The New York Times on June 30 published an article;   ‘No One Can Silence Me’: Paul Rusesabagina on His Captivity in Rwanda.”

 

The author of the article is their East Africa correspondent, Abdi Latif Dahir, who previously interviewed Rusesabagina while he was still in prison in Rwanda.

 

Unsuspecting readers can easily believe that this was a story by an objective journalist interested in telling the life of a “hero” after his release from prison in Rwanda. This is not the case.  When one connects the dots on the nature of the interview, the timing, and the travel of the newspaper’s correspondent from East Africa to Texas, it is not difficult to realize that the interview was at Rusesabagina’s request and for a purpose. In short, the New York Times interview gives a platform to promote Rusesabagina’s political ambitions of becoming the president of Rwanda.  

 

The claim by the author that Rusesabagina was promised high level positions “if he disclosed the foreign governments and accomplices they suspected were backing his rebellion,” is not only shallow but even more fictional than Rusesabagina’s Hotel Rwanda Hollywood movie. Rwanda does not reward criminals with high government posts.

  

The intention of the author is to raise the profile of Rusesabagina as a high profile person who should be regarded with high esteem.

 

Ironically, the author turns out to be a prophet with the ability to predict the future, but his memory betrays him and reveals his client’s secrets. Although the article was written on June 30, the writer tells his readers that, “in time for Independence Day in Rwanda on July 1, he (Rusesabagina) released a video proclaiming that Rwandans were still not free under Mr. Kagame’s regime, and that many political prisoners are given sham trials like his.” It beats logic to see that the author tells his readers of a released video (in past) a day before it happened!

 

Dahir’s ‘prophesy’ reveals how his travel to Texas was on Rusesabagina’s invitation so that the NYT can help him promote his political ambitions ahead of July 1, when Rwanda commemorates Independence Day.

 

The secret plan was that the New York Times article would be a curtain raiser to Rusesabagina’s video message the following day. The choice of the photo used in the story of certificates showing that President George W. Bush awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Rusesabagina in 2005, also served to remind readers that Rusesabagina is a “hero” who was recognized by none other than the president of the United States. 

 

The crux of the story is revealed when the author engages in an interview with Prof. Timothy P. Longman, of Boston University on the suitable candidate to be the president of Rwanda.

 

Longman replies that Rusesabagina, “probably has more of a platform than anyone else,” because of his prominence and the international attention to his case.

 

Longman does not hide his disappointment when he further says that, “I am not optimistic for radical change in Rwanda anytime soon.”

 

In 1995-1996, Longman served as the head of the field office of Human Rights Watch and the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) in Rwanda.

 

In his book, Memory and Justice in Post-Genocide Rwanda, Longman depicts the Rwandan government as “authoritarian”, which hinders, “the ability of transnational justice to bring the radical social and political transformations.”

 

The New York Times article again regurgitates the stale Western narrative that Kagame has over stayed in power, ruling Rwanda for  three decades, “jailing critics, targeting opponents abroad and recently, purging his military leadership. …”

 

What the likes of New York Times forget is that the more they criticise Kagame, the more Rwandans realize they have a great leader.

 

 

Their obsession with Rusesabagina is all about the Western ploy to influence change of government in Rwanda. According to their narrative, Kagame has over stayed and it is time to replace him with a Western made “hero” called Rusesabagina. They forget that Kagame’s legitimacy and longevity in power is derived from democratic decision by majority Rwandans rather than Western media influence. In Rwanda it does not work that way.     

 

Rwandans deserve better.

 

 Rusesabagina is still a criminal under parole who was pardoned by President Kagame’s prerogative of mercy that commuted the 25 year jail term for his terrorist activities. Rusesabagina established an outfit called MRCD, whose armed terror group, FLN, is responsible for killing nine people in south-western Rwanda.  

 

His utterances in the New York Times is a breach of his own appeal for clemency; promising to retire “in quiet reflection” if released, and refraining from political activities.