Igihe

Author: b_igi_adm1n

  • Graves Could Be Silent Environmental Disaster

    In the near future, things are slated to change regarding how the dead will be treated. The REMA director suggests a mass grave for each family and or cremation (burning of dead bodies) all in the name of better environmental practices.

    IGIHE has noticed that there is a continuous violation and disregard of better environmental management practices especially when determining cemetery sites and their preservation.

    Dr.Rose Mukankomeje, Director General Rwanda Environment Management Authority says, “With the allocation of these grave yards, people in charge should always first consult the environmentalists to make environmental impact assessment so that the area can not affect the surroundings in the long run by having a negative impact”.

    According to UN health Experts, during purification of the human corpse, there is a seepage of decay products into percolating water. The seepage contains bacteria, viruses and organic and inorganic chemical decomposition products.

    If the cemetery is located in a porous soil type, such as sand or gravel, movement of seepage can be rapid and mix easily with the groundwater beneath the site.

    This could conceivably be a cause of local epidemics from waterborne diseases, where the groundwater is used as a water source.

    Typical microorganisms known to be responsible for waterborne diseases and present in seepage include micrococcaceae, streptococci, bacillus and entrobacteria.

    There is no doubt by nature of Rwanda’s hill topography and weather pattern, most water sources are spring wells, mostly located at foothills. Most of the gravesites are in somewhat sitting on down hills. This makes it unavoidable for runoff water to cause seepages.

    The quantity of decay products from buried people and wood, fabrics and plastics used in coffins is directly influenced by the age and number of the human corpses decaying in the cemetery at any one time.

    Ideally, coffins should be made of materials that decompose rapidly and do not release persistent chemical by-products into the environment.

    Given the need for an increase in the number of burial sites in Rwanda, there is a need to identify more precisely if, or in what way, cemeteries have any harmful impacts on the environment and public health.

    One approach would be to establish a set of basic design criteria for the siting and construction of cemeteries.

    Careful consideration has to be given to finding the most suitable soil types in which to bury human remains so as to minimize the effect of seepage on the environment and public health.

    In cemeteries, human corpses may cause groundwater pollution not because of any specific toxicity they possess, but by increasing the concentrations of naturally occurring organic and inorganic substances to a level sufficient to render groundwaters unusable or unpotable.

    No reports have been found about epidemics or widespread disease outbreaks that were unequivocally the result of seepage from cemeteries. However, doubt and concern persist due to the paucity of sufficient and clear scientific data.

    However, Dr. Mukankomeje suggests that, “To me I think the better way of burying people in our small nation, let’s adopt the way of deepening the underground and have one mass grave per family.

    “Then the process will cover a small portion or adopt other ways like cremation (burning bodies). This can also work out well since it is well applied in other foreign countries”. She suggested.

    When contacted, the Gasabo district Mayor Willy Ndizeye said: “In our terms of reference which were made by experts in this section, everything and environmental impact assessment inclusive were considered while allocating our new burial yard and therefore I don’t expect any negative impact on environment.

    “There will also be people cleaning the site all the time. It is to be built in a modern way since it’s a survey that was carried out from other developed countries about the construction of burial sites.” The Mayor stressed.

    “On the issue of land, yes I understand it takes a big area for the burial sites but still it’s our culture and we have to respect it until we come and see other possible ways like cremation.”

    The current policy on the graves; length takes 2.30m, width is 80cm and depth take 1.5m.

    Capitholine Musabyeyezu, the President Twifatanye Funerarium Cooperative at Kimironko burial site in Gasabo commonly known as iwabo watwese says: “we felt concerned and developed a proposal and submitted to the district proposing a new policy.

    “It involves removing dead bodies from the grave yard after a period of twenty years and remains can be removed and kept in shelves in a small place so that the land can be used for other purposes.”

    In order to identify the environmental impacts of cemeteries, information is needed on the survival of bacteria and viruses and the fate of the decay products from human corpses in soils and groundwater.

    Both survival and retention are dependent on the type of the soil in which a cemetery is sited, the type of microorganisms present, the prevailing ground temperature and rainfall.

    Scientific research indicates that microorganism die-off rates increase approximately two times faster with every 10 °C rise in temperature between 5 °C to 30 °C (4). Consequently, the survival of the microorganisms is prolonged considerably at lower temperatures. Several organisms in the soil are known to survive better in a pH range of 6–7, and die off more quickly under more acidic soil conditions.

    Adsorption is the major factor controlling virus retention. Most polioviruses are held in the soil layer. Viruses may move through some soils to the groundwater with the help of rainfall and downward seepage flow.Polioviruses may move considerable distances through sandy forest soils and gravels.

    Other soil properties such as particle size, clay content, cation exchange capacity and moisture influence retention, but the relative extent to which they do this requires further research.

