AfroAmerica Network

American Lawyer Peter Erlinder to Hold a Press Conference on His Indictment by Rwanda

by AfroAmerica Network on October 22, 2010

American Lawyer Professor Peter Erlinder is holding a press conference on Friday October 22, 2010 on his indictment by the Rwandan Government for “genocide denial.”

In a statement sent to the media, and of which AfroAmerica Network has obtained a copy, Professor Peter Erlinder says: “After arresting would-be Presidential candidate Victoire Ingabire six days ago, Rwanda’s Chief Prosecutor Martin Ngoga announced he intends to prosecute her former lawyer and UN Rwanda Tribunal Defense Counsel, U.S. Law Prof. Peter Erlinder, for “genocide denial” based on articles written in the U.S. and published on the internet (AP 10/21). Rwanda jailed Erlinder in May, who was released after an international campaign. Ingabire is now in the same cell.”

Below is the entire release. You may find our articles on Peter Erlinder case and his imprisonment in Rwanda by visiting http://www.afroamerica.net in our World Events Pages.
++NEWS ADVISORY++
International Humanitarian Law Institute
Prof. Peter Erlinder, Director
875 Summit Av.
St. Paul, MN 55102/651-290-6384

WHAT: Press Conference, Prof. Peter Erlinder
WHERE: Wm. Mitchell College of Law, 875 Summit Av., St. Paul, MN
WHEN: Friday, October 22, 2010, 10 am.

St. Paul – Oct 21 -

“Before my arrest, Bill Clinton and Tony Blair helped create the myth that that the Kagame dictatorship had changed. Both Madame Ingabire and I were misled, reality of the situation in Rwanda has become clear.”

“After my release, the banning of all serious political opposition, the beheading of the vice-President of the Green Party, Madame Ingabire’s arrest, the assassination of journalists, the attempted assassination of Mr. Kagame’s former Chief of Staff who defected to South Africa, the assassination of another ICTR defense counsel and Kagame’s “election” with 93% of the vote caused the Obama White House to question the state of democracy in Rwanda for the first time:

‘…a series of disturbing events prior to the election including the suspension of two newspapers, the expulsion of a human rights activists, the barring of two opposition parties from taking part in the election, and the arrest of journalists…[S]tability and prosperity will be difficult to sustain without broad political debate and open political participation…” Democracy is about more than holding elections…’”

“On August 28, LeMonde and the New York Times leaked a 600-page UN report detailing crimes of Kagame’s troops in the Congo between 1993-2003, including genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity. The same crimes Chief ICTR Prosecutor Carla Del Ponte’s says were committed by Kagame’s troops Rwanda in 1994. Her 2009 memoirs explain how she was fired by the State Department in 2003 when she refused to follow U.S. orders not to prosecute Kagame’s RPF, despite having evidence of their crimes, including the assassination of two presidents.”

“These UN documents also confirm that the evidence that acquitted my client of ‘conspiracy and planning to commit genocide’ in a Feb. 2009 ICTR Judgment, described a much larger reality about the actual source of 30 years of violence in Central Africa. And, if there was no long-term planning and conspiracy, the victor’s story of the “Rwandan genocide” must be re-examined. This is my ‘crime.’”

“But, my prosecution has larger implications, as well. If UN immunity does not apply to any prosecution of defense counsel by the Kagame government, a government the former Chief ICTR Prosecutor and the UN, itself, both confirm is led by criminals and has been committing mass crimes for decades, meaningful representation of any UN Tribunal defendants will be impossible.”

