The story that appeared in the online pro-government blog the Igihe.com on 02/06/2014 indicates that the former advisor to the late Rwandan Head of State Gen. Juvenal Habyarimana has been summoned by the Kigali High Court on the crimes he was allegedly acquitted by the Huye Court.

“Nyuma y’imyaka itatu agizwe umwere n’Urukiko rwa Huye ku byaha bya Jenoside yakorewe Abatutsi, Dr.Runyinya Barabwiriza wahoze ari Umujyanama wa Perezida Habyarimana akaba n’umwarimu muri Kaminuza Nkuru y’u Rwanda, yitabye Urukiko Rukuru rwa Kigali, Ubushinjacyaha bwajuririye icyo cyemezo”

Why is this man summoned not only for the crimes he was acquitted by a competent court but after three years without the prosecution appealing in time as required by law?

The reason is simple to find, the RPF spin doctors have realised that, this man who is Dr and a former ally of the Rwandan former regime had no case to answer , never the less he did not show up to the RPF to kneel down  and show loyalty to the Kagame regime. In fact the  Dr made a political mistake by keeping quite,  the RPF spin doctors don’t know what this man is doing and what is in his mind. The fact that Dr Runyinya lived a simple life and kept a low profile will not save him from a scared and isolated Kagame.

The RPF and Kagame regime are like a wounded buffalo that will attack every body that is perceived to be a threat or a potential opposition, indeed, Dr. Runyinya is lucky to have survived unknown assailants. Kagame would have ordered his boys to Doctor his death, may be with his family in the same way he killed Asiel  Kabera  and others.

I remember Evode Wizeyiman who was a critic of the Rwandan legal system unfortunately now serving the same gang, which does not only disregard its own laws but behave like a gang of bandits; unfortunately the regime has not changed despite the fact that this man is now the Vice President of the Rwandan Law Reform Commission. Equally the Minister of Justice Mr. Johnston Businge should stop making the Human Rights Watch a scapegoat or he should resign. The crimes RPF regime has committed and is committing is indefensible, how does the Minister of Justice would like the American Human Rights Watch Dog to defend the words of his Boss Kagame who goes mad publicly and says that the killing of Karegeya was overdue.

Mr. Businge is a lawyer himself and a former High Court President who knows very well that any interference of the executive let alone the Head of State undermines the impartiality of Justice. Why is he forgetting the basic fundamentals and maxims of justice that it is not only done but must be seen to be done?  Similarly, the crimes that a suspect is acquitted cannot be charged again against that person unless new facts are discovered.

Dr. Runyinya was not in Rwanda at the time of Genocide, he was in Tanzania as the Huye Court confirmed and acquitted him, why now after three years the RPF spin doctors are making this man miserable and making his life and that of his family uncomfortable?

Kagame and RPF especially his advisors are making a grave mistake  by bringing this man back to court on fabricated cases themselves know that they are false. First they are giving an impression that every body that was in the Habyarimana regime who is not singing Intsinzi of RPF will never get justice as long as Kagame is in power. Secondary, the job of an advisor to the president of the likes of Habyarimina a.k Kinani and Kagame without other actions should not and could not be conclusive evidence beyond reasonable doubt to hang a man like Dr. Runyinya or the Kagame advisors when he leaves power.  How many times Kagame has expelled his Ministers because they have advised him to do the right thing?

The predecessor of Mr. Businge, Tharcisse Karugarama advised president Kagame not to seek another time come 2017 when his term expires, he was fired by Kagame and replaced him with Businge, who is now accusing the Human Rights Watch of working for the Rwandan opposition.

Does Mr. Businge remember the Human Rights Watch under Dr. Alison des forges  who did not only expose the  atrocities of the Habyarimana regime but also stood by the killing regime at the time. This lady went as far as giving witness in the Rwandan International Criminal Court (ICTR) based in Arusha. Had it not been Dr. Alison and the Human Rights Watch genocide and genocidares would not have been brought to book.

Indeed, this is the same accountability this Human Rights body is demanding from RPF, Does Mr. Businge want the Human Rights Watch to praise or give trophies to the Rwandan ruler for going to the Rwandan parliament and announce that if necessary he will use a hammer to kill a fly and later his comrade and colleague is shot in South Africa? Governments led by despots like Kagame will always hate Human Rights bodies. The Rwandan government has suffocated all independent Human Rights bodies, freedom of assembly, freedom of expression, free press are all muzzled under the Kagame regime.

Therefore, the only independent source of information and in fact the body that cannot be intimidated by Kagame is the American Human Rights Watch.  The international community should put more pressure on Kagame so that he can leave the judiciary to exercise and render justice without fear or favour. It is clear and evident given the experience we have in Rwanda that Dr. Runyinya will not get justice, because the accuser in this case is Kagame himself and not in the public good but in the interests of Kagame and his regime.

It’s a pity that even the most qualified legal practitioners cannot advise the RPF regime that the world is watching them, what they are doing, one day; one by one these men and women will be responsible individually when the regime collapses. I therefore warn RPF and its leaders to stop squeezing every body in the far corner without giving him or her exit, the consequences will be bitter to swallow as history is not on their side.

Jacqueline Umurungi