Rusesabagina turns down Kagame's award; Rwanda prepares for violence


AfroAmerica Network
Kigali
04.04.01


Former Hotel des Mille Collines Manager Rusesabagina has turned down Rwandan President General Paul Kagame's invitation to receive an award.

Informed sources say Rusesabagina was due to fly to Kigali on Friday to receive the Rwandan Government award on April 07 when it commemorates the genocide in Sake, Kibungo.

Rusesabagina was the manager of Hotel des Mille Collines in April 1994. From April to early July 1994 he sheltered about one thousand people who had fled to the hotel seeking protection. After the victory of the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF), he received numerous threats from RPF supporters and fled to Belgium.

Sources say Rusesabagina has refused to participate in a ceremony that is part of Kagame's regime to exploit the genocide to seek international sympathy and maintain itself in power. They add that in 1994 the militias of political parties killed not only Tutsi but also Hutu and Twa and that from October 1990, the RPF has killed Hutu, Tutsi, and Twa. The ceremony organized by Kagame's regime does nothing to reconcile Rwandan people since only Tutsi have the right to grieve and honor their dead.

Meanwhile, AfroAmerica Network just received troubling information from Kigali, Rwanda. According to the message, fear has gripped Kigali residents following reports of imminent military attacks from Uganda. Extremists of the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) are allegedly arming themselves with new machetes to be used against their opponents as soon as the reports of the attack reach Kigali. The source told AfroAmerica Network that loads of new machetes have been distributed to RPF militias especially in Gikondo. The source asks AfroAmerica Network to inform the international community of the looming tragedy.

(c)AfroAmerica Network,April, 2001.
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