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FDLR Leader, Callixte Mbarushimana Indicted by ICC

by AfroAmerica Network on October 17, 2010

AfroAmerica Network has obtained the official copy of the French version of the indictment against the FDLR leader Callixte Mbarushimana. Among the accusations against the leader are:

leading attacks against the civilian population of the villages Busheke, the territory of Kalehe in South Kivu; Kipopo the territory of Masisi, North Kivu; Mianga in the hamlet of Walo Loanda, in Walikale in North Kivu and Luofu and Kasiki in the Lubero territory in North Kivu, Busurungi the territory of Walikale in North Kivu; Manje the territory of Masisi, North Kivu and Malembe in the hamlet of Walo Loanda, in the Walikale in North Kivu;

having committed murders in the villages of Busheke the territory of Kalehe in South Kivu, Pinga, the territory of Masisi, North Kivu; Remeka in the group Ufamandu the territory of Walikale in North Kivu; Kipopo the territory of Masisi, North Kivu; Mianga in the group-Walo Loanda, on the territory Walikale in North Kivu and Luofu Kasiki the territory of Lubero, North Kivu; Busurungi the territory of Walikale, North Kivu and Manje the territory of Masisi, North Kivu;

having committed rapes in the villages of Busheke the territory of Kalehe in SouthKivu; Miriki the territory of Lubero, North Kivu, Pinga, the territory of Masisi, North Kivu; Remeka in Ufamandu the group on the Walikale, North Kivu; Busurungi on the Walikale in North Kivu and Manje, the territory of Masisi, North Kivu;

having committed torture and other inhumane acts and treatment in the Busheke villages in the territory of Kalehe in South Kivu; Miriki, the territory of Lubero, North Kivu; Pinga, the territory of Masisi, North Kivu; Remeka in the group Ufamandu on Walikale in North Kivu Busurungi the territory of Walikale in North Kivu, and Malembe in the group-Walo Loanda, on the Walikale in North Kivu;

destruction of property committed in the villages and Luofu Kasiki the territory of Lubero, North Kivu; Busurungi the territory Walikale in North Kivu Kipopo the territory of Masisi, North Kivu; Malembe in the hamlet of Walo Loanda, in the Walikale in North Kivu Mianga in the hamlet of Walo-Loanda in the Walikale in North Kivu Busurungi, in Walikale in North Kivu and Manje, the territory Masisi, North Kivu.

The International Criminal Court’s indictment also alleges that

“in light of all evidence and other information presented in the arrest warrant, there are reasonable grounds to believe that since July 2007, Callixte Mbarushimana is Executive Secretary of the FDLR and that after the arrest of President of the FDLR in November 2009, he inherited of the powers thereof [NDLR: AfroAmerica Translation].”

and that

“in addition, there are reasonable grounds to believe that at the time

facts alleged in the arrest warrant, including the period between January 20 and February 25, 2009 as of 2 March to 31 December 2009, there was an armed conflict opposing the FDLR to the government forces present in the provinces of North Kivu and South Kivu in the DRC, and that Callixte Mbarushimana was aware of the existence that armed conflict”[NDLR: AfroAmerica Translation]

He will be prosecuted by the judges Cuno Tarfusser, Presiding Judge and Ms. Sylvia Steiner and Ms. Sanji Mmasenono Monageng. The Prosecution is composed of Mr Luis Moreno-Ocampo, the Prosecutor and Ms Fatou Bensouda, the Deputy Prosecutor.

©AfroAmerica Network, 2010.

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UN SG Ban Ki-Moon Admits Failure to Dismantle Rebels in DRC

by AfroAmerica Network on October 14, 2010

Today, October 14, 2010 the UN Secretary General presented a report to the UN Security Council on the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). In the 20 page report, a copy of which was obatianed by AfroAmerica Network, Mr. Ban Ki-Moon touched on several areas. But he recognized the failure in almost all the areas, including security, justice, governance, policing, and military operations.

In Para 77, he notes:
The present report presents a mixed portrait of the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The country has made significant progress and could benefit from a number of positive developments. At the same time, persistent challenges and certain negative trends, if not addressed, could reverse the gains made. ..”

