Institutions and structures in place guarantee stability - Kagame

URUGWIRO VILLAGE -President Paul Kagame yesterday said that whoever has plans to disturb peace and security will not succeed, because there are institutions and structures that ensure the stability of the country. The Head of State made the remarks while addressing the monthly press conference at Village Urugwiro, responding to a question regarding the recent arrests of suspected terrorists who were planning to carry out violent activities in the country. Kagame said that there was no reason for anyone to worry because any terrorist activities will be thwarted with the help of the citizens. The President went on to say that he is confident that the citizens know where they have come from and what they have achieved in the past few years and would not let anyone sabotage their progress. With regard to recent news reports in the UK alleging that Rwanda sent assassins to kill some Rwandans living there, President Kagame said that the reports were a case of ‘manipulation’. Kagame faulted the UK Metropolitan Police for rushing to point a finger at the Government of Rwanda without verifying whether the purported assassin was acting on his own, or indeed an emissary of the government, as alleged. He wondered how the UK police would arrest and immediately release a so called assassin, despite the serious allegations. President Kagame described recent false and misleading human rights reports about the country, as unfortunate’ and ‘pathetic’ for disregarding facts. “Of course it’s unfortunate that we keep answering these questions without any improvement in the understanding of what is being talked about. I hate the continued repetition, it has become like a song. Rwandans can speak for themselves about what is happening in their country,” President Kagame said. The Head of State went on to point out that the achievements registered in the last 17 years speak for themselves, adding that even where there has been fast-paced change, these organisations fail to recognise it. “Rwanda of 17 years ago is what they actually used to call a failed state. Now if you say that Rwanda is still a failed state 17 years later, then maybe you come from another planet,” Kagame said. He accused HRW of contradicting itself in its recent report on Gacaca Courts because on one hand it recognises the achievements of the traditional courts for handling over one million cases and then turns around to criticize the same process. The President noted that the Gacaca process cost about US$ 25 million, while the ICTR has so far spent over US$ 2 billion trying only 58 cases, and yet organisations like HRW cannot recognise such a feat. The Head of State touched on a number of issues including regional integration, the economy, ICT, energy, food security and Investment. Ends

National

Institutions and structures in place guarantee stability - Kagame