Protesters speak out

Eddy Kalisa Nyarwaya Eddy Kalisa Nyarwaya, Kigali-based activist in peace building and conflict management. ‘We are here to denounce dehumanisation and the denial of Rwandans rights by the British government and the Western world. I know Karake as a hero in this country because he is among the people who stopped the Genocide in 1994. I also know him as a man who received a UN medal for having brought peace to Darfur in Sudan.’ Veronica Mukanyonga Veronica Mukanyonga, 65, a neighbour of Gen Karake in Kigali. ‘We are worried about Karake’s arrest because there is no way he could be arrested when he was on a country’s mission. Those who committed the Genocide are roaming free in Europe but Karake who stopped the Genocide is arrested, it’s a shame. Karake is my neighbour, he is an honourable man and I have never heard anything bad about him.’ Salvator Kanyenzi Salvator Kanyenzi, a war veteran living in Jabana, Kigali. ‘I spent a night here because I need to see our General and I’m not going back home without seeing him. I worked with Gen Karake in the army and he was always a very honourable man. I never heard about any mistakes about him during our time together. Those who arrested Karake should ask us Rwandans and we tell them all we know about him.’ Gaudence Mukasano Gaudence Mukasano, 36, a Genocide survivor living in Kigali. ‘I’m here to protest against the British who implemented a decision by liars to defame Gen Karake. He needs to be released so he can come back to Rwanda where he participated in stopping the Genocide. I survived the Genocide because I was saved by RPF soldiers, including Karake.’ Hornella Giramata Hornella Giramata, 19, a student at APADE High School in Kigali. ‘Our wish is for arrogance to stop and for Gen Karake to be released. I want to see him free before I can go back to school.’ Speciose Uwimana Speciose Uwimana, a mother of two children living in Kigali. ‘I am here to protest against the arrest of Karenzi Karake because we as Rwandans don’t have anything against him. I know that he is a brave soldier who helped Rwanda when we were in need of peace and reconciliation.’ Déo Nshimiyumukiza Déo Nshimiyumukiza, one of the leaders of STECOMA, a construction workers’ union in Western Province’s Rusizi District. ‘We can’t feel safe when one of our heroes is detained in Britain. We are here to show our disappointment with the arrest of Karenzi Karake and we will stay here until he is released.’ Hussein Kalisa Hussein Kalisa, 48, a student at Institut Islamique Al-Hidayat in Rwampara, Kigali. ‘We are not happy about the arrest of Gen Karake because he was arrested for no reason. His arrest is pure violation of human rights and it’s uncalled for. We are in support of protest activities and we wish to leave this place when he is released.’ Photos by Doreen Umutesi

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Protesters speak out