But two of the most significant conclusions are in Para 79 and para 82:
“It is nonetheless clear that significant challenges have yet to be overcome by the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The serious acts of violence against civilians in the eastern part of the country, the continued presence of FDLR, LRA and Congolese armed groups, and the violations of human rights by some elements of FARDC described in the present report continue, owing in large part to the absence of State authority in the affected provinces, the lack of progress in building professional and effective national security and rule-of-law institutions and competition for the illegal exploitation of natural resources. These are among the fundamental issues which, if not addressed, will continue to hamper efforts to establish lasting stability in the country. It is therefore essential to address both the causes and the symptoms of instability if the Democratic Republic of the Congo is to counter the threat of armed groups, effectively protect its population and enjoy relative stability throughout the country.”

Overall, the security situation in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo remains of serious concern. In the Kivus, repeated attacks against civilians by FDLR and Congolese armed groups have increased, in particular but not only in Walikale territory in North Kivu, in South Kivu, and in Bas-Uélé, in Orientale province. The emergence of loose alliances of FDLR, Mayi-Mayi and other Congolese armed groups that prey on civilians risks compromising the gains made in 2009 as a result of, inter alia, improved relations between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and its Great Lakes neighbours. The structural weaknesses of FARDC, which were compounded by the incomplete integration of the Congolese armed groups, including CNDP, into FARDC, have continued to create vacuums that FDLR and other armed groups exploit. At the same time, multidimensional efforts to eliminate the threat posed by armed groups have suffered from the failure to extend effective State authority, including Democratic Republic of the Congo police personnel, to maintain stability in areas cleared by military operations. I would again urge Member States, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo, to redouble their efforts to implement the relevant sanctions imposed by the Security Council, increase legal pressure on FDLR diaspora leaders, and dismantle criminal networks in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. If current trends are not reversed, ongoing political, military, humanitarian and recovery efforts may prove insufficient to stem the violence and dismantle the remaining foreign and Congolese armed groups.
The UN Security Council continues deliberations on the DRC tomorrow, Friday October 15, 2010.

©AfroAmerica Network

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Rwandan Opposition Leader Victoire Ingabire Arrested

by AfroAmerica Network on October 14, 2010

Rwandan Security Services have rearrested and jailed the beleaguered opposition leader, Ms. Victoire Ingabire after months of house arrest and weeks of permanent police watch around her residence, sources in Kigali tell AfroAmerica Network. Ms. Victoire Ingabire returned from 16 years exile in Europe to contest elections. She was eventually barred from running, accused of “genocide revisionism”, terrorism, and association with Hutu rebels. The harassment and persecution of Ms. Victoire Ingabire by the Rwandan dictatorship drew worldwide condemnation, including pressure from British, Canadian, United States, and other Western governments and Human Rights organizations.

She was barred from leaving the country and put under house arrest. The harassment, persecution, and repression by the Rwandan ruling party, Rwandan Patriotic Front and its notorious security services, have targeted members of the opposition in order to bar them from running in August 2010 presidential elections. The Rwandan Dictator Paul Kagame ran for president practically unopposed. Other opposition leaders who have been put in jail, such a Mr. John Bosco Ntaganda of PSI or assassinated, such the Vice-President of Green Party and a score of journalists.

See our articles on Ms. Victoire Ingabire on AfroAmerica Network (http://www.afroamerica.net), World Events Pages, especially Rusesabagina targeted through Ingabire, of April 29, 2010

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ICTR Confirms Peter Erlinder’s Immunity

by AfroAmerica Network on October 9, 2010

The Appeals Chamber of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) in Arusha has confirmed that Professor Peter Erlinder is immune from arrest and prosecution for his arguments made in the course of defending clients in the court.

In its October 6, 2010 ruling following the case introduced by one of Peter Erlinder’s client, Major Aloys Ntabakuze, The Appeals Chamber found that Defense Counsels benefit from immunity from personal arrest or detention while performing their duties assigned by the Tribunal and also with respect to words spoken or written and acts done by them in the course of the performance of their duties as Defense counsel before the Tribunal.

