By: Jennifer Fierberg, MSW

President Paul Kagame will be addressing William Penn University for their commencement speech to the graduating class of 2012 on May 12^th, 2012. It is apparent that this school has no idea of his record of human right abuses. At this even he will be receiving an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters for his contributions to the humanities and human welfare. Please contact the university president and others using the information below in order to stop this atrocity. If enough of us act then maybe it can be stopped as it was in San Francisco.

A concerned friend of Rwanda stated the following; “While I applaud your University's relationship with the Rwandan people and the celebration of the graduation of Rwandan students, I find your celebration of Kagame to be a grave insult to the millions of dead and those of us who crave justice and God's mercy.  While I am not a Quaker, I am a Christian Pacifist, and I find it appalling that any university would celebrate the rule of any leader who came to power through such violent and oppressive means.  Am I to assume with using your logic that we classify Hitler as a successful leader since he did, after all, revitalize the German economy, and we sweep under the "rug" the fact that he was also responsible for millions of deaths?”

In a detailed letter requesting the President of William Penn University to reconsider having President Paul Kagame address the graduating class of 2012 he had the following to say:

Dean Gambell:

I am writing to you concerning your university’s decision to have President Paul Kagame of Rwanda to give the commencement address this year.  While it is true that no international leader is without controversy, President Kagame’s record on human rights abuses speaks volumes of this man’s character.  I strongly request that you rescind the invitation to have this man speak at the commencement ceremony.

*In August 2011, before the presidential election, there was a major halt of freedom of expression allowing President Kagame to win with 93% of the vote.

*Bernard Ntaganda, and Victor Ingabire, both leaders of opposition parties were arrested for criticizing government policy.

*Since 2009, journalist rights have been highly restricted forcing many journalists to flee Rwanda for their own safety.

*Between March and May 2011, at least four individuals have disappeared, presumably at the hand of Kagame’s government.

*Members of opposition political parties have been arrested and beaten. President Kagame controls the RPF Political Party, only functioning political party in Rwanda.

*In 2008, a Spanish judge indicted 40 Rwandan Military Officers for human rights abuses and genocide that took place in the 1990’s when several million Rwandans died or disappeared – this judge found criminal activity on the part of President Kagame, however he is immune from indictment due to being a head of state.

*In October 2011, Former Secretary General of the RPF, Dr. Theogene Rudasingua stated in an “open confession” that President Kagame personally ordered the assassination of Former President Habyarimana that set off the 1994 Rwandan Genocide.  This is backed by a French investigation completed in January 2012.

*In 1996, according to the United Nations Mapping Report, Rwanda (posing as militias) attacked Zaire (Now called the Democratic Republic of Congo) attacking Hutus in genocidal proportions.

*President Kagame’s role in both the First and Second Congo Wars cannot be overlooked where between 3.8-7.8 Million humans were killed.

All of this information can be found from a simple web-search, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, United Nations Documents, and major media reports.

Kagame’s violent rule continues to this day as he suppresses journalism, opposition parties, and orders assassinations of dissenters – even those in other countries.

The stain on the hands of William Penn University would be unfathomable if you allow President Kagame to continue as commencement speaker.

This travesty would also go against the namesake of your university, William Penn, who was a Quaker who championed the rights of those in politics, religious minorities, and was a man who believed that all humans were equal and sacred in the eyes of God.

I am strongly requesting that you rescind your invitation to President Kagame and do not award him an Honorary Doctorate because of his obvious neglect of human rights and ties to genocide.  This genocidal dictator is not an appropriate role model for any human being, much less for college graduates.

Please forward this communication to anyone who has a role in planning the commencement exercises at your university.

In the Name of God’s Peace:

A friend of Rwanda

There is a call script below.

Here the people to call at the university:

1. President of William Penn University; Dr. Ann Fields

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

641-673-1078

2. Vice President of Advancement, Steve Noah

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

641-673-1048

3. Marketing Media Director – William Penn University

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

641-673-1078

4. Jared Pierce, Chairman of the Humanities Division

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

641-673-2107

5. Michael Collins, Head of Social & Behavioral Sciences

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

641-673-1393

Here is the call script

Calling The University Officials and Administrators:

Note: When you call the university, ask if the person you’re speaking to is the right person with whom you report grievances regarding university guests. If not, ask with whom you can speak to express your grievances, and call them right of way with the same script.

Hi [person picking up phone by name if applicable], my name is ____________ and

I’m calling because I have serious concerns about William Penn University’s partnership and collaboration with the President of Rwanda, Paul Kagame. President Kagame stand accused of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and crimes of genocide in the Great Lakes of Africa. [Give a personal story if you have one]. Please rescind his invitation as soon as possible, and support democracy and human rights in Rwanda and Congo.

