West Point team meets women MPs

KIGALI - A seven-person delegation from the prestigious US military academy, West Point, yesterday met with members of the Forum for Women Parliamentarians. The group was headed by Lt. Col. Diane Ryan, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Behavioural Sciences and Leadership at the academy. Ryan questioned the motive of some international media who carry hate messages or hate speech on Rwanda. “I would like to know, do you get angered by the hate messages or what I can call hate speech, about your country, which is in the international media?” Senator Aloysia Inyumba who is a member of the Senate’s Committee on Political Affairs and Good Governance, said it shows the media’s lack of knowledge about Rwanda. “We get so annoyed. We feel that the world doesn’t pay attention to what happens in this country and doesn’t really know the pain and effort of Rwandan people. They get this wrong perception that this is what African countries are. They are so biased” she responded. Speaking to The New Times, Ryan said her delegation had been impressed by Rwanda’s recovery efforts and its leadership. “I am very inspired and impressed by how much good work has been done here in a very short time,” she said. “And, I am impressed as well by the kindness and concern of the Rwandan leadership and people”. The delegation will visit several government institutions, international and civil society organizations. They have already visited the National Unity and Reconciliation Commission (NURC) and the Ministry of Local Government.They are scheduled visit the National Museum and Murambi Genocide Site in the Southern Province. Ends