Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09KIGALI149
2009-03-06 12:30:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kigali
Cable title:  

RWANDA - MONTHLY POLITICAL ROUND-UP

Tags:  PREL PGOV RW 
pdf how-to read a cable
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P 061230Z MAR 09
FM AMEMBASSY KIGALI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5936
INFO RUEHBS/AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS 0407
RUEHJB/AMEMBASSY BUJUMBURA 0503
RUEHDR/AMEMBASSY DAR ES SALAAM 1316
RUEHKM/AMEMBASSY KAMPALA 2098
RUEHKI/AMEMBASSY KINSHASA 0652
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 0422
RUEHNR/AMEMBASSY NAIROBI 1432
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 0682
RUEHSA/AMEMBASSY PRETORIA 2030
C O N F I D E N T I A L KIGALI 000149 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/06/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV RW
SUBJECT: RWANDA - MONTHLY POLITICAL ROUND-UP

REF: A. 08 KIGALI 871

B. 08 KIGALI 323

Classified By: CDA Cheryl Sim for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L KIGALI 000149

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/06/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV RW
SUBJECT: RWANDA - MONTHLY POLITICAL ROUND-UP

REF: A. 08 KIGALI 871

B. 08 KIGALI 323

Classified By: CDA Cheryl Sim for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (U) In this edition:

- Annual Government of Rwanda (GOR) Retreat

- Bringing Gacaca to a Close

- End to Canadian Aid for Rwanda

- Journalists Expelled From Police Event

- Japan to Open Embassy in Rwanda

--------------
GOR Holds Annual Retreat
--------------


2. (C) The Government of Rwanda (GOR) held its sixth annual
government retreat February 16-20. President Paul Kagame and
senior government officials including Ministers,
Parliamentary leadership, Secretaries General, governors,
Rwanda's ambassadors, judicial officials and top military and
police representatives, as well as foreign nationals working
for the GOR attended. The retreat focused primarily on
economic issues. The major resolutions to emerge called for
Rwanda to free itself from "demeaning" foreign aid dependency
in the near future and end the "culture of mediocrity" in the
country. Other resolutions addressed the need to improve
service delivery and utilize agriculture as a development
tool. The President did not use the event as a public
opportunity to take to task underperforming GOR officials as
he has in previous years. Instead, he apparently directed
limited "criticisms" at Prosecutor General Martin Ngoga,
telling him to continue to pursue investigations into
government corruption cases, as a means signaling his high
interest to all those officials present (septel).


3. (C) Comment: The presence of several expatriates working
for the GOR may have tempered the sometimes blistering annual
criticism proffered by President Kagame. The resolution to
end dependence on foreign aid is laudable, but unlikely to be
fully achieved anytime in the near future given that foreign
assistance currently comprises 50 percent of the GOR budget.
End comment.

--------------
Gacaca Courts Near End of Cases
--------------


4. (SBU) On February 24, Denis Bikesha, Director of Training,
Mobilization, and Sensitization for the National Service of
Gacaca Courts, told PolOffs all gacaca cases, including
appeals, were slated to be completed by the end of March

2009. He said as of November 2008, 4000 Category I rape

cases were left to be heard by the traditional courts; they
had worked to "increase the speed" at which cases were
processed since that time. Bikesha said "an independent
body" would evaluate the gacaca process at its conclusion and
publish a report of findings in December. In the meantime,
the number of staff in the gacaca service was being reduced
in preparation for the cessation of trials. The Service was
planning to establish cooperatives and provide tokens of
recognition for former gacaca judges (who numbered 169,442)
was underway.


5. (SBU) Bikesha emphasized the purpose of the gacaca process
was to provide "justice for reconciliation, and to uproot the
culture of impunity." When asked about possible preparations
to try former FDLR soldiers returning from the Democratic
Republic of Congo (DRC) following the recent joint GOR-DRC
military operation, Bikesha said many of the returnees had
been younger than age 14 during the genocide and would not
therefore be subject to trial for genocide crimes. He also
Qtherefore be subject to trial for genocide crimes. He also
said several individuals had already been tried in absentia.
Bikesha said "there is no statute of limitations on
genocide," and that genocide trials would continue in the
conventional court system as needed even after the
termination of the gacaca process.