    Climatic factors such as rainfall also influence retention. They increase the mobilization of bacteria and viruses from tissues retained on soil particles, and facilitate their transportation to groundwater.

  • Men are now victims to Gender-based violence

    By: Supreetha Gubbala

    Recent police reports have revealed that National Police are facing a novel increase in violence occurring against men.

    Their Gender-Based violence situation report from January-May 2011 recorded four men who were killed by their wives, seven who have committed suicide because of their wives and shocking17 men who have been assaulted by their wives.

    In total, the number of men who have experienced violence from their partners stood at 28 in the five-month period, a number that has increased since 2010.
    The leading causes of these cases were identified as family conflicts, dispute over land and adultery.

    Director of Public Relations and Spokesperson for the police in Kigali,Sup. Theos Badege told Igihe that: “The figure of men killed by their wives is increasing, and therefore we are trying to increase awareness of gender-based violence against both men and women.

    “We have encouraged men experiencing the violence to be more comfortable and report these incidents.” He stressed.

    He outlined five preventative mechanisms currently being used by the Police and the GBV partners to resolve this rising issue.

    He cited encouragement to resolve family problems amicably, seeking family and/ or relative mediation and the use of legal means to solve disputes as the major ways of curbing gender-based violence.

    Badege further observed that better management of family property as well as choosing for divorce as a valid option instead of killing each other when cohabitation is no longer possible.

    According to the police spokesman, due to this rise in cases of violence against men the Police have had to change some of the ways that they traditionally used dealing with GBV.

    “We have a One Stop center which combines clinical and investigative care after one experiences domestic violence,” Badege said adding that the center was at first staffed with females because women were the victims but they have had to include males to balance the resolve.

    Asked whether male victims might feel uncomfortable reporting to female police constables, Badege supported their methodology saying: “The protocol shows that dealing with the same sex is a better environment for victims.”

    However, he did admit that further research should be conducted. Either way it is clear that they issue of GBV can no longer be only women as victims, and further investigation must be taken to uncover this dangerous trend occurring in and around Kigali City.

  • Let pet owners take care than killing their dogs

    In the Rwandan culture, dogs are not exactly known to be man’s best friend. Apart from their utility as the occasional security guards to homesteads and their medieval role in hunting activities, their perception as an ideal pet and faithful companion is something that has never really been present in the Rwandese culture and society.

    As a matter of fact, taming dogs in this country is considerably weak, a reality that is evidently displayed with the number of stray dogs roaming the streets. While this is a problem that insidiously manifests itself only when someone gets hurt, another more serious problem lies in the wake by the manner in which we handle the issue.

    On Monday this week, 100 Stray Dogs were killed in Musanze by veterinary officials after 3 people were reported to have been bitten by stray dogs. According to the Musanze District Veterinary Officer, Dr. Jean Bosco Nsengiyumva, the move was aimed at preventing dog attacks on the people and the spread of rabies.

    I hold the visceral conviction that the occurrence of this incident only shows us that despite the fact that Rwanda has made some commendable advancements in many other areas, it is still very far behind when it comes to the adoption, implementation and less consideration of animal rights.

    I am in no way advocating the fact that animals need to be given consideration similar to those of human beings, though I wouldn’t be bothered by the idea, but the depravity and ruthlessness used in handling this animal issue should serve as an indicator that better means need to be developed in handling these cases .

    It is true rabies is a rare but dangerous and often irremediable disease and the safety of the population lies above everything else. Nevertheless there is something that remains wrong in the execution of all those roaming dogs.

    Rabies can only be transmitted from the bite of a dog that is infected with the Virus. Quoting from the veterinary officials, in those 100 stray dogs that were killed not one rabid dog was reported to be among.

    Assuming that some infected dogs were among the pack what justifies the death of the other non-infected dogs? A rabid dog or locally known as “ Imbwa yasaze “ is very much and easily distinguishable from the more ubiquitous stray dog or “umusega “ whether physically or by behavior. An inspection and selection of the rabid dogs did not happen; instead stray dogs in general were rounded up.

    So what went wrong? Was it because they were regarded as a potential danger or more simply because they have no home and thus no place in the society? Regrettably, that is the reason lying behind the carnage. These “homeless “dogs were considered as mere nuisance and a potential source of the much dreaded Rabies virus.

    Rabies is easily preventable from both the animal and human beings , vaccines have existed for more than a century. Fortunately Dog vaccination is a campaign that has been encouraged as dogs are vaccinated free of charge.

    However, there remains a serious loop hole in the act of vaccination. The serious conundrum lies in all the dogs that don’t have owners to take them for vaccination.

    Despite the harshness and extreme nature of executing 100 dogs, from an analytical point of view it should be understood that this was not an act of wickedness but as a drastic measure taken due to the lack of the appropriate means of handling such a situation.

    Dogs are just a small part of the problem, animals in general, stray animals to be more specific are widespread all over the country.

