Amb. Olivier Nduhungirehe: “It Isnot because Rwanda is “small and poor” that it doesn’t enjoy dignity. Rwanda is a remarkable country with an exceptional leadership. We will never accept “big powers” (those who left us die) lecture us. Never!”
Dr Charles Kambanda to Amb. Olivier Nduhungirehe,
(1) Samantha Power’s concern is legitimate. Changing the constitution was plain view maneuver to change the rules of the game to facilitate Kagame’s power grab scheme. This is inconsistent with rule of law. Absent rule of law, no nation stands and, certainly, you wouldn’t talk about nationhood and national pride and dignity.
(2) The root causes of the horrific massacres and crimes that have characterized Rwanda as a nation is, clearly, absence of rule of law which leads to all evils in a nation state, including lack of respect for human life and dignity. How can you be so passionate about the terrible massacres and crimes Rwandans have endured on the one hand and promote the social political culture that led to those massacres and crimes on the other hand?
(3) It’s not in dispute that Rwanda is a small country – comparison – neither is it disputable that Rwanda is a poor country – objective standard. The US taxpayer foots a significant portion of your national budget – directly and or indirectly. Samantha was not expressing her own view, she was speaking on behalf of the US gov. The US has the right to correct the gov it supports so much for all purposes including for purposes of accountability to the US taxpayers. It’s an illusion for you to think that the US should remain out of your country’s affairs.
(4) Just that you know, humanitarian assistance between countries is not compulsory. Likewise, humanitarian assistance between a nation and the UN is at the discretion of the UNSC in line with the existing municipal and international law. No country has a moral or legal duty, absent specific Treaty, to protect another country. That’s what sovereignty means. Therefore, the US was under no duty to protect any Rwandan from the massacres and the US breached no duty by not protecting any Rwandan or a section thereof. Your gov should stop blackmailing other nations for not having ” protected ” Rwandans from their own massacres.
(5) In any case, the efforts the international community was making to ” intervene” in Rwanda were also frustrated by RPF/A, the government gov you are serve. I think this is well documented.
(7) Regarding your Ambassador’s diplomatic scandal, not withstanding the message he was conveying, his demeanor throughout his submission before the UNSC was unbecoming of a diplomat in such forum. Of course, the direct attack against the US and a US gov official in the performance of her official duty was not only uncalled for but insane. It was Rwanda gov attacking the US gov; the consequences of that attack could be dangerous for Rwanda at all levels. It was an act of poor judgment and bad diplomacy.