6. (SBU) Comment: Though the deadline for completion of cases
has been pushed back several times and the law governing
gacaca subjected to several revisions, the GOR has
accomplished an amazing feat of judicial innovation, adapting
the traditional gacaca process to deal with over one million
cases stemming from the 1994 genocide. The process has not
been free from problems, particularly regarding various due
process failings, the corruption of judges by those wishing
to escape punishment for their genocide crimes, and worrisome
attacks on survivors and witnesses. Nevertheless, its
conclusion will help Rwandans close a chapter on their
darkest hour, and provides a basis in the future for
reconciliation based upon recognition of crimes and
acknowledgment of responsibility. True reconciliation will
take decades, but the gacaca system provided a first
essential step. End comment.

--------------
Canada To Stop Bilateral Aid to GOR
--------------


7. (SBU) On February 23, the Canadian government issued a
press release outlining its plan to focus its bilateral
foreign aid resources in 20 countries as part of its "Aid
Effectiveness Agenda." Rwanda was not among the 20 countries
who will receive bilateral aid under the strategy, though the
Government of Canada says all existing commitments with the
GOR will be met, including ongoing support in the areas of
rural development and local government. Multilateral
programming will also continue.


8. (SBU) Comment: The Canadian decision on bilateral aid to
the GOR follows the cessation of direct budget assistance by
the Swedish and the Dutch after the publication of the U.N.
Group of Experts report on the DRC alleging the GOR had
provided support to an armed rebel group there (ref A). The
Canadian decision will place additional pressure on the GOR
to make every assistance dollar count. End comment.

--------------
Police Expel Journalists from Event
--------------


9. (U) The pro-GOR New Times reported that police expelled
two of its journalists from a lecture for Rwanda National
Police (RNP) cadets given by High Court President Johnston
Bisengye on interaction between police and the judiciary on
February 14. The two had been invited to cover the public
event by Bisengye, who unsuccessfully attempted to intervene
on their behalf when they were asked to leave. Police
refused to allow the reporters to stay at the lecture and
forced them to delete the photographs they had taken when
they failed to produce a letter of permission from the
Ministry of Internal Security.


10. (C) George Barya, one of the expelled journalists,
confirmed the details, and offered a sympathetic portrayal of
Bisengye's efforts to allow them to stay at the training. He
said the Minister of Information Louise Mushikiwabo had been
informed of the incident. She reportedly gave her assurances
that she would raise the issue at the annual GOR retreat, and
she would call for better treatment of journalists by GOR
officials (note: we have no indication to date she actually
raised this issue).


11. (SBU) Comment: The expulsion of journalists from an event
that included discussion of human rights in policing is
another example of the lack of understanding of the
importance of optics in dealing with press freedom issues
Qimportance of optics in dealing with press freedom issues
(ref B). However, there are some encouraging signs that the
upper echelons of GOR leadership are becoming more
understanding of press issues. The intervention of
high-level officials on behalf of the New Times' journalists,
and the continued publication of critical pieces in
independent newspapers without official reaction, are welcome
developments. End comment.

--------------
Japanese Embassy scheduled for 2010
--------------


12. (C) As part of its commitment to double overseas
development assistance to Africa, the Government of Japan
(GOJ) recently announced its intention to open an Embassy in
Rwanda in 2010. Japan International Cooperation Agency
(JICA) Resident Representative Hiroshi Murakami told PolOff
on March 4 that Rwanda is a focus country for Japan's
assistance efforts. These efforts are based on two "pillars"
- support for human development and for rural development,
particularly in the water and energy sectors. Murakami said
the larger GOJ presence afforded by an embassy in Kigali will
allow the GOJ to increase its programming activities in
Rwanda. He noted Rwanda was not yet eligible for off-shore
loans provided by the Japanese Bank of International
Cooperation (which recently merged with JICA),but that
changing Rwanda's eligibility was another future goal.


SIM