Rwandan soldiers sent to the Democratic Republic of the Congo do not
receive any
money from the Rwandan Treasury.
Military sources say most soldiers sent to fight in the DRC are former ex-FAR with Tutsi commanding officers. Before they are sent to the front, they undergo ideological training. Once in a while their families left in Rwanda receive some money from the Rwandan Government but these ex-FAR fighters do not receive any salary.
Rwandan President General Paul Kagame now relies on Hutu fighters because Tutsi soldiers and officers have been deserting and crossing into Uganda. Hutu fighters have nothing to lose. If they do not go to the DRC, they will be treated as genociders. Some of them were accused of genocide; imprisoned, then sent to the DRC once it appeared that Kagame's regime needed manpower.
A Rwandan military officer laughed when asked whether Major Michael Mupende fled with over 250,000 dollars intended for payment to Rwandan soldiers in the DRC. This officer who asked not to be identified says: "It is pure fabrication. Those soldiers serving in the DRC are ex-FAR and interahamwe who were sent there to die. They are never paid." According to him, the Rwandan government is trying to have Mupende arrested using made up charges.
In the meantime, the Rwandan Government has updated its list of genocide suspects. Bishop August Missal is once again among the suspects. Political sources say that when Kagame visited the Vatican, he expected to pay a courtesy visit to Pope Jean Paul II and get an apology from him. This courtesy visit did not happen and Kagame returned to his country angry with the Vatican.
The same sources say former Rwandan President Pasteur Bizimungu paid a courtesy visit to Bishop Misago in Gikongoro after a Rwandan tribunal acquitted him of genocide. He reportedly apologized to the bishop and told him that on many occasions he ordered his release but Kagame, then Vice president and Minister of Defense gave counter orders.
Another public figure from Gikongoro who may be arrested soon is former Public Works Minister Charles Ntakirutinka. An investigation into his whereabouts in April 1994 has been completed. A source who has access to his file told AfroAmerica Network that the prosecutor investigating genocide cases is waiting Kagame's order to issue an arrest warrant.
Ntakirutimana is among Hutu the RPF and international media call moderate. He belongs to the faction of the Social Democratic Party that strongly denounced political violence and human rights violations before April 1994. He barely escaped death as Rwanda descended into chaos.
Ntakirutimana's children are reported to have left Rwanda some time ago. Political observers say he is a victim of internal power struggle that is going on in the Social Democratic Party. These observers say the RPF is working very hard to destroy this party using former Agriculture Iyamulemye and its favorite weapon, genocide. These observers add that Iyamulemye is married to former Interim President Theodore Sindikubwabo's daughter. Iyamulemye's life was spared due to his connection with Sindikubwabo. "The RPF will use him as a Kleenex tissue and throw him away sooner or later, " these observers say.
(c)AfroAmerica Network,April, 2001.
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