International
Open letter to the Belgian vice Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs
I am
writing to you as a concerned Rwandan. I am writing on behalf of the widows,
orphans and victims of FLN attacks in Nyabimata, South Western Rwanda. I read,
with disbelief, your letter to the Rwandan authorities that expressed contempt
of Rwanda's judicial independence and impartiality in the sentencing of Paul
Rusesabagina, who was responsible for the attacks that left nine of our people
dead, and many others wounded.
Our
dead loved ones will not be brought back to life. It was shocking to find that
in your letter, you conveniently avoided mentioning the innocent people killed,
or the widows and orphans. Instead, you chose to speak for Rusesabagina,
concerned that “he did not benefit from a fair and equitable trial.” Let me
remind you that Rusesabagina holding Belgian citizenship, or being your
Hollywood made hero, does not make him a special person. He is not above the
laws of Rwanda where he committed acts of terrorism.
On the issue of rights of defence, what I
understand from your letter is that you only recognize that a fair trial would
be delivered if, and only if, ‘your citizen’ was represented by a Belgian
lawyer, or a white lawyer at that. And, if the prosecutor was probably also
substituted with a Belgian. This smells of a racist mentality that represents a
neo-colonial agenda. On matters of human rights, Belgium would be the last to
stand up given its gross human rights record not only in Rwanda but in the entire
Great Lakes Region during the colonial era.
As a
high level Belgian authority, you know very well that Rwandan lawyers cannot be
allowed to practice in Belgium. However, because it would be convenient to
‘your citizen’, you wanted a Belgian lawyer, Vincent Lurquin, who was not
accredited to practice in Rwanda! Calling this is double standards would be an
understatement.
Your
letter also shows complete disrespect of Rwanda as a sovereign state. You did mention “repeated appeals from
Belgium,” disregarding the fact that Rusesabagina’s case was before competent
courts of law and your “repeated appeals” only served to interfere with the
judicial process, which I am certain you
would not do in your country because it is against the law. Rwanda is not a
jungle state. It is a country that abides by the rule of law and follows
international norms and standards.
The
Rwandan judiciary spoke on behalf of Rwandans, especially the victims of
Rusesabagina’s terror attacks. Justice was served although the pain of loss
will never go away. Rwandans are of the view that 25 years is a lenient
sentence to someone who sponsored an armed terror group that killed innocent
people.
When you write that “Belgium remains in close
contact with Mr. Rusesabagina,” it sends the worst message to the people of
Nyabimata. It shows that you are in total support of what Rusesabagina did and
that you have no sympathy for the victims of his attacks! The widows and
orphans will cry. And fellow Rwandans will wipe their tears. The Rwandan
judiciary cannot deliver a judgment that will please foreigners and their
vested interests.
I
would also like to remind you that, for years, your government refused to
cooperate with my country to extradite Rusesabagina. However, I do appreciate
that the Belgian police cooperated with Rwandan prosecution in searching
Rusesabagina’s home in Brussels.
In
one of the phones belonging to Rusesabagina, Belgian police retrieved messages
showing a list of military equipment and the prices. The list contained an
assortment of military-grade materials including light weapons “1,000 AK47s and
cartridges”, rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs), missiles, and grenades, among
others. “The prices are much lower should we opt to buy from either Russia or
neighbouring countries like Ukraine…those with high prices are from France, UK,
etc.,” a chat read in part. The Belgian Police handed over all this evidence to
Rwandan prosecution, but still, you prefer to consider ‘your citizen’
innocent.
Despite
such incriminating evidence provided by the Belgian Police-aided search of
Rusesabagina’s home, as well as evidence provided by America’s FBI on money
transfers to terror groups, your letter leaves many Rwandans speechless on the basis of petitioning
Rwandan authorities calling into question the trial and judgment of Rusesabagina. The lives of Rwandans who died
due to Rusesabagina’s FLN attacks matter. Rusesabagina has the right to appeal
and the privilege to be visited, while the families that lost their loved ones
will always be mocked by your insensitive letter.
Deborah
Mukamabano
Concerned Rwandan citizen
CC:
Ambassador
of Rwanda to Belgium
Rwanda
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Prime
Minister of Belgium