Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06KIGALI291
2006-03-29 10:12:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Kigali
Cable title:  

GOR Discusses Human Rights Report, Promises

Tags:  PHUM PGOV PREL KDEM KJUS RW 
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DE RUEHLGB #0291/01 0881012
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 291012Z MAR 06
FM AMEMBASSY KIGALI
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2576
UNCLAS KIGALI 000291 

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SENSITIVE
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E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PGOV PREL KDEM KJUS RW
SUBJECT: GOR Discusses Human Rights Report, Promises
Further Dialogue


This is sensitive but unclassified. Please protect
accordingly.

UNCLAS KIGALI 000291

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SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PGOV PREL KDEM KJUS RW
SUBJECT: GOR Discusses Human Rights Report, Promises
Further Dialogue


This is sensitive but unclassified. Please protect
accordingly.


1. (SBU) Summary: During a candid meeting March 22 with
Ambassador and Embassy poloffs and PD officer on the 2005
Human Rights Report, senior GOR officials raised several
issues, including what they characterized as the report's
accusatory tone and lack of context. Officials also voiced
concerns over policy issues and methodology, noting the low
standard of investigation, factual inaccuracies and
misperceptions. The GOR has set up a senior-level working
group to focus on human rights issues. As a first step, the
group has reviewed the 2005 report and prepared a detailed
written response. Officials said the improved quality of
this year's report provides a basis for the first time for a
constructive dialogue on human rights issues in Rwanda.
They would like to see the report, which went from "worse to
bad" this year, go a step higher next year "from bad to
good." End summary.


2. (U) Ambassador Arietti and emboffs met with a group of
senior GOR officials March 22, at the request of Special
Envoy to the President for the Great Lakes Region Amb.
Richard Sezibera, to discuss the 2005 Human Rights Report.
The meeting, chaired by Sezibera, included Ministry of
Internal Security Secretary General Amb. Joseph Mutaboba,
Deputy Prosecutor General Martin Ngonga, Deputy Police
Commissioner Mary Gahongayire, National Human Rights
Commissioner Tom Ndahiro, Director General of Immigration
and Emigration Anaclet Kalibata, and Foreign Affairs
Ministry Americas Desk Officer Augustin Rutikara.

GOR Critique of Report
--------------


3. (SBU) Sezibera began by observing that Rwanda and the
U.S. share an interest in advancing the human rights agenda.
However, he was disturbed by what he called the overall
"accusatory tenor" of the report. He noted, for example,
that the report begins with a statement about the "largely
Tutsi" Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF),which he said is not
only inaccurate but sets the tone for the rest of the
report. A subsequent statement that there were "no reports

of local government officials inciting Tutsi citizens to
make false accusations against or discriminate against
Hutus" not only gives the impression that this is the norm
but also contributes to "social antagonism" rather than
advancing the human rights agenda.


4. (SBU) Sezibera articulated three major objections to the
content of the report. He objected to language that imputes
to Rwanda human rights abuses committed by Congolese army
groups against the Congolese in Congolese territory, while
omitting mention of FDLR activities in Rwanda. In addition,
he said the report lacks context, particularly in the highly
insensitive way in which it characterizes the gacaca system.
While acknowledging that the GOR itself has raised questions
about the system and has been working to address
shortcomings, he complained that the report makes an unfair
value judgment. In particular, he objected to the criticism
that the gacaca process is more effective at rendering
justice than fostering reconciliation. He objected also to
the implication that the RPF is not subject to gacaca. He
said gacaca is intended only to address genocide crimes. He
explained that the RPF, as an organization, cannot be judged
as a group and that individual RPF officers have been tried
for human rights violations. He agreed that gacaca is an
imperfect system, but maintained that it is the only viable
option they have. Any critique of gacaca, he said, must be
viewed in that context.


5. (SBU) Sezibera acknowledged that LDF members can and do
commit crimes, but noted that the problem is not systemic
and the number of crimes is not statistically significant.
He said that individuals are prosecuted and punished if
found guilty. He asserted that the report's claim that the
LDF is not a constitutionally-based force is inaccurate. In
fact, he said, the LDF is based on the constitution, which
provides for citizens' participation in leadership, justice,
defense, and provision of security. He clarified that LDF
is under the Minister of Local Government, not under the
control of the national police.


6. (SBU) Regarding the Jehovah's Witnesses, Deputy
Prosecutor General Ngonga noted that they probably have more
churches in Rwanda than in any other African country, and
that their extensive presence does not reflect persecution.
He commented that it is necessary to differentiate between
the conduct of individuals and the conduct of the group. He

pointed out that there are ongoing issues with individual
Jehovah's Witnesses that do not entail activities prohibited
by their dogma.

