KIGALI - The New Times management has dismissed, as FDLR propaganda, claims by Rwandan fugitive, Patrick Karegeya, that the publication is owned and run by the National Security Services (NSS). Speaking to The New Times, the Managing Director, Mr Joseph Bideri, made it clear that The New Times, like its affiliated publications, is owned by private individuals and is registered with the registrar of companies as a private company and is listed in the official Gazette. “It is a matter of public record and anyone can verify the identities of the owners and shareholders,” he said.Mr Bideri, went on to say that the fact that Karegeya is associating The New Times with NSS, further confirms the UN report that accuses him, along with fellow fugitive, Kayumba Nyamwasa, of working with FDLR, since the only other party that has made this allegation against The New Times, before Karegeya did, is an FDLR operated website.“Karegeya is simply reading from the FDLR script,” he added. Karegeya made the allegations, last week, in a pamphlet he wrote in reaction to a report by a panel of experts, submitted to the UN Security Council, confirming that Karegeya and Kayumba are actively working with the FDLR. Both Karegeya and Kayumba have been indicted and face various charges including, forming a terrorist group, ethnic divisionism, threatening national security, undermining state authority, and spreading harmful propaganda. Ends