Peter Erlinder. Erlinder was arrested in Kigali, Rwanda on 28 May 2010 while attempting to represent a Rwandan opposition leader accused of “genocide denial” and “terrorism”. Peter Erlinder was himself charged of ‘genocide denial’, arrested and jailed in squalid conditions, including food and sleep deprivation, for weeks (see our articles: US Congress Presses Rwanda on Jailed Lawyer ; Rwanda Releases American Lawyer and Rwandan Security Services Planned to assassinate Peter Erlinder ).

The ICTR maintains that Peter Erlinder was not under the mandate when he was arrested.
The Rwandan Government had submitted to ICTR the proofs of the crimes committed by Peter Erlinder. However, the Appeal Chamber found that the submission included documents related to closing arguments in the case of Colonel Theoneste Bagosora and on the behalf of Major Aloys Ntabakuze.

The ICTR found that the Rwanda Government ‘s submission violated the functional immunity of Peter Erlinder and interfered with the proper functioning of the Tribunal.
In making the decision, the ICTR also created provisions so that such cases of the Rwanda Government violating Defense Counsel’s functional immunity does not happen again.

©AfroAmerica Network, 2010

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A Case for Paul Kagame, President of Rwanda

by AfroAmerica Network on October 8, 2010

Painting: Diogenes searches for an honest man. Painting attributed to J.H.W Tischbein

Here it goes again. Another discourse about Paul Kagame, the self styled President of Rwanda. Today I will call him President, not the Dictator, not the Tyrant, not the General President, just the President. Why? Because today’s discourse is not really mine. It is a friend’s. Why? would you ask! Because recently I had a very good conversation with a close friend of mine, a Hutu, one of the most radical critics of and leaders of an opposition to Paul Kagame’s. I asked him a simple question: Suppose you were to be the advocate of Kagame. How would you make his case, in a short and concise discourse?

He looked me in the eyes, like I had grown two horns, kept silent for a good minute, which seemed an eternity, and then said: “you know what? I never thought about that. Actually, I can make a good case for Paul Kagame. It is always easy to make a good case for a worthy opponent.”

Following is the case he made. It is up to you, the readers to judge whether the case is made. Enjoy!

Kagame as a leader follows what history has taught humankind about power.

Lucius Furius Camilius, an heroic Roman general of the first Samnite War and a Consul of Rome in 339 BCE appeared in front of the Rome Senate and made a case in a discourse called “Quello che di dovesse fare,” which was really “On How to treat The Populace of Valdichiana after their rebellion.”

He said: “Senators! what needed to be done in Latium with armies and wars has, by grace of the gods and the skill of our soldiers, been done. Slaughtered are the enemies … All the lands and the cities … either were conquered or surrendered, and are now in your power. As they keep rebelling and putting Rome in peril, we must consult about how to secure ourselves, either by cruelty or by generously forgiving them… But what must be deliberated must be deliberated swiftly, as you have many peoples hovering between hope and fear. You must free these people from their uncertainty and anticipate their every action, either with punishment or reward. My task was to ensure than this decision would be yours, and my task has been done. It is now for you to decide what is for the benefit of our republic.”

Hence, I assume that in 2000-2002, Paul Kagame, as a general, had, in his mind, liberated Rwanda, slaughtered whoever represented a danger to the power he and his people wanted to impose, invaded Zaire/ Democratic Republic of the Congo, brought the Eastern Congo under his control, and subjugated the Burundian and Ugandan armies to constant fear and threat. After these actions he submitted the case to his inner circle and asked them what to do with the defeated enemies and conquered lands. Instead of receiving directions, he found himself surrounded by a spineless circle of cronies, courtiers and servile assistants. Instead of helping him decide on what to do, between punishing resilient enemies and rewarding surrendered subjects and lands, the Rwandan legislators, advisors, ministers, civil servants, and armies worshiped him and surrendered all power to him.

