International
Australian Parliament used as den of genocide deniers, revisionists
Twenty-seven
years after the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi which claimed more than one
million innocent lives, some countries are still sheltering genocide fugitives,
deniers, and revisionists.
One of those
countries is Australia. It is as if this country, thousands of miles away from
Rwanda, does not know the gravity of the genocide crimes perpetrated by some of
the Rwandan refugees living there who are behind the on-going drive to
propagate genocide denial and revisionism. Most of these Rwandans are descendants
of well-known genocidaires indicted for their proven role in the genocide.
Frodouard
Rukeshangabo, is one of the genocide deniers living in Australia. He is a
former inspector of schools in Rubona sector, former Kigarama Commune who is
known for his barbarity during the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi. He was
sentenced to 30 years in prison by the Gacaca courts before fleeing to Malawi,
and then to Australia. He was, nevertheless, given citizenship in Australia
despite his past criminal records. Rukeshangabo is known to have directed mass
murder and torture of the Tutsi in Rwanda's Eastern Province during the 1994
Genocide.
But there are
several other genocidaires living, unperturbed, in this country after fooling
Australian authorities that there was a double genocide in Rwanda.
These Rwandans
regrouped into what is called the Rwandan Association of Queensland, where they
commemorate, every year, what the association calls “Rwandan genocide.”
Australian authorities should be aware that the UN and the International
community at large now know that what happened in Rwanda in 1994 is not a
“Rwandan genocide” but, the Genocide against the Tutsi.
Those who insist
on calling it “the Rwanda genocide” are advancing the double genocide theory.
The latter theiry is only upheld and spread by the genocide papetrators on the
run. What is shocking and equally troubling is that the Australian Parliament
has given venue to the genocide deniers where guests include parliamentarians
and former soldiers who were part of an Australian UN contingent of
peacekeepers deployed in Rwanda in the aftermath of the genocide.
Is it by
ignorance, or simply turning a blind eye, on the sham commemoration that
trivializes the genocide against the Tutsi? Australian authorities should be
aware of the UN General Assembly resolution GA/12000 establishing April 7 as an
International Day of Reflection on 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. Australia
is part of the International community and the UN system and should not be
allowing the Rwandan Association of Queensland to commemorate the “Rwandan
Genocide” year in year out.
In the wake of
this year’s 'commemoration' attended by members of Queensland Parliament, Amiel
Nubaha, former president of the association wrote on his twitter account: “What
an amazing experience MC’ng our annual Rwandan Genocide Commemoration at
Parliament House today. Rwandan-Association Queensland cheers to all visitors
and friends who joined us as we remember all who lost their lives. The Rwandan
genocide cut through the soul and fabric, and to this day our beloved country
is still bleeding…”
Nubaha is the son
of indicted genocide suspect, Frodouard Rukeshangabo, who is still on the run. What
his son is engaged in in Australia is cynical and heartless. How can genocide
deniers and suspects ever commemorate the lives of the people they slaughtered?
Fertile ground for recruitment, funding of terrorist
organizations
It has also
become clear that Australia has become a fertile ground for recruitment and
funding of terrorist organizations working to undermine the hard-won peace,
stability, and unity in Rwanda, as well as well as national reconciliation.
Worse still, their intention is to topple the democratically elected government
in Rwanda.
Evidence exists
that shows that the Rwandan National Congress (RNC) and the Rwandan Movement
for Democratic Change/ Front for the National Liberation (MRCD/ FLN) of former
hotelier Paul Rusesabagina get financial support from the Rwandan Association
of Queensland.
Both the RNC and
MRCD/FLN are terrorist outfits which have carried out deadly attacks on Rwandan
soil. Rusesabagina, head of the
MRCD/FLN, is currently on trial in Rwanda for the same crimes.
It is high time
Australia comes clean on whether it will continue to support genocide
revisionists and deniers, thus perpetuating the suffering of the victims of the
genocide who are still reeling from the immense loss of loved ones 27 years
ago. Australian authorities also ought to know that the dangers of genocide
denial and revisionism are real.