[Your choice words, speaking of the plundering of minerals in the DRC, the millions of deaths caused by the invasions of Rwanda and Uganda into the Congo, the lack of democratic space in Rwanda, the fear of assassination faced by exiled Rwandans, and refugees, etc.] (Source: http://therisingcontinent.wordpress.com/2012/05/03/call-for-action-against-the-visit-of-paul-kagame-at-william-penn-university/)

World Press Freedom Day 2012

By Jennifer Fierberg, MSW

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) reports that 18 independent Rwandan journalists live in exile. Additionally, four journalists have been murdered with their cases having gone unsolved let alone investigated. The regional contrast to Rwanda and media freedoms, CPJ reports, that in the last ten years the DRC has three journalists who have fled into exile, Libya reports one and Ethiopia reporting five.   With the death of Charles Ingabire in December of 2011 the UNHCR received much pressure from the international community to relocate the Rwandan journalists in exile who resided in Uganda in order to prevent another unexplainable death. Many have since been relocated to other countries around the world but this relocation process is no paradise.  While the journalists are grateful for the protection they face new challenges of language barriers, seeking employment and simply trying to feed themselves. Many have the misconception that once relocated the host country supports their every need. This is not true. They struggle to maintain daily subsistence.

Jeremy Browne, Minister of Human Rights stated the following in response to the honoring of World Press Freedom Day,” Media freedom has the power to transform societies and to change the course of history. Over the past year, across the Middle East and North Africa, ordinary citizens found their voices using social media and blogs. But freedom of expression continues to be repressed in many countries and some have seen a significant decline in media freedoms. Around the world, journalists, bloggers and others have been obstructed from doing their work by being harassed, monitored, detained, or subjected to violence.”

One journalist, who preferred to remain anonymous stated, “I have hope that Rwandans will one day enjoy a free and independent press. It may take time (years), but history shows that a struggle for a free and independent press is not done in vain. I pity those who invest in persecuting journalists or people as a way of entrenching themselves in power. In persecuting and silencing others, you eventually pay a much heavier price.”

The Rwandan Journalists in exile have organized themselves into The Rwanda Journalists Association in Exile and have published the following press release in regards to the situation they are facing:

PRESS RELEASE

Rwanda Journalists’ Association in Exile

Today, the 3rd of May 2012, is world press freedom day. As we celebrate this day, we the Rwandan journalists’ in exile, are happy for the accomplishments that the media has achieved in promoting democracy in different countries around the world, and for being a voice to the voiceless.

We are happy for the tremendous change in internet technology which has simplified the flow of information.

As the theme of this year says, “Media Freedom Helping to Transform Societies”, we find it very difficult in Rwanda to have transformation as long as the current regime continues to oppress the media.

The Rwandan government has closed all independent newspapers; it has threatened, intimidated and forcing them to flee their country while others have decided to change their editorial lines as the only way to be safe.

The Journalists’ Associations in Rwanda are led by people nominated by the ruling party in order to control the freedom of the media through their own associations’ leadership.

Repugnant laws were put in place as a tool to silence all critical media voices since the RPF regime led by President Paul Kagame got in power in 1994.

On this day, as we celebrate freedom day, it’s an opportunity to remember our comrades Jean Leonard Rugambage and Charles Ingabire  (May their souls Rest in Peace) who were both killed because of their critical journalistic work of the government of Rwanda.

We condemn the statement made by President Paul Kagame while addressing journalists in Kampala in December last year after the death of Ingabire Charles, where he said that Ingabire was a criminal. We know that Ingabire has never been convicted of any by any Rwandan court of justice nor had any charges ever been brought against him.

We are greatly concerned by the lives of the two Rwandan female journalists who are in prison for simply expressing themselves in their Newspaper Umurabyo. Those are Agnes Nkusi Uwimana and Mukakibibi Saidat who were sentenced to 4 and 3 years of imprisonment respectively.

Many Newspapers and Radios have recently been started, but we do not find this as a sign of freedom of press as the Rwandan Government always has a say in what is reported because all these newspapers and Radios stations work for the ruling party who determines their editorial line.

Freedom of expression, freedom of opinion and freedom of speech are fundamental rights which have been a dream for many years among the citizens of Rwandan since the RPF regime took power.

Because of the above mentioned problems in Rwanda, we call upon the International community to put pressure on the Rwandan Government ruled by Paul Kagame, to stop all media oppression as soon as possible.

