HRW chief meets government officials

KIGALI - The head of Human Rights Watch (HRW), Kenneth Roth, Friday met with senior government officials in an attempt to mend fences after years of not seeing eye-eye with the government. Roth met with the Minister of Justice Tharcisse Karugarama as well as the Prosecutor General, Martin Ngoga in Kigali. Ngoga told The New Times that the talks centred on many issues, among them the trials going on at the Arusha-based International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR). “They said they wanted a partnership with Rwanda to see how some cases at the ICTR can be transferred to Rwanda,” he revealed. Observers say the about turn by HRW on the Genocide trials at the ICTR was very surprising because the organisation had campaigned hard to block the transfer, alleging that the suspects would not get a fair trial. “We were very clear on our stance. We are ready to work with them if they come as fair partners. But if they want to impose their will, they should not bother coming,” said Ngoga. On the issue of HRW having openly opposed Rwanda at every turn, especially on the ICTR trials, Ngoga added that they had told Roth that HRW’s interference had only benefitted the genocidaires. “We acknowledge that there could be some weakness, but we are addressing them as we do for other areas. But they fail to acknowledge our achievements. Rwanda also expressed its disappointment in what it sees as double standards practiced by the organisation, especially in the recent case involving a genocide suspect living in the US, Leopold Munyakazi. HRW has been defending him despite him being on record negating the genocide. “Revisionism is not only punishable in Rwanda but in other countries as well. We pointed out their double standards when they came out in full force to condemn a priest in Argentina accused of revisionism for denying the Jewish holocaust, but they defend Munyakazi. All we ask of them is to be fair to Rwanda” Ngoga stated. Ends