Amnesty International’s arrogance is counter-productive.

Amnesty International’s recent report “Rwanda: Safer to stay silent: The chilling effect of Rwanda’s law on ‘genocide ideology and ‘sectarianism’, demonstrated the level of arrogance that has been the hallmark of certain human rights organisations and how they view and seek to treat the Rwandan people. Yesterday, we published an article about a parliamentary report, which revealed that Genocide ideology is diminishing in terms of its influence across the country. This report was compiled by the Parliamentary Commission on Human Rights and Fighting against Genocide. It shows that cases of discrimination and divisionism in the country decreased from 50 in 2008, to 32 in 2009 and finally 17 cases so far this year. A parliamentary probe in December 2007 showed alarming instances of genocide ideology in schools but, as of today, the new report shows that such incidents have dropped. It would be ludicrous to think that the law fighting the genocide ideology didn’t play any part in this change of mindset. Furthermore, the attack on the law is an attack on the country’s sovereignty. The law is currently under review, not because Amnesty International has complained, but rather because Rwandans want to have the Law amended and streamlined. Amnesty International would like the world to believe that they had a role in the decision to amend the law, but that would be posturing on their part. Rwandans make laws for the benefit of their society and not to appease Amnesty International or any other organisation. Ends

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Amnesty International’s arrogance is counter-productive.