The Government of Rwanda was not surprised by allegations of Amnesty International in its report, of 23rd June, 1998 on Rwanda since Rwanda witnessed a lot of similar frequent allegations.
In fact, since the establishment of the Government of National Unity, Amnesty International has always been negative by accusing it of all evil and deliberately opposing the new leadership in the post-genocide Rwanda.
The Government of Rwanda would like to express its serious concern about the methods of Amnesty International, which devotes on putting the Government on the same balance as the genocide forces rather than on showing the root causes of the current problems it is referring to.
Instead of condemning the evil presence in Rwanda of a group of a genocide forces and its cynic and cruel actions, Amnesty International is always writing against the Government of Rwanda and deliberately putting it on the same level as the interahamwe militia.
Amnesty International should appreciate the achievements and efforts of the Government of Rwanda towards the establishment of peace and security throughout the country, especially in the Northern-West, where some acts of continuation of the 1994 genocide are still located.
The Government of Rwanda wishes to congratulate its population from Ruhengeri and Gisenyi, who decided to reintegrate their homes from the bush by deciding to dissociate themselves from interahamwe militia. The administration at all levels is ready to assist said population in their resettlement, as usual.
Amnesty International should have reported on these improvements, which should be encouraged.
In the management of post-genocide Rwanda, the Government on its side, have applied punishment to discourage all acts of violence against innocent civilians, who are not implicated in any act of continuation of the genocide. The Government of Rwanda was even severe in applying such punishment. In the Government’s view, Amnesty International should have reported on that about Rwanda.
As the world might be aware, the new Government of Rwanda, which stopped genocide, while the International Community was standing aside, has now set up a National Commission for Human Rights and Protection of Human Life. Likewise, the Government of Rwanda has set up a national program for promotion and protection of human rights which hinges on the following:
- Building national capacities to have Rwandese monitors of human rights in Rwanda.
- Initiating educational programmes of human rights in formal education (primary, secondary schools and Universities) and in informal education (e.g. alphabetisation centres).
- Providing the National Commission of Human rights with financial and technical means to enable said Commission achieve its responsibility to promote and protect human rights in Rwanda.
- Initiating a big campaign of sensitisation throughout the Country on human rights awareness and sensitive such as using audio visual spots, Radio, TV and sketches in public places.
- Establishing in future a National Centre for Human Rights.
In Rwanda Government’s view, Amnesty International should have produced a report on this current programme instead of publishing rumours intended to tarnish the good image of Rwanda on the international scene.
The Government of Rwanda, being aware that the Country will be developed primarily by its nationals, who must feel responsible for their own destiny, urges all Rwandese to take the good way of national unity launched by the Government of National Unity, four years ago.
Press Release of Office of the Minister of Rwanda, June 24th, 1998
