Rusesabagina became famous as a chosen character in the “Hotel Rwanda” movie in which he featured as a person who saved Tutsi whom he protected against Interahamwe militias during the 1994 Rwandan genocide in Mille Collines, which he was managing. Since then, President Paul Kagame who strives to exclusively claim credit for saving Tutsi has left no stone unturned, denigrating and discrediting Mr. Rusesabagina since he was honoured for heroism to have saved Tutsi during the genocide. The Rwandan regime like it does to all genuine opposition parties and political activists branded him a terrorist.
Note that the kidnapping of Mr. Rusesabagina at an unknown date and at undisclosed location with the cooperation of some unnamed states, is itself a terrorism act and an erosion of human dignity. Some states in the international community who are still supporting Kagame regime need to be reminded that they are supporting a dictatorial regime involved in abductions (like was done to Mr. Rusesabagina and dozens of refugees in Uganda), enforced disappearances and assassinations. It is deeply disappointing that through bribery or manipulation, some states allow their territory to be used against international laws and national sovereignty as hunting grounds for a murderous regime. Mr. Rusesabagina was not accorded due judicial process by being subjected to an extradition hearing as provided for in international law.
The circumstances by which Mr. Rusesabagina found himself in Kigali were not mentioned transparently in the conference hurriedly done by the dreaded Rwanda Investigation Bureau because the regime and it’s handlers knew perfectly well, that the process was illegal and illegitimate. No country or even International Police has broadly conceded that it arrested and handed over Mr. Rusesabagina to the Rwandan authorities. This is a clear indication that whatever happened was illegal and nobody wants to take responsibility for blatant illegal and terror action that happened on foreign territory. This is the kind dealing conducted by a Mafia state ‘trading’ human beings under the cover of darkness.
Some governments are still blinded or compromised or ashamed by the failure to intervene during the 1994 Rwandan genocide and have given a “blank cheque” the government of Rwanda to violate human rights of its citizens. As a result, the government has been emboldened to hunt for critics abroad with reckless abandon under the guise of hunting genocide revisionists or fabricated ‘terrorists’.
All like minded civil and political activists should call upon those countries who have been protecting the Rwandan regime against any human rights accountability to recall that the 1994 Rwandan genocide was partly as a result of a lack of accountability for human rights violations. The people of Rwanda are deeply disappointed by the hypocrisy and double standards in dealing with the Rwandan regime and President Kagame in particular who publically claim credit for abducting and assassinating citizens. It should be clear that the kidnapping and parading of Mr. Paul Rusesabagina will not deter the oppressed people of Rwanda from fighting for their liberty and freedom. As stated by late President Nelson Mandela, “When a man is denied the right to live the life he believes in, he has no choice but to become an outlaw.” The human rights violations by the Rwandan regime is forcing thousands of people into exile fearing for their lives. Mr. Ruseasabagina was one of the spokespersons of such voiceless people.
By Rutaburingoga Sulah Wakabirigi