The Agitation Behind the Calm

Comments (2)

1. 

   stan Saturday - 06 / 12 / 2008 Reply

   I have become more and more disturbed at the penchant of the New York Times and Washington Post news content to publish articles which seem purchased from hack writers or are derived from the PR machines of the UN or corrupt governments without a semblance of journalistic investigative integrity. Recent alleged "anaylsis" about Hutu,Tutsi,Rebels, Mlitia UN forces and Rwanda is the case in point.The shame is compounded because there is, in fact, a real story worth reporting Having spent several weeks recently travelling alone with SUV and driver throughout Rwanda and Congo's western border area from Goma south along Lake Kiva I will tell it. The Rwanda Genocide was extensively supported by the French military presence. A 500"page report issued a few months ago confirms this participation in the vast murder of Tutsi. When the Hutu killers were about to be totally defeated ,the French Army formed a defensive corridor from Southeast Rwanda to the northwest border with Congo permitting guilty thousands to escape. In Goma region the French military have again established a very large presence, including as they did in Kingali, control of the airport. They support once again a Hutu militia attempting to repeat a genocide against the Tutsi who have lived and farmed in Congo along the border for decades Once again the French are in cooperation with the viciously corrupt Congo Government but this time there are two added ingredients. First, the huge wealth of diamonds and gold. Second, the actions of UN forces manipulated by French diplomats and its military hierarchy. in support of the Congo rapist troops and Hutu killers. The UN is reportedly supporting the return of those murderers to Rwanda together with the forced repatriation of Tutsi whose home has been along the border for decades. General Nkunda is no terrorist and he is not a "renegade' Of course the people stoned the UN Compound. They know that the UN forces are trying to kill him and the fighters under his command who have been victorious in the region for months. The UN has sent airships and armored vehicles at the behest of the French conspirators. If he were as portrayed why did he permit every UN soldier to leave unharmed after he had surrounded them and confiscated their weapons The Tutsi understand that he is protecting their cattle and survival . The new Rwandan government is struggling to protect itself against French efforts to destabilize by arming the Hutu escapees. They have terminated diplomatic relations. with France. They have begun the adoption of Anglo American concepts of justice, rule of law, statute, court administration and regulation in substitution for the French legacy. of corruption. It is reported that he French have bribed and suborned the Genocide Court (I met with the Court's representative.) Women have become respected entrepreneurs. The Parliament is ½ female. There is NO revenge. Every local village has an ancient form of reconciliation court ,cachacha which I attended., They have introduced English language study in all schools, eliminating the control of the priesthood which supported the killing. I visited one church where 200+ people sought sanctuary. The priest locked them in and gave the key to the Hutu militia. I saw the walls covered with dried blood of children who had their brains spattered. I saw the mattresses burned with people rolled inside. The Government has also joined the East African group of former British colonies. and seeks admission to the Commonwealth. I know all this because I was there, speaking with real people every day. Investigative journalism is a great profession. It protects, it defends,it educates, it illuminates. As in other areas of conflict in Africa eg Mali, Ethiopia it has been besmirched
2. 

   Derek Catsam Tuesday - 09 / 12 / 2008 Reply

   Stan -- Thanks for your commentary -- very insightful. That said, while I have my problems with the Post and Times at time, I think the larger problem is that they simply have too few people covering too broad swath of territory, in most cases with little or no background in Africa. You overstate the French role in the genocide, and like too many journalists, place a bit too much emphasis on too thin an evidentiary basis while at the same time understating the historical conditions that created the circumstances that led to genocide. That said. I again welcome your contributions. Thanks -- dc