In the case of Lucius Furius Camilius, the Roman Senators took their responsibilities and allowed the general to assume his. In the case of Paul Kagame, the Rwandan elite surrendered their responsibilities to him. Hence, if Paul Kagame may be called dictator or tyrant, it is thanks to the weakness of his associates and collaborators. In fact, power vacuum cannot last for long. Left alone, someone or something will fill the vacuum, usually with unimaginable consequences. Most of the time that is how chaos, tyrannies, and totalitarian regimes are created.

Once Kagame had power, he had to keep it, hence exercise it.

In his Political Essays and Treatises, Machiaveli said: “The World has always been inhabited in the same way by men who have had the same passions: There have always been those who rule and those who serve, those who serve willingly and those who serve unwillingly, those who rebel and those who are punished.”
Hence, Paul Kagame’s main fault is not really that he repressed or tries to punish those who rebel. Once he was given power, he must exercise it. Under him he must have several types of people: proponents and opponents. Among the proponents, he has fanatics, supporters, apologists. Among supporters he has loyalists, forced supporters, opportunists, and occasional supporters. Among opponents, he also has opportunists, forced opponents, principled opponents, and anarchists.

We should not confuse here opponent and enemy. In fact, enemies may be found everywhere: among the proponents as well as as among opponents. According to Machiavelli, “Castruccio Castracani of Lucca put to death a citizen of Lucca who had been instrumental in his rise to greatness, When people said that he had done a bad thing in killing his old friend, he replied that they were wrong, as he had put to death a new enemy.”

I am not advocating killing people, but illustrating the fact that old friends may be potential new enemies, and that no one should be taken for granted. Hence, Paul Kagame has to be always all eyes, all years because in politics, enemies are everywhere. It is a lonely place there at the top of the pyramid!

Hence, the only people Paul Kagame must rely on are the loyalist supporters and the principled opponents. Because he knows he may count on loyalist supporters and he knows what the principled opponents want. The rest are like pawns that he may control by force, charism, reward, or punishment. And the only way to do that is to exercise the power he has.

Keep the face down, in order to rise the face up.

Once Paul Kagame exercises his power, he must feel that he is the best leader that ever existed. That is how he will do the best he can. Diogenes Laertius, a Greek philosopher was asked how he wanted to be buried. He responded: “On my face. Because soon enough after my death, everything will be turned upside down.”
That is the mentality that Paul Kagame has exhibited in his leadership: that, without him and his vision, things will not go well.

The truth though is that the World will do just fine, with or without anyone. But, leaders, more so presidents of countries, need to feel they are unique, and that, without them, the World could have been worse off. That is the only way they will be able to do the best they can. And Paul Kagame has proven to be good at that!

©AfroAmerica Network. All Rights Reserved.

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CEO of Rwandan News Group New Times, Joseph Bideri, Flees to Canada

by AfroAmerica Network on October 4, 2010

CEO of Rwandan Intelligence Media, New Times, Joseph Bideri Flees to Canada

Monday, October 4, 2010

Joseph Bideri, the Chief Executive Officer and Editor-in-Chief of Rwandan Intelligence Services’ news media group, New Times, has fled to Canada, sources from Rwanda tell AfroAmerica Network.

The New Times is an umbrella of news media controlled by Rwandan Intelligence services. It includes, the New Times English daily newspaper, the Sunday Times English weekly newspaper, Izuba Rirashe Rwanda newspaper, The New Times English Online, and Izuba Rirashe Rwanda Online. They all serve as a mouthpiece of the ruling Rwandan Patriotic Front and the Rwandan Dictator Paul Kagame. Joseph Bideri was a front man, while the Rwandan Intelligence Chief, Dr. Emmanuel Ndahiro is the “eminence grise”, the behind the scenes boss.

Officially Joseph Bideri is accused of mismanagement, tax evasion, mail fraud, and money laundering. His actions have allegedly caused financial strains within the New Times group. However, sources say his problems rather come from long te

rm differences with the Rwandan Intelligence chief, Dr. Emmanuel Ndahiro and the current tension within Paul Kagame’s inner circle.

