Ever since a Human Rights Watch worker was denied a visa to work in Rwanda due to forged documents early this year, the organization has made it its business to malign and undermine the accomplishments of the Rwandan Government, its leadership and people in a relentless manner.
A report by the Associated Press quoting HRW states: "Rwanda is a country where there is not much freedom of expression, but in the months leading up to the August elections we really have seen a further crackdown on any form of opposition, dissent or criticism."
The report quotes Carina Tertsakian, the same researcher who was denied the controversial visa. It has been wrongly stated that Human rights watch is barred from Rwanda but this is not the case, only one activist was barred due to falsifying documents while others have been allowed to stay. She worked in Rwanda for just three months, and yet she is now described as an specialist on Rwanda.
It is the same charge, over and over again. The western media which often has a biased opinion that Africa is prone to violence all the time, that purveys this myth without any evidence. The self styled “opposition leader” Victoire Ingabire, stands accused of genocide denial. She has had her day in court and awaits trial. As a presidential hopeful, she hopes to ride on ethnic sentiments and stoke flames of hatred to the highest office and get away with it.
A renegade general survives an attempt on his life and the crime is heaped squarely on the Rwandan government. Never mind that South Africa is has one of the highest crime rates in the world. Perhaps the most recent fabricated charge against the Government of Rwanda by HRW and other critics is the shooting to death of a suspended newspaper editor, Jean-Leonard Rugambage. It now turns out the journalist was a victim of a revenge-killing. Two suspects have been arrested, a gun recovered and confessions.
In the words of our foreign affairs minister who doubles as government spokeswoman, Rwanda does not kill its own people. There are established institutions to try court suspects within the confines of the law. "There is this whole psyche that there is a crackdown in Rwanda, that tensions are high" says the minister.
There was the case of American lawyer, Prof. Peter Erlinder, related to genocide denial but twisted to mean that he was arrested for defending Ingabire. The truth, as it stands today, is now known worldwide. Rwanda is a stable country, where the rule of law is supreme. And the country is moving on, despite all the deception. HRW and other organizations continue to take advantage of the forthcoming elections to project this kind of situation.
So what will HRW’s next lie be?
Watch this space.
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