Done in Sweden on 3rd May 2012

Signatories;

Tharcisse SEMANA, journal UMUSESO

Nelson Gatsimbazi, journal UMUSINGI

Macdowell Kalisa, Journal UMUSESO

Amiel Nkuriza, Journal LE PARTISAN

Robert Sebufirira, Journal UMUSESO

Uwigenga Christian, CFM

Didas Gasana, Journal UMUSESO

Furaha Mugisha, Journal UMUSESO

Lucie Umukundwa, VOA Radio

While these concerns appear to go unheard in Rwanda they are heard around the world by organizations that care for the wellbeing of these freedom fighters. A press that is dictated or silenced by the government is not a free and informative press. This style of media only serves to misinform the public and does not uphold the right to freedom of expression. It is a basic human right to have access to knowledge of what is going on in one’s country and the world around them but without a free and responsible press the country remains at the mercy of what the media is allowed to speak about.

World Press Freedom Day serves as a reminder to professionals of their responsibility to society, and of the importance of maintaining professional ethics. It is a day of support for media which are targets for the censorship, or abolition of press freedom. And it is also a day of remembrance for those journalists who lost their lives in the exercise of their profession (VOA).

In a meeting held in Gisenyi which was attended by the head of Congolese intelligence, the head of the eastern Congo soldiers and General James Kabarebe Rwanda’s minister of defence as well as Gen Charles Kayonga Rwanda’s army Chief and Maj Franco head of external operations President Paul Kagame of Rwanda instructed his soldiers to kill Bosco Ntaganda. In this meeting it was first agreed upon that they should first arrest or kill Ntaganda’s soldiers in order to gain access him. Based on the information of the armory and how equipped Gen Ntaganda’s soldiers were. The outcome was that, Gen. Ntaganda’s soldiers were to be ambushed and Gen Kayonga agreed to send the Special Forces who were to join forces with the Mai Mai Cheka militia group. This group has always worked closely with the Rwandan high profile leaders in order to acquire the market for their minerals as well as the exchange of weapons for other resources. Colonel Piripiri and Colonel Cyuma were both killed in an ambush yesterday the 23/04/12 (See: http://www.afroamerica.net/AfricaGL/2012/04/23/mai-mai-cheka-aka-sheka-kill-fardc-top-commanders/). Colonel Cyuma is believed to have been the head of the fourth region in eastern Congo, Colonel Piripiri was an assistant to Colonel Boduin who managed to escape; all of these senior army officers are royal to General Bosco Ntaganda.

This attack happened on the 23/04/12 in a place called Kibuwa between walikale and Masisi. Both the colonels died together with a large number of soldiers, Reliable sources indicate that this attack was done by the Rwandese special forces, however when the attack happened they indicated that it was done by the Mai Mai Cheka militias who typically work for the Kigali government. The Special Forces joined this group in order to empower them to track down Gen Ntaganda yet they had also attacked Colonel Makinga and his soldiers but fought for hours and he managed to survive. The Special Forces are headed by Maj Nkuranga of the Rwanda Defence Forces, the plan is weaken by Gen Ntaganda’s backed groups until they can capture or shot him. Col. Boduin has headed into the mountains of Masisi where it is believed his boss Gen Ntaganda is hiding.

More info on Bosco Ntanga: http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/africa/congolese-president-calls-for-arrest-of-warlord-bosco-ntaganda-wanted-by-icc/2012/04/11/gIQAKVUgAT_story.html

Author: Rwema Francis

When I was growing up as a young man in Uganda, I was told many stories about the greatest dictator President General Idi Amin Dada until his fall in 1979 by Tanzanian forces. I was too young to experience his atrocities but my family like other citizens surely had live under his terror for numerous years.

A few years after his collapse in the early 1980’s, I remember the kind of fear my Uncle who had served in Amin’s forces lived with all the time due to the atrocities of the guy he served.

Idi Amin was named “Kijambia”, Luganda language meaning “Mr.Machete” due to his brutality and extermination of Ugandan elite, the Press and any potential critic.

Un-like me and my age at that time, it is evident that President Paul Kagame who was a teenager, in high school during Amin’s regime might have envied Idi Amin’s rule of tyranny in order to oppress whoever he deems a critic. ‘That leaves me wonder if history really repeats itself’.

Here I wish to point out a few issues that make President Paul Kagame a replica of Idi Amin of this millennium:

•Idi Amin encouraged his cabinet and the Ugandan population to “Love their Country”, love their leaders, whereas this a noble deed, the actual meaning from a dictator’s point of view is to be loyal to the main man himself. We continuously hear Kagame talking about “Kwihesha Agaciro, Gukunda igihugu”.

•Conflicting with the Western world mostly when they point a finger on their deeds, here it is worth mentioning that once he had a misunderstanding with his colonial master; Amin evicted the entire Asian community from Uganda. We have seen in the past Kagame expelling different ambassadors of western countries for simple un-diplomatic issues.