Last year, Emmanuel Ndahiro fired the Zimbabwean Grace Kwinjeh, a member of the MDC party of the Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai from the position of Managing Editor. She was unceremoniously fired when she refused to publish some of the propaganda pieces submitted to her by Dr. Emmanuel Ndahiro and Joseph Bideri. Some of the pieces accused the Zimbabwean Government of harboring Rwandan accused criminals. Grace Kwinjeh was replaced by Collin Haba.

The rivalry between Dr. Emmanuel Ndahiro and Joseph Bideri date from when they were both special advisors to the Rwandan dictator Paul Kagame (see our article “Rwanda: Mbaraga divides Kagame’s top advisors of August 29, 2002 here). At that time, the conflicts and fights for influence were frequent among the four advisors: Emmanuel Ndahiro, Theogene Rudasingwa, Kagame’s Chief of Staff and Joseph Nsengimana.

Eventually Theogene Rudasingwa fled the country and has been a vocal critic of Paul Kagame. Now it appears to be Joseph Bideri’s turn.

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US Government Calls for Accountability for Crimes against Hutu in DRC

by AfroAmerica Network on October 1, 2010

On Friday October 1, 2010, The United States Government, through the Assistant Secretary in charge of the Bureau of Public Affairs, Philip J. Crowley, has called for accountability for crimes committed against Congolese and Rwandan ethnic Hutus in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) over the last decades. The call follows the publication on October 1, 2010 by UN High Commission for Human Rights of what is known as DRC Mapping Report, or with the long title: “Report of the Mapping Exercise documenting the most serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law committed within the territory of the Democratic Republic of the Congo between March 1993 and June 2003.”

The DRC Mapping Report documents crimes against humanity, war crimes, and systematic massacres characterized as genocide committed against the Rwandan and Congolese ethnic Hutus by the Rwandan Patriotic Army, the military branch of the ruling Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF). According to the report the RPF, dominated by extremist Tutsis targeted Hutus, mostly children and women, with systematic massacres and for extermination.

“ The report raises serious allegations of brutal and horrific mass killings, rape and other abuses during the period in question,” said the US Government.

The statement by Philip J. Crowley insists on accountability to end impunity and stop ongoing atrocities in the DRC:

“The United States strongly supports accountability for violations of human rights and international humanitarian law around the world, including in the DRC…Accountability is an important step toward ensuring that further such incidents do not occur. The United States is firmly committed to helping the DRC and other nations in the region take positive steps to end the corrosive cycle of violence and impunity.”

For more read on AfroAmerica Network in World Events Pages (http://www.afroamerica.net – here).

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TWO UGANDAN NATIONALS HELD IN RWANDA FOR SPYING

by AfroAmerica Network on September 30, 2010

Photo: Dr. Emmanuel Ndahiro, Rwandan Spy Chief.

Rwandan External Special Operations (DMI-ESO) services have detained two citizens of Uganda accusing them of undermining the security of the country. According to sources in Kigali, the two businessmen Didas Ndamira and Simpson Mpiriwe were allegedly arrested while trying to illegally cross the Rwandan-Ugandan border and charged with security violations and serious breach to Rwandan territorial integrity.

Rwandan officials have admitted holding the two individuals while investigations on their motives are ongoing. However, the sources told AfroAmerica Network that the two individuals are accused of belonging to the “fifth column” working for the former Rwandan General Kayumba Nyamwasa and Colonel Patrick Karegeya, both exiled in South Africa.

Sources in Kigali have told AfroAmerica Network that recently there have been palpable anxiety in Kigali following rumors alleging that both former high ranking Rwandan Patriotic Army officers and close allies to the Rwandan dictator Paul Kagame are organizing an armed rebellion to overthrow Kagame’s government. The rumors mention Uganda, Tanzania, or the Democratic Republic of the Congo as the potential, if not simultaneous, launching pads of the rebellion.

