Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09KIGALI383
2009-06-25 10:53:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kigali
Cable title:
BBC RESUMES LOCAL KINYARWANDA BROADCASTS
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHLGB #0383 1761053 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 251053Z JUN 09 FM AMEMBASSY KIGALI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6134 INFO RUEHBS/AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS 0459 RUEHJB/AMEMBASSY BUJUMBURA 0557 RUEHDR/AMEMBASSY DAR ES SALAAM 1371 RUEHKM/AMEMBASSY KAMPALA 2156 RUEHKI/AMEMBASSY KINSHASA 0710 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 0472 RUEHNR/AMEMBASSY NAIROBI 1492 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 0735 RUEHSA/AMEMBASSY PRETORIA 2096 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
C O N F I D E N T I A L KIGALI 000383
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/24/2019
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PINR RW
SUBJECT: BBC RESUMES LOCAL KINYARWANDA BROADCASTS
REF: A. KIGALI 328
B. KIGALI 302
Classified By: Ambassador Symington for reasons 1.4 (b) (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L KIGALI 000383
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/24/2019
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PINR RW
SUBJECT: BBC RESUMES LOCAL KINYARWANDA BROADCASTS
REF: A. KIGALI 328
B. KIGALI 302
Classified By: Ambassador Symington for reasons 1.4 (b) (d)
1. (U) On June 24, the Government of Rwanda (GOR) rescinded
its April ban on the BBC's local FM Kinyarwanda broadcasts
(which use GOR transmission facilities). The Rwandan cabinet
had formally agreed on June 19 to allow resumption of
broadcasts, following Information Minister Louise
Mushikiwabo's report of "successful" consultations. A BBC
team came to Rwanda in late May to discuss the broadcast
cutoff (reftel A),and the parties exchanged correspondence
on the cutoff and steps forward (not shared with the US
embassy). Several hours in advance of the resumption,
Mushikiwabo spoke to local press outlets to announce the
resumption, claiming the BBC had agreed to change its
editorial policy on Kinyarwanda programming, and the GOR was
pleased with this concession. (Note: In April Mushikiwabo
had accused the BBC of mounting broadcasts that either denied
the 1994 genocide, or promoted "divisionism" in Rwandan
society --see reftel B. End Note).
2. (C) Sources at the British Embassy and the local BBC
office deny to us, as they have in the past, any agreement by
BBC to change its editorial line. Both have also stoutly
denied publicly and privately any sort of genocide denial or
infringement of Rwandan social peace in BBC broadcasts. They
note BBC reaffirmed its commitment to balanced and accurate
reporting in its meetings with Mushikiwabo. They also
conveyed offers to meet with Rwandan officials at BBC studios
in London, and to receive Rwandan interns.
3. (C) Comment. Having banned broadcasts for two months,
Mushikiwabo apparently felt compelled to claim BBC
concessions for domestic political consumption. As noted
reftel A, the BBC has decided that the better part of
editorial valor on its part is to ignore her assertions of
editorial changes and genocide denial, and simply welcome the
resumption of broadcasts. End Comment.
SIM
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/24/2019
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PINR RW
SUBJECT: BBC RESUMES LOCAL KINYARWANDA BROADCASTS
REF: A. KIGALI 328
B. KIGALI 302
Classified By: Ambassador Symington for reasons 1.4 (b) (d)
1. (U) On June 24, the Government of Rwanda (GOR) rescinded
its April ban on the BBC's local FM Kinyarwanda broadcasts
(which use GOR transmission facilities). The Rwandan cabinet
had formally agreed on June 19 to allow resumption of
broadcasts, following Information Minister Louise
Mushikiwabo's report of "successful" consultations. A BBC
team came to Rwanda in late May to discuss the broadcast
cutoff (reftel A),and the parties exchanged correspondence
on the cutoff and steps forward (not shared with the US
embassy). Several hours in advance of the resumption,
Mushikiwabo spoke to local press outlets to announce the
resumption, claiming the BBC had agreed to change its
editorial policy on Kinyarwanda programming, and the GOR was
pleased with this concession. (Note: In April Mushikiwabo
had accused the BBC of mounting broadcasts that either denied
the 1994 genocide, or promoted "divisionism" in Rwandan
society --see reftel B. End Note).
2. (C) Sources at the British Embassy and the local BBC
office deny to us, as they have in the past, any agreement by
BBC to change its editorial line. Both have also stoutly
denied publicly and privately any sort of genocide denial or
infringement of Rwandan social peace in BBC broadcasts. They
note BBC reaffirmed its commitment to balanced and accurate
reporting in its meetings with Mushikiwabo. They also
conveyed offers to meet with Rwandan officials at BBC studios
in London, and to receive Rwandan interns.
3. (C) Comment. Having banned broadcasts for two months,
Mushikiwabo apparently felt compelled to claim BBC
concessions for domestic political consumption. As noted
reftel A, the BBC has decided that the better part of
editorial valor on its part is to ignore her assertions of
editorial changes and genocide denial, and simply welcome the
resumption of broadcasts. End Comment.
SIM