Germany setting precedents to undermine international relations

Honorable Isaac Isanga Musumba, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs / Regional Cooperation

As the Government of Uganda, we have protested against the arrest of Rose Kabuye because we think it violates the rights of Rwanda as a sovereign state.

Rose had not gone on holiday, but went as part of the presidential entourage. The impending visit of President Paul Kagame to Germany was known by the German government and therefore anybody part of his entourage should not be treated as just anybody or passerby.

We have also challenged the legality of this warrant which was issued by a local (French) judge (Louis Bruguière) seeking to issue international warrants.

How can a local court in Paris have authority over a sovereign state? 

Those who have complaints about the genocide should go to the International Tribunal in Arusha, not a local court. We intend to add diplomatic pressure and we are optimistic that our voice will be heard because we just can’t keep quiet. It was wrong. It sought to belittle a sovereign state.

Nsaba Buturo, State Minister for Ethics and Integrity

Certainly the arrest of (Rose Kabuye) the Chief of Protocol was against the International Law.

Germany is setting precedents that could undermine international relations. What it did was something outside what a civilised country should have done.

International Laws put emphasis on sovereignty, when you arrest somebody from a sovereign state with diplomatic immunity serving the President this could threaten international peace.

Lydia Wanyoto, Member of the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA)
 
As EALA, there is nothing we can do, but since the East African Community signed a pact on conflict resolution within the Great Lakes Region under the chairmanship of (Kenyan) President Mwai Kibaki we are waiting for a response.

We hope that the Great Lakes Region and East Africa as a whole will support Rwanda, to solve the conflict between Rwanda and France.

Reagan Okumu, Shadow Minister, Opposition Spokesman for Foreign Affairs

The arrest of Rose Kabuye is very unfair. This was act of total disrespect for the International Protocol, you just can’t arrest somebody carrying a flag, and this means you are arresting the whole country.

Within the International Community we should have respect for each other. The UN should spearhead this, as an organization that was set up to balance the world , protect national interests ,otherwise poor or small countries will continue to suffer.

Diplomatic immunity should be applied to everybody. This is a big challenge to the UN; it has the duty to uphold the rights of sovereign countries.

France is still fighting a colonial war because Rwanda is moving away completely from its systems and increasingly becoming independent.

France as a former colonial power looks at Rwanda as undermining its culture and indeed the regime in Rwanda has been a thorn to France, so whatever it takes to embarrass it they will. 

The arrest in unfair, it is not intended for any serious legal purposes. If they are indicting the Government of Rwanda then the Government of Uganda is next because Ugandan forces were also involved in the war.

The government of Uganda should not isolate Rwanda because after Rwanda they will come for them. It should throw full weight to Rwanda and support them because if France succeeds in Rwanda, Uganda is next.

Rev. Fr. Simon Lokodo, MP Kaabong Country

The arrest of Rose Kabuye, the Chief of Protocol is absolutely wrong. That is not the way to do things!

This lady by virtue of her portfolio is a diplomat, with immunity. The way Germany has handled this lady means it is undermining Rwanda.

At worst, they should have returned her home to (Rwanda) on arrival at the Frankfurt Airport. That barbaric way of doing things is totally not acceptable!

Ends