AfroAmerica Network Editor
03.24.01
AfroAmerica Network has overwhelmingly won a vote of confidence from Rwanda_L members. Rwanda_L is a list service to which Rwandans and others subscribe to debate on issues mostly regarding the African Great Lakes Region. The list was created by Mr. Nkubito.
Although AfroAmerica just learned the news, the vote was conducted in February 2001 after supporters of the Rwandan Patriotic Front Government on the list complained that AfroAmerica Network was publishing news too critical of the Rwandan government and thus should be banned. "We strongly believe in the freedom of speech, " most of who voted against the ban said.
AfroAmerica Network learned that Mr. Nkubito was under the pressure of the Rwandan Government, the Rwandan Patriotic Front and some members to prohibit any posting of news from AfroAmerica Network. Despite serious pressures, Mr. Nkubito took the courageous decision to submit the proposition to vote. AfroAmerica Network won by a margin of almost two to one.
Mr. Nkubito, at the proclamation of the results, said: " the vote against the ban of AfroAmerica is leading. On the contrary of what people might think, Rwanda-l, has evolved above the ethnic conflict thinking. I really feel that this issue should not be looked at as an ethnic one but should be looked at as: what is news? What is a rumor? What is defamation and what do we need to have on our forum? I think most of the members have realized this. " It is with this realization that they voted "yes" to keeping AfroAmerica Network's news on Rwanda_L.
We have learned that AfroAmerica Network network popularity in Kigali has the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) leadership worried. In fact, Government civil servants and soldiers of the Rwanda Patriotic Army (RPA) who have access to Internet make a large number of copies of AfroAmerica Network articles and distribute them on the sly for fear of persecution by the notorious Directorate of Military Intelligence (DMI), an intelligence branch of the Rwandan Patriotic Army. Thanks to these courageous benevolent agents, the news have even reached small cities and towns in Rwanda. Some have taken the initiative to translate our news in the vernacular and in French.
In the case of Rwanda, AfroAmerica Network news usually uncover cases of corruption, embezzlement, and nepotism within the RPF leadership and government, the low moral and desertion in the Rwandan Patriotic Army, human rights abuses, massacres assassinations, and other crimes committed by RPF officials and RPA officers. They also feature encouraging cases of Rwandans reconciling with themselves and building their country.
To get these sensitive news, AfroAmerica Network has established a very efficient and effective network of reporters, well connected to the highest levels of the RPF, RPA, and the Rwandan Government. These reporters have kept low profiles to avoid possible "accidents" common among journalists serving in conflict zones and dictatorships. This system has worked very well except in a very few cases.
The victory by AfroAmerica Network is a very important one. For freedom of speech of course. But also because of the kind of people who casted the vote, the stand of Mr. Nkubito against arbitrary decisions and the future of information services in Africa. It is a victory for all readers around the World.
We believe that AfroAmerica Network has revolutionized the ways of collecting information about and in Africa and distribute it. But we also believe that Rwanda_L managers have made a significant impact on promoting the free circulation of information. It is only with this kind of small successes and innovations that we will be able to stop the cycle of terror , intimidation, persecution, and assassination conducted against journalists in Africa and elsewhere.
AfroAmerica Network Editor.
Washington, D.C.
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