GOR INVESTIGATING ATTACK ON JOURNALIST

C O N F I D E N T I A L KIGALI 000142 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR AF/C E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/12/2017 TAGS: PGOV PHUM RW SUBJECT: GOR INVESTIGATING ATTACK ON JOURNALIST REF: 06 KIGALI 790 Classified By: POLOFF GLEARNED, REASON 1.4 (d) ¶1. (SBU) Summary. Rwandan police are investigating a 9 Feb attack on Jean Bosco Gasasira, chief editor of independent Kinyarwanda-language newspaper "Umuvugizi." Gasisira was attacked by three men with tire irons outside a bar in Kigali, he sustained serious injuries to his leg, arm and head. By Monday, he has had three surgeries and was reportedly in stable but critical condition in the ICU of King Faisal Hospital in Kigali. Emboffs visited hospital several times over the weekend to check on his condition, and have discussed incident with NGO representatives, diplomats and GOR officials. According to a Rwandan National Police (RNP) official, one suspect has been detained and a full investigation is underway. End summary. ¶2. (C) In late morning of 9 Feb Gasasira described from his hospital bed the incident to emboff: -- Gasasira had been meeting with journalists Jean Guarbert Burasa (editor of "Rushyasha") and Bonaventure Bizumuremyi (editor of "Umuco") at Le Printemp Bar in the Remera neighborhood of Kigali. -- After Burasa and Bizumuremyi had departed the bar, an unknown man approached Gasasira around 20:30 and told him that his car tire had been slashed. When Gasisira went to check his car he was attacked by three men he identified as de-mobilized soldiers. -- The attackers beat him with tire irons until onlookers stopped them and forced them to flee. -- Gasasira, still lucid and concerned about his car and belongings, called a relative to drive him to the hospital. He said that there was no attempt by the attackers to steal any of his property. ¶3. (U) Gasasira suffered a broken arm, numerous contusions and internal bleeding, and an undiagnosed injury to the skull, and he slipped in and out of consciousness at the hospital. Initially placed in a recovery room after surgery on his arm, he was later transferred to the intensive care unit as his condition worsened, and placed on a respirator. ¶4. (C) According to an RNP contact, police investigators have detained one suspect, who has denied involvement, and are continuing an investigation. According to Human Rights Watch's Chris Huggins (protect),several GOR officials have visited Gasasira in the hospital including Minister of Information Laurent Nkusi and members of the RNP. We also understand representatives from the President's Office visited him in the hospital. Bio Notes -------------- ¶5. (C) In a past discussion about his background, Gasasira told emboff that he and his immediate family grew up in Uganda and his older brother was a high ranking Rwandan Patriotic Army (RPA) officer close to the 1990 RPA leadership including Fred Rwigema and Paul Kagame before being killed in action during the civil war. Gasasira said he had worked for the military intelligence (DMI) up until a few years ago. He has a reputation in the diplomatic community as somewhat of a maverick, willing to criticize government officials and fellow journalists alike. In August 2006, Gasisira was involved in another incident involving alleged threats against his fellow journalist and friend, Bonaventure Bizumuremyi (reftel). Gasasira also accused "military intelligence agents" of following him and issuing phone threats in the 2007 Reporters Without Borders Rwanda country report. ¶6. (C) Comment. This is the most serious attack on a journalist in some years. The GOR is clearly taking the incident seriously, as indicated by the senior level visits to the hospital and the rapid start to the police investigation. End comment. ARIETTI