Editor, Reference is made to Joseph Rwagatare’s article, “Will Francois Hollande let out all the skeletons?” (The New Times, April 14). Don’t hold your breath; he will not authorize the declassification of information on official (and clandestine) French actions, decisions and other roles that would bring to light France’s culpability in the Genocide against Rwanda’s Tutsi. Not that we Rwandans need these records to know (we already know) but to hide from the rest of the world, and most especially the French public, the direct and deliberate role of France’s decision-makers in genocide. The establishment does not feel that its public’s full knowledge that the emperor is completely naked would go down too well. Nor does it feel that its ability to continue its moral posturing in international affairs could survive the full airing of the rottenness at the core of its actions leading to, during and in the aftermath of a genocide for which they were at the very least the midwife. How else can one understand France’s repetitive refusal to extradite genocide suspects for trial on the highly risible excuses that genocide was not a crime in Rwanda in 1994 when its allies (many of whom it has granted French citizenship) planned, organised and committed that crime? If they have nothing to be ashamed of related to their actions leading to the Genocide—let alone anything that would show criminal culpability—why hide this information by refusing to declassify all their official records on Rwanda during that period? Mwene Kalinda
