GOR RENEWS VOA BROADCAST AGREEMENTS, AIRS ITS

UNCLAS KIGALI 000848

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AF/C PLEASE PASS TO VOA DIRECTOR DAVID JACKSON

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KDEM KPAO PREL RW
SUBJECT: GOR RENEWS VOA BROADCAST AGREEMENTS, AIRS ITS
FRUSTRATION WITH VOA'S KINYARWANDA PROGRAMS



1. On Thursday, August 31, Voice of America Director David
Jackson renewed VOA's transmission agreement with Rwanda's
public broadcaster, ORINFOR, and signed a licensing agreement
with the Ministry of Information. The GOR took the
opportunity of the signings to voice strong concerns about
what it regards as the purposeful effort by the staff of the
VOA's Kinyarwanda programs (and to some degree local content
French-language reports) to paint the present government in
as negative a light as possible, to counter GOR efforts to
foster reconciliation, and to provide a platform to
individuals or organizations who advocate violence and/or are
genocide deniers.

GOR representatives at the meeting included:
--Minister of Foreign Affairs Charles Murigande
--Minister of Information in the Office of the Prime Minister
Laurent Nkusi
--Secretary General in the Ministry of Internal Security
Ambassador Joseph Mutaboba
--Director of Communications in the Office of the President
Alfred Ndahiro
--ORINFOR Director Joseph Bideri
--National Unity and Reconciliation Commission Executive
Secretary Fatuma Ndangiza

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--High Council of the Press Executive Secretary Patrice Maluma

USG representatives were VOA Director David Jackson, VOA
Regional Marketing Representative Paula Caffey, Ambassador,
and PAO.


2. Minister Nkusi opened the discussion by expressing the
GOR's appreciation of the positive role the VOA Central
Africa service played when established 10 years ago. Among
other things, Nkusi credited the VOA with contributing to the
positive atmosphere that permitted the fairly speedy return
of most of the two million Rwandans who fled the country in

1994. Nkusi commented, however, that VOA's
Kinyarwanda/Kirundi programs now seem to have as their
objective to give air time to the most virulent critics of
the GOR and to undermine the government's reconciliation
efforts. Nkusi proceeded to site examples of what the GOR
considered to be biased and inflammatory programs, including:
--A November 11, 2004 debate that included the spokesperson
for the FDLR, which has been identified as a terrorist group
by the USG and is under international sanctions that, among
other things, are supposed to deny the group access to the
media to promote its agenda;
--June 5 and 6, 2005 programs on Rwanda's use of traditional
'gacaca' courts that gave more time to critics of 'gacaca'
than supporters; and
--A May 2, 2006 program on the theme of a "double genocide"
in Rwanda that was biased against the government.


3. Minister Murigande and Ambassador Mutaboba corroborated
and elaborated on Nkusi's remarks, with both noting that they
had a long history of cooperation with the VOA and great
respect for the organization and his mission. Murigande, who
spent time in the U.S. during Rwanda's civil war, said that
he always appreciated the VOA's willingness during this
period to air the views of both the Rwandan Patriotic Front
and the then government. Mutaboba, noting that the first
interview he granted upon arrival in the U.S. to take up his
post as Ambassador was with VOA, said that there are major
differences between the way the news on VOA is presented in
its Kinyarwanda, French, and English broadcasts, which is a
clear sign that there is something fishy going on. Murigande
half-jokingly said the biased programs on Rwanda give the
impression that somebody at VOA has decided that there is a
need for a "Radio Free Rwanda" charged with a mission to
change the present regime.


4. Director Jackson responded by assuring the group that VOA
continues to be motivated by the same goals and concerns that
it had when it started its Central Africa service: namely, to
promote the peaceful resolution of conflicts in the region
and to foster reconciliation. It is, he said, against VOA
policy to serve as a platform for any individual or
organization or to give a platform to anybody who advocates
violence. Jackson confirmed that any allegations of bias
would be investigated and that any reporters found to be
biased would be changed. Jackson expressed his appreciation
for the GOR's stated commitment to the promotion of freedom
of speech and its willingness to proceed with signing of the
VOA agreements despite the concerns that had been raised. He

also encouraged the GOR to voice any complaints in a timely
manner rather than several months or even years after the
fact.


5. Regarding recent alledeged threats against VOA stringer in
Kigali, GOR reps confirmed that there is an ongoing
investigation into these reports and reiterated that, if
true, any such actions are inconsistent with GOR's commitment
to press freedom. Ambassador said Embassy anticipates
receiving promptly the results of this investigation.


6. Comment. The rank, size, and well coordinated remarks of
the GOR delegation reflect the degree of the government's
frustration with the VOA's Kinyarwanda/Kirundi programming.
Director Jackson's decision to travel to Rwanda for the
signings was well received by the GOR attendees, who seemed
pleased to have had the opportunity to air their grievances
at such a senior level. They also appeared reassured by
Jackson's commitment to look into any allegations of bias and
to take remedial action where appropriate. Post believes the
meeting opened an avenue of communication that could prove
important in reducing the frustration, if not outright anger,
that has been growing within the GOR toward the VOA's Central
Africa service. End Comment.
ARIETTI