•Amin talked about empowering women in his cabinet and other managerial posts, although he only managed to appoint Princess Bagaya of Tooro. We see Kagame appointing women to every known position that he creates. I am not against gender equality but this actual act is done by a dictator just to show off to the world and most of all to have a much lesser opposing voice against him.

•For the dual, it is on record that Idi Amin invaded Congo and stole plentiful amounts of minerals, which he kept to himself. Kagame has continued to do the same with the guise of different factions in the Kivu province of Eastern Congo.

•Idi Amin invaded neighbouring Tanzania, Kagame invaded Congo although one lost the battle and the other dictator won.

•Self-pity; When one watches Amin’s documentary of his real interviews, while given the chance to talk about his early life, Amin spends vast amount of time talking the hardship he passed through as a child. He talks about the journeys he used to walk to go for his 2 years primary education, the way he was taken “by force” to join the Kings Rifle Army and so on. In numerous speeches given by Kagame since the time he became the President, he seems to lag on the fact and time he spent as a refugee in Uganda, he however forgets 90 percent of Rwandans have experienced refuge life either outside their country or as internally displaced people since the de-militarised zone of 1992 between the RPA and FAR.

•Depression; It is reported that at some point Amin suffered enormous mental depression, paranoia and anxiety. It is the same phases that Kagame is experiencing, he loses touch of reality, starts paying un-solicited visits to the districts measuring how much support and respects he still commands and lack of trust to even his inner circle.

•Idi Amin killed doctors, ministers, religious leaders, professors, rich businesspersons, opposition candidates and intellectuals. Kagame has done the same but worse more he also exterminates their family members unlike Amin.

•Gen Idi Amin ordered the Manager of the National Bank to print out money and make the capital city of Uganda Kampala look like Mecca. He ordered Gen Maliyamungu his then army commander to invade Congo and bring as much minerals as possible in order to get money and build roads and nice houses, hotels, hospitals, army barracks and bought jet fighters in preparation for the alleged enemy. He ended up falling out with Gen Maliamungu and actually planned for his life, but was tipped-off by his junior subordinates and survived the plot. Kagame like Gen Amin did invade the Congo looted the minerals; build only the capital Kigali a few roads although no hospital, he bought fighter jets and heavy weaponry in preparation for the alleged enemies like Amin. Kagame not only used his loot but also used donor money he acquired as sympathy for the Tutsi genocide to buy the fighter jets and his personal jets. He also has attempted the life of his Army commander like Amin.

•General Amin started killing his comrades by shooting them using his State Research, but ended up hacking the rest with machetes in damping them in places like Mabira Forest, river Nile and other hidden place. Kagame has done more or worse the same. He started assassinating the likes of Lt Col. Wilson Rutayisire, Alex Ruzindana, Col Rizinde and the like with guns and ended up hacking individuals like Kagwa Rwisereka with machetes.

•When Idi Amin forcefully took power from President Obote, he was a Colonel, in less than eight years; Amin had promoted himself to the highest rank in the military doctrine. He was obsessed with titles including being the king of Scotland, and acquired an honorary doctorate from South Korea. It is just a matter of the era between the two dictators but we see a trend of similar incidents. Kagame would spare no stone unturned to search for medals and awards like Idi Amin. He has travelled across the globe to be awarded the smallest award possible. He has recently been awarded an honorary doctorate thanks to Turkey.

•Suppresses freedom of speech and raising one’s media house; Idi Amin is well known for this, he opened up his own media house including a TV and radio stations that he hoped would feed Ugandans with his own propaganda. Kagame is another guy who is on loggerheads with the media be it local or international. Like his prophet Idi Amin, he has opened up his own media house but also a chain of his own online newsletters or blogs thanks to the new millennium.

•In recent months, Kagame has advised his henchman Jack Nziza to start up an online newspaper to suppress his much-feared “gang of four” as he termed them (Kayumba, Karegeya, Gahima and Rudasingwa). It is important to mention that as a person who spent most of my youth with Kagame as his body guard and driver, have noticed a wide change of behaviour since he lost these four individuals. I all along knew Kagame’s slyness and callousness just after a few incidents with him, which involved loss of our comrades while on duty to protect his life. On reading one General Jack Nziza and Kagame’s new online website (http://www.theexposer.net ), I had to recall the same sort of words Kagame used on any individual he did not feel comfortable with. This so called exposer or voice of Kagame is so callous that leaves you wonder if we Rwandans really deserve to be ruled by such a wild man. This all reminds me of General Idi Amin Dada, the dictator of our lives and for sure “History could be repeating itself”.

Noble Marara

Edited by Rwema Francis