GOR RENEWS VOA BROADCAST AGREEMENTS, AIRS ITS

UNCLAS KIGALI 000848 SIPDIS SIPDIS 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 SIPDIS --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