Reject double standards - Kagame

As the Rwandan people started the 18th Commemoration of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, yesterday, President Paul Kagame called on Africans to reject the double standards from the west, they have for long, had to endure.The President said it was hypocritical for countries to mobilise in the search for criminals responsible for acts of terror on their soil, yet continue to harbor Genocide suspects. “As we remember those we lost, some of those who killed them are still moving freely in some capitals of the so-called ‘free world’. There is little effort to apprehend them, and when this happens, it is a token meant to blind us and give us the impression that they are doing justice. Even when that happens, they are released shortly after,” President Kagame said during his address at the fully packed Amahoro National Stadium, where the event to mark the beginning of the week was held. Rwanda has issued hundreds of indictments and arrest warrants to Western governments to ensure genocide fugitives are apprehended, but few or in some cases none have been acted upon. “Yet, when acts of terrorism are committed against their people, the whole world is mobilised, in fact, sometimes forced to join in the search of those criminals so that they can be brought to justice.”“It would appear that Rwandan lives are less valued than the lives of their citizens,” President Kagame added.“Worse still, those who committed Genocide here and those who wish to deny us peace and security are said to be exercising their political freedoms to the point that they are accorded facilities to celebrate Genocide, to say that what they did was right. We understand better these freedoms being talked about and the value of life than these who utter this nonsense.”The Head of State further pointed out that while Rwanda continuously works in the best interest of its people, it has to deal with all sorts accusations, including the lack of democracy, human rights and freedom of expression, from countries who harbour Genocide suspects or support those with Genocidal ideologies. “What else can it be if not uttered hypocrisy, injustice and a clear example of double standards that we Africans have had to confront for a long time and that, we must reject by all means,” Kagame said.The President noted that although the Genocide occurred 18 years ago, there’re people who still carry the Genocide ideology. He, however, added that they cannot whatsoever affect the progress Rwanda has made today. “I say without any doubt that those who still hobour negative or genocidal ideologies will not be allowed to take us back to our tragic history, they will not, they can not and they have already failed. “There is not a chance in many millions for them to succeed. We stand more than ready to be tested on this. We are more than ready, it doesn’t matter who they are and who back them, it will not happen, not a chance in millions,” Kagame saidThe President emphasized that if Rwandans had not learnt from their ugly history, to build unity and reconciliation amongst themselves, their affairs would still be managed by other people. “This is the spirit with which we have confronted the post genocide period. We have continued to make good progress because of courage and strength Rwandans have always displayed from patriotism, and striving for unity and a form of governance that seeks to foster the interest of all citizens,” he said. Today, Rwanda proudly stands out in the community of nations for not only rising from the ashes, but for also maintaining one of the highest economic growth rates even when the world was battling the recent global financial crisis. Rwanda has become a better and stronger country with ability and capacity than ever before. The country is stable and Rwandans feel better about how they are rebuilding their lives.“Their (Rwandans) participation in the social and economic transformation of the country gives us hope that we can seize the many opportunities to rebuild our country even further,” Kagame said.He commended the courage of survivors who have carried on and refused to be consumed by sorrow. “Every Rwandan should do all that is possible, seek strength from within to overcome our challenges and work for the life we desire and deserve.” The President observed that there is no doubt Rwanda is on the right course and called on the Rwandan people to keep working together, do more of what has been done, using home-grown solutions that have brought Rwanda this far. As part of the healing process, Rwanda promoted both restorative justice and reconciliation, with Gacaca courts trying as many as 1.9 million cases in just ten years.ICTR ArchivesWith debate going on globally regarding the final destination of the international Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) archives - once the Tanzanian based UN court closes shop – President Kagame noted that the archives form a part of Rwandan history and should, therefore, solely be in the hands of Rwanda. “…they (archives) are the core part of our history and of great value to us; there is no sound reason why all the records regarding the genocide should not be in our custody here,” the President said.This year’s commemoration is held under the theme, “Learning from our history to build a bright future”, a message that underpins the principle that has shaped the post-Genocide administration’s agenda for the nation.