Kagame Equates FDLR To Nazis Rwanda President, Paul Kagame, had no kind words for the International Criminal Court (ICC) when he held a press briefing on Tuesday morning, accusing The Hague of practicing selective justice. Kagame said ICC was unable to deliver “imperfect justice” because of its simplistic approach to complex African issues. “ICC is just a tool of the west being used to control others and even pick African leaders. Why should we accept it?” he wondered. He said the ICC, which has lately been turned into a punching bag by African leaders, should be seen prosecuting other human rights abusers away from Africa. Kagame is the latest African leader to blast the ICC’s reported politicization of justice and targeting Africa. “If ICC indeed is to be called international justice, it should be seen prosecuting people across the board,” said Kagame during his monthly press briefing at his Urugwiro Village office. He explained that Rwanda’s stand on ICC was not as result of Kenyan trials. “Our stand was made 10 years ago, a reason we are not signatories,” he added. Critics say African leaders intend to pull out from the Rome Statute that formed the ICC so as to have a free hand with which they can rule their people with an iron hand. They further state that lack of an alternative court to try war criminals would deny justice to victims of African dictatorships. DRC The Rwandan leader took off time to delve into the intricacies of the tensions in Eastern DRC, saying time was ripe to end the suffering of the Congolese people. Kagame elaborated that untrue stories of Rwanda’s reported involvement in DRC conflict were being manufactured and “thrown around” by some “people with vested interests.” He did not spare the DRC government which recently alleged that Kigali was pushing Congolese refugees living in Rwanda back to DRC to reinforce rebel M23’s ranks. Kagame described DRC’s statements as the “highest level of dishonesty.” Just recently, hundreds of DRC refugees flooded M23 territory, saying they were sick and tired of living in refugee camps without a political solution from Kinshasha. DRC accuses Rwanda of backing the M23 Movement, a charge Kigali vehemently denies. Kagame said the “Congolese returnees” have been escaping from Rwanda to DRC and that his government is not to blame for the exodus. He said relevant institutions should investigate the matter. Nazis Asked how he would have responded had the rockets being fired from DRC continued to fall in Rwanda, Kagame asked journalists to stop speculation, adding, “now is the time to help end the suffering of the Congolese people.” The President also discussed the FDLR threat to Rwanda, saying there was no line between the militia’s ideology and Nazi’s. “Whether you were born after 50 years you represent the same thing,” said the President who led a group of guerillas from Uganda that stopped the 1994 Rwanda genocide in which over one million tustis and moderate Hutus were killed. The Germany Army under Adolf Hitler was responsible for the mass executions of Israelites under the Nazi ideology. The perpetrators of the genocide later fled to DRC from where they revenged by attempting to exterminate the Congolese Tutsis. Kagame insinuated that powers outside Africa had a hand in the 1994 genocide despite desperate attempts to keep the matter “African.” He said while FDLR had wrecked havoc in DRC for a long time, “all of a sudden it is forgotten like it never existed and the focus is now on M23.” On the expulsion of Rwandans from Tanzania, Kagame said “We can’t tell another country how to handle issues of its people or foreigners.” Regarding the recent grenade attacks in Kigali, the President said 99 percent of suspects are behind bars awaiting prosecution. He assured Rwanda his government had capacity and enough resources to guarantee the country’s security in wake of regional and internal security threats. Reacting to a question on whether Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda were ready to move towards political federation without other states especially Tanzania and Burundi, Kagame said “some countries can “move forward as others catch up.” On the recent appointment of Amb. Valentine Sendanyoye Rugwabiza to head Rwanda Development Board, Kagame said government intended to tap her resourcefulness and experience at the World Trade Organization to “reinforce the good work” being done at the investments promotions body. Pressed to explain the state of relations between Rwanda and United States after Washington decided to suspend $500,000 in military aid over reports of supporting M23’s alleged use of child soldiers, Kagame insisted “US and Rwanda are still good friends” but wondered how “Rwanda can be held liable for the wrongs of others in DRC.” The President said whoever is recruiting children for warfare should be held accountable and that RDF has never used children in its ranks. “Rwanda Defence Forces is a professional army and does not do something like that.” Source: congodrcnews/?p=4193
Posted on: Wed, 16 Oct 2013 09:18:27 +0000
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