Report Methodology
--------------


7. (SBU) Deputy Prosecutor General Ngonga criticized the
methodology of the report. He noted that as human rights
are universal, so are the norms of investigation, and that
the standard of investigation for the Human Rights Report
should be upgraded. He observed that the U.S. has high
investigative standards for legal issues and asked why the
standards are lower for the HRR. When one points to
specific cases of alleged illegal detention, for example,
one is obligated to dig deeper for all the facts rather than
simply rely on news media accounts or NGO reports. He said
that the Prosecutor's Office is willing to share its
findings on all cases. Ngonga expressed concern that
generalizations in the report were based on insufficiently
investigated individual cases. He noted, for example, that
in the description of the case of an LDF member alleged to
have committed a crime, there was no mention of actions
taken by the prosecution or any indication as to whether the
accused had been apprehended or imprisoned.


8. (SBU) Other members of the group noted the lack of
critical analysis of NGO reports. National Human Rights
Commissioner Ndahiro stressed the importance of attributing
sources; otherwise, he said, it appears as if the USG
endorses the source. He said that the NGOs have a known
style--"mobilizing shame against the government"--of
describing human rights abuses in order to further their own
agendas. Ndahiro also pointed out the need to check and
cross-check facts, avoid accusations, understand Rwandan
complexities, and ascertain the credibility of both the
source and the translator, since the translator also can
distort the information. Deputy Police Commissioner
Gahongayire commented on the repetitive nature of the
report. She noted that cases that had already been reported
and resolved appeared again in this year's report.

GOR Initiatives on Human Rights
--------------


9. (SBU) Sezibera remarked that the "slightly improved"
quality of this year's report from that of previous years
provides a basis for initiating a constructive dialogue on
human rights, which had not been possible in previous years,
with a view toward improving Rwanda's standing next year.
The GOR would like to see the quality of the report, which
went "from worse to bad" this year, go a step higher next
year "from bad to good."


10. (U) Sezibera announced that the GOR has set up a senior
inter-ministerial working group to focus on human rights
issues. As a first step, the group has reviewed the 2005
human rights report and prepared a detailed written
response. (Note: After the release of the 2004 HRR, the
GOR responded with a detailed 26-page rebuttal. End note.)
The group, chaired by Amb. Sezibera, is comprised of seven
senior GOR officials: Sezibera, Mutaboba, Justice Ministry
Secretary General Johnston Busingye, Ngonga, Ndahiro,

SIPDIS
Kalibata, and Rutikara.

Next Steps
--------------


11. (U) Ambassador expressed his appreciation to the GOR for
taking the initiative in putting together the working group
and initiating the human rights dialogue. He explained that
the Human Rights Report is a Congressionally mandated
requirement and that, although it might be perceived by some
as overly critical of the GOR, it should serve as a solid
base to prompt discussion on shared goals and interests. He
acknowledged that there are differences of interpretation,
and reiterated that the USG is open to correction and
clarification of misunderstandings or misperceptions.
Noting constraints in format and style in the drafting of
the report, the Ambassador suggested identifying key areas
that are fundamentally important and not focusing on issues
of style or specific wording.


12. (U) Ambassador pushed back on many of the points raised
by Sezibera. He dealt directly with each of the concerns
raised by the GOR and suggested two additional areas for
discussion--press freedom and civil society. He also noted
the importance of addressing issues relating to the role of
political parties in Rwanda.


13. (U) Sezibera responded that the GOR wishes to maintain a
regular dialogue with Embassy to address all the areas of
concern raised in the report, and expand the dialogue to
include other relevant parties and observers. He promised
that the GOR would be specific in its points and offered to
organize a meeting with the press and civil society. He
also agreed to Ambassador's suggestion to focus on a few
select topics for the next meeting.

Comment
--------------


14. (U) This initial meeting on human rights, initiated by
the GOR, was successful in setting a positive tone for
further constructive engagement. It provided both the GOR
and Embassy an opportunity to candidly voice their views
about fundamental human rights issues. The level and extent
of GOR representation at the meeting and the GOR's prompt
formation of a working group to focus on human rights issues
signal the seriousness with which the GOR takes criticism of
its human rights record and its interest in a meaningful
dialogue rather than a mere exchange of criticisms. The GOR
has offered to share further information on specific cases,
take a critical look at problem areas to reach mutual
understanding, clarify misperceptions, and consider amending
laws where warranted. Post will meet with the GOR working
group on human rights after we receive its written response
to the 2005 Human Rights Report, and then regularly
throughout the year.


15. (U) Post is confident that in some areas we will be able
to see real progress in the short term, such as resolving
issues regarding the Jehovah's Witnesses and having the GOR
take a more proactive stance in responding to and taking
action against complaints of excessive use of force by the
police. Other issues that are more difficult, such as press
freedom, political pluralism, and issues affecting civil
society, may take more time. The government, however, has
offered to convene meetings with all the stakeholders to
discuss those issues as well as to meet with others from the
USG, such as DRL, and to reach out to more international
NGOs.


16. (U) Ambassador subsequently briefed EU Chiefs of Mission
about this meeting. They endorsed the U.S. initiative and
agreed to look for appropriate ways in which the U.S. and
the EU can coordinate human rights efforts.

ARIETTI