The RPF government under the autocratic ruler Paul Kagame and his senior members of his government should be held accountable for overseeing grave rights abuses and crimes against humanity.

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The Great Lakes Human Rights Link is seriously concerned that since the massacre of innocent people in Rwanda and thrown in the Akagera River ending up in Lake Rweru in Burundi have never been investigated. “Umuryango w’Afurika Yunze Ubumwe urashaka kumenya abantu bishwe bakajugunywa mu kiyaga cya Rweru n’ababishe”. The African Human Rights should work very closely with international human rights watch Dogs like Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch to pressure the RPF regime to investigate very swiftly the cause of the death, origin and the perpetrators of these heinous crimes.

We have reported extensively that the RPF regime denies basic freedoms in the country and operates a network of political prisons and safe haven houses that systematically brutalize and often result in the deaths of those the government accuses of crimes. Kagame’s power is built on the continued abuses inflicted on the Rwandan people because he sits at the helm of a central government apparatus that uses extra judicial killings, intimidation, and harassment, kangaroo courts to silence those who question his human rights record or extensive political assassinations to maintain control without accountability.

The international community should change its attitude on the Rwandan ruler and finally recognize the need to bring him before an international tribunal to address those unspeakable crimes. While we appeal to the international community to bring to book the Rwandan ruler for human rights abuses, we urge the Rwandan government to recognize that human rights offer an effective moral guide in turbulent times and that violating rights can spark or aggravate serious security challenges. The short-term gains of undermining core values of freedom and non-discrimination are rarely worth the long-term price.

The United Nations Mapping report investigated extensively on the human rights abuses by the Kagame RPF led government. The Kagame forces directly under his instructions committed systematic human right abuses on a large scale and gravity without parallel in the contemporary Congo – including extermination, murder, torture, imprisonment, rape, and other sexual violence against the Rwandan refugees and Congolese in Congo.

Although the above UN report was shelved, we appeal to the Human Rights Council to adopt a resolution supporting the findings and the UN General Assembly to follow suit by adopting and approving a resolution that condemns the Rwandan human rights abuses. The Rwandan government is on record and its RPF ruling party that has continued to practice collective punishment by sending any doctored offender and his family or relatives to political prisons or isolations   known as “akato” The living conditions are horrific and the abuses include induced starvation, lack of medical care, proper shelter and clothes, torture and abuse by guards. The PS Imberakuri leader Mr. Bernard Ntaganda was one of the few who survived these conditions for the whole period of Four Years he spent in prison for just starting a political party that was not sanctioned by RPF.

Again Rwandans sent back after being caught from outside like Uganda, Lt. Joe Mutabazi and others who have been transferred from Arusha International Criminal Court like Pastor Uwukindi have been denied their constitutional legal right of legal representation, they instead choose the RPF cadres who get instructions from the RPF secretariat or their representatives from the Ministry of Justice.  Many political dissents caught out side or within Rwanda are systematically interrogated and tortured, Sgt Kabayija who was arrested with his former boss Gen. Frank Rusagara testified in court.

The Rwandan governmnet has suppressed or suffocated any independent media or civil societies that don’t support the RPF criminal activities. Last Year the BBC TWO Documentary aired what they called untold stories in which Kagame and his lieutenants are accused of gross human rights abuses and the shooting of the Habyarimana Official Jet that triggered Genocide. The Kagame regime responded by closing BBC FM program of Gahuzamiryago.    .

The former US top diplomat in Rwanda Ambassador Donald W. Koran publicly acknowledged that the closing of the BBC Gahuzamiryango was illegal and portrays Rwanda as an autocratic regime in the region. He told the Rwanda administration that the Media especially independent media is fundamental in a free and democratic society.

Despite the ratification of several core UN human rights treaties, Rwanda systematically represses basic civil and political rights, such as freedom of association, assembly, and expression, and targets those involved in religious activities. Now, at long last, the human rights crimes of the Rwandan government are in the spotlight and no one can deny the horror many Rwandans are experiencing.

It’s time for justice for the Rwandan people – meaning that governments around the world need to put human rights front and center in all their dealings with the rulers in Rwanda.

Joseph Ruhumuriza

Legal Researcher Great Lakes Human Rights Link.