in the rooms to ensure the outside world didn't get to know what the people at the hotel and the country at large were going through. As he basked in his counterfeit Hollywood glory, Rusesabagina set out to accomplish what was all along close to his heart. He raised vast amounts of money, through a crafty and cynical scheme, using a Foundation named after him, purportedly to help genocide orphans in Rwanda. He wasn't about to help anybody, but was, instead, plotting to create more orphans in Rwanda. Rusesabagina formed an armed terrorist militia that soon launched violent attacks on Rwanda, in which a number of innocent people lost their lives, and more were left with serious injuries and permanent disabilities. As he travelled the world mobilizing and recruiting fighters for his terrorist project, Rusesabagina made no secret of his intentions to perpetrate violence against the Rwandan people. His recruitment drive and efforts to destabilize Rwanda are well documented. Towards the end of 2018, Rusesabagina gave a detailed presentation to an audience of his foreign supporters, bragging about what he was projecting as progress made by his (NLF) terrorist militia. He declared that "since the beginning of July 2018 the NLF launched a military struggle to liberate Rwanda." He went on to assure them that he was working to enlist more Rwandan youth to the terrorist organisation. Indeed, on this occasion, Rusesabagina was referring to the bloody attacks the militia had launched in Nyamagabe and Nyaruguru in June and December 2018.
Nyaruguru district: aftermath of NLF attack
In the aftermath of his arrest, foreign organizations as well as individuals that have, over the years, promoted Rusesabagina even after he had declared that he had formed an armed militia that was launching terrorist
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attacks on Rwanda, have been blindsided and thrown into panic. They have frantically started a smear campaign against the government of Rwanda, as they attempt to cover up their own complicity. They have put out news releases and are actively working the phones, telling whoever is prepared to listen that Rusesabagina is an innocent man who is going to be subjected to all manner of mistreatment. However, the campaign isn't working. After a meeting with Rwanda's Ambassador to Washington, Mathilde Mukantabana, the United States Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Tibor Nagy, released a message stating that his government expects Rwanda to "provide humane treatment, adhere to the rule of law and provide a fair and transparent legal process for Rusesabagina". The American government expectations as articulated by Mr. Nagy aren't any different from what the Rwandan people themselves expect - A fair and transparent trial. The United States has, over the years, deported wanted Rwandan criminals precisely because Washington is confident the suspects are assured of a fair trial here. Similarly, Western countries have routinely removed from their territories, Rwandan criminals and handed to Kigali to be tried for all kinds violations of the law in Rwanda, because they trust the country's judiciary's integrity. As it turns out the people making the loudest noise and throwing around all kinds of propaganda filth didn't take long to get their answer; not from the government of Rwanda, but from Rusesabagina himself. In an exclusive interview with the East African (September 3, 2020), he told the reporter that since his arrival he has "been treated with kindness and given the freedom to "choose my defence team". He will definitely have his day in court.
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Court says ‘Given Rusesabagina’s recent history of terrorism, he is a high flight risk’, denies bail, orders he be remanded 30 days FLN, the military wing of Rusesabagina’s MRCD, carried out several attacks on unarmed civilians in Southern Rwanda and claimed publicly responsibility for it. They killed innocent civilians, kidnapped others, burnt properties, but would flee into the thick Nyungwe Forest when Rwanda national security forces foiled their attacks. In Court, Rusesabagina apologized for FLN’s attacks claiming “that was not the mission FLN was given.” But it contradicted earlier online videos where Rusesabagina openly rallied for support to FLN terror campaign.
By Jean Gatera The Primary Court of Kagarama (Kicukiro District) has ruled in the pre-trial detention hearing that Paul Rusesabagina —leader of terrorist group MRCD-FLN — who is charged with terrorism, arson and murder among the 13 criminal counts he is facing, will be remanded in custody for 30 more days awaiting his trial in substance. In the ruling, the judge said, “court analyzed the merits of each of the 13 charges and found that indeed there was serious incriminating evidence against Rusesabagina.” Reading Rusesabagina the charges the judge noted that based on the defense and the prosecution submission, and given the gravity of the charges, “there is reasonable ground to keep the suspect in custody”. Furthermore, Court found it necessary that a 30-day period of provisional detention in a prison facility be granted to ensure that ongoing investigations are protected from sabotage. Paul Rusesabagina immediately addressed the court and
announced his decision to appeal the court ruling. “I want to inform court that I'm appealing against the decision”, he said, to which the judge answered, “that is duly noted and will be put on the court record.” Wanted by the Rwandan Justice for terrorist activities, Rusesabagina was presented to the media on 31st last month at Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB) offices where its spokesman announced his arrest. RIB transferred his
case to National Public Prosecutions Authority Office on 9 this month. Rusesabagina appeared in Court for his pre-trial detention hearing on Monday, this week. Represented by two lawyers, Rusesabagina declined to enter a plea. His reason for pleading neither innocent nor guilty was that “he feared to self-incriminate”. He stated that he had apologized for some of the charges he faced but did not want to give details about them.
In the pre-trial detention hearing, evidence that Rusesabagina sent money FLN emerged. In addition, Prosecution mentioned that other proof of terrorist financing was acquired from the Belgium police that had searched Rusesabagina’s residence in Brussels. His defense did not deny that Rusesabagina transferred money to FLN members. They claimed these were “small charitable donations for humanitarian causes.” Prosecution, however, showed that the transfers amounted to far more than what would be called “small charitable” donations. The sums amounted to more than 20,000 Euros that Rusesabagina personally provided, and over US$ 300,000 that he raised from other sources for the terrorist organization. The defence team argued for Rusesabagina to be granted bail “on grounds of poor health”, and said their client was ready to abide by any restrictions or conditions set. Prosecution opposed bail pointing out how Rusesabagina had been actively involved in terrorist activities since 2009. It was then indicated that special arrangements had been made to adequately address the health issues advanced by Rusesabagina’s team. Prosecution also argued that faced with such serious charges, and with such overwhelming evidence, Rusesabagina would flee at the slightest opportunity.
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