General Kayumba Nyamwasa was a victim of two assassination attempts allegedly by Rwandan intelligence operatives, with the first assassination attempt on June 19, 2010 in Johannesburg, South Africa where he has sought exile (see our article here ). After the first assassination attempt, the South African Government pointed a finger to intelligence operatives from Rwanda as responsible for the failed assassination. The accusation led to a strain in the two governments relations. The South African Government eventually recalled its Ambassador to Rwanda (see our article here and here).

The relations between Uganda and Rwanda have further deteriorated in the last months. Despite being one of the godfathers of the RPF rebellion led by Paul Kagame and that eventually took power in Rwanda, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni failed to attend the swearing in ceremony of Kagame for a seven year term (see the article in our AfroAmerica Discourses by clicking here http://www.afroamerica.net/Africa/AfroAmerica_Discourses/Entries/2010/9/6_Suspect_Absence_of_Museveni_at_Kagames_Swearing.html). Paul Kagame was sworn in after controversial elections marred by unprecedented repression against the opposition, assassination of opposition figures and journalists, and overwhelming condemnation from the international community. President of Tanzania Jakaya Kikwete, did not show up in Kagame’s swearing in ceremony either.

The relations between Uganda and Rwanda have further deteriorated in the last months. Despite being one of the godfathers of the RPF rebellion led by Paul Kagame and that eventually took power in Rwanda, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni failed to attend the swearing in ceremony of Kagame for a seven year term (see the article in our AfroAmerica Discourses on Suspect Absence of Yoweri Museveni in Paul Kagame’s swearing in Ceremony). Paul Kagame was sworn in after controversial elections marred by unprecedented repression against the opposition, assassination of opposition figures and journalists, and overwhelming condemnation from the international community. President of Tanzania Jakaya Kikwete, did not show up in Kagame’s swearing in ceremony either.

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UN COMMISSION FOR HUMAN RIGHTS TO PUBLISH REPORT ON HUTU GENOCIDE ON OCTOBER 1, 2010

by AfroAmerica Network on September 29, 2010

Photo: Navi Pillay, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights

The United Nations Human Rights Report has announced from Geneva that the Democratic Republic of Congo(DRC) mapping report detailing crimes against humanity, war crimes and genocide committed by the Rwandan Patriotic Army (RPA) against Rwandan and Congolese Hutu will be published this Friday, October 1, 2010.

In the press release obtained by AfroAmerica Network today and intended for the media, The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) maintains that the report will document the most serious human rights violations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) between 1993 and 2003 at 9:00 a.m. Simultaneously,
“a page including the French and English versions of the report and of a press release and press statement, eight thematic backgrounders and any comments by concerned states received by then will go live at www.ohchr.org.
There will be no formal press conference, but a number of OHCHR staff will be available for TV and radio interviews in English, French, Arabic, Spanish, Italian and Portuguese.
Media wishing to arrange interviews on the day should call one of the following numbers:
+41 22 917 9383
+41 22 917 9310
+41 79 444 7578
For broadcasters: an interview with the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, will be disseminated through Eurovision/EBU and UNifeed shortly after 09:00 a.m., and will subsequently also be posted at: ftp://Communications:ftp_comms@ftp.unicc.org. A non-broadcast quality version will also be posted on www.ohchr.org.”
Today’s press release concludes as follows:
**The mapping exercise and its resulting report are unprecedented in scope, covering ten years and the entire territory of the DRC. The report describes a total of more than 600 incidents in the DRC between 1993 and 2003 in which hundreds of thousands of people were killed, injured and victimized in other ways, including large numbers of women and children. Over 1,280 witnesses were interviewed to corroborate or invalidate alleged violations, including previously undocumented incidents, and more than 1,500 documents were collected and analyzed during the two years it took to research and produce the report.
The overarching objective of the DRC Mapping Exercise is “to formulate a series of options aimed at assisting the Government of the DRC in identifying appropriate transitional justice mechanisms to deal with the legacy of these violations, in terms of truth, justice, reparation and reform.”**