    It is a problem that is not exclusive to Rwanda, but unlike Rwanda many countries have come up with methods of addressing this concern of stray animals and Rwanda just like it has done in many other domains should similarly emulate them.

    The Rwanda animal resource development authority in its activities and operations does not cover animal care and control as a matter of fact with the exception of care given to wildlife such as the mountain gorilla or livestock such as the cow, goats and sheep, there seem to be no professional animal care centers that deal with pets.

    Stray pets can be a potential danger to the society through aggression or spread of diseases, and unless we plan on continuing these mass massacres similar to the one of Musanze, we are not ensuring anything positive in the future but instead, destroying the wellbeing of these animals.

    Over the years Rwanda has been a pioneer in conservation of the environment, so why not go further and conserve what makes part of that actual environment by preserving the welfare of the creatures around us.

    Promotion and establishment of animal care and control services and centers is a worthwhile investment that can contribute to the development of this country.

    These creatures can be collected, vaccinated , catered to and perhaps for those interested pet lovers, there would be official places for them to go and perhaps adopt these creatures that once roamed the streets.

  • Uganda Police arrests Rwandans with fake Frw 6M

    Igihe.com has learnt that Uganda’s Police RAPID Response Unit (RRU) operatives in Masaka district are holding two Rwandan nationals found in possession with fake Frw 6million.

    The suspects identified as Eric Karinganire 30 allegedly pursuing a Master’s Degree in Educational Management at Kampala International University and Claude Nyirigira, 36 were arrested at Lukaya Town along Masaka-Kampala Highway following a tip-off that they were exchanging the fake Rwandan currency with genuine Ugandan currency.

    The southern region RRU Commander Andrew Kaggwa says that police also recovered substances which the suspects have been using to mint the fake dime. According to Kaggwa, the suspects have been supplying fake francs in Lukaya, Nyendo, Mutukula and Katuna areas. They will be charged with supplying fake bank notes under police reference number CRB1597/2011.

    When Igihe.com contacted Sup. Theos Badege Rwanda National Police spokesperson said, “I am not yet informed about the incidence. However, when a Rwandan is arrested in another country, it’s the authorities of the country where the crime has been committed that have jurisdiction over the suspects.”

  • Where there’s Political Will, Corruption should be nipped in the bud

    By: Silver Bugingo

    In the last one and a half decades, Rwandan citizens of all walks of life and indeed the entire world community who are objective enough have learnt a big practical lesson from Rwanda; that where there’s a political will, nothing is impossible.

    Yes. After three years of painful armed liberation struggle, to which the brave and hard working ladies and gentlemen, young and old, had sacrificed their invaluable lives, the then MRND regime called for a Peace Pact, confronted by this visionary brevity and determination of the then RPA/F.

    However, no sooner had an extremist faction in the regime learned that a peace deal had been concluded in Arusha, than they turned their cowardice to their boss, the late President Juveneral Habyarimana, summarizing his lifespan in a bizarre plane crash. What followed is a pitiful inhuman mayhem I spare for sociologists and historians.

    Indeed foreign delegates, research fellows and academicians have often honestly said the country’s progress over the past 17 years offers important lessons to the rest of the world. Such people have been especially amazed at how this tiny African country has transformed itself into a model of economic development for other countries in the world. What an incredible development pace!

    What remains as evidence, for even the negative critics is that due to clean leadership, foreign investors have been impressed and motivated by what has been achieved in Rwanda the last couple of years. I mean, the country has an institutional framework that favours domestic and foreign direct investment, political stability and a fast growing economy.

    Rwanda’s progress on economic recovery within the last one decade is comparable to very few, if any African countries, especially on governance and anti-corruption crusade such as Ghana, Lesotho and Malawi.

    Therefore, Rwanda’s success story is not a miracle as insinuated by an unreasonable section. The fact that the country is among the world’s “best doing business reformers” is based on the institutional framework mentioned above and focused political leadership.

    The establishment of Rwanda Revenue Authority, Auditor General’s Office, National Tender Board that later changed to Rwanda Public Procurement Authority (RPPA), Ombudsman’s Office and the Office of Public Prosecutions to mention but a few, has played a cardinal role in ensuring good governance and accountability.

    This in fact, reminds the writer of the Chief of Defense Staff, Lt. Gen. Charles Kyonga’s inspiring observations in his recent presentation titled: “Liberation: Foundation for Rwanda’s Destiny, Sovereignty and Development”.

    The eloquent and learned freedom fighter defined liberation as a protracted effort or struggle to overcome impediments or obstacles to national security and development.

    Yeah, liberation embraces many things; it is more than defeating armed enemies and taking over political power; it consists of addressing human concerns, the government’s ongoing efforts to liberate people from ignorance, poverty and diseases.

    These human concerns, when not addressed, are actually the ones that constitute legitimate causes for conflicts, another liberation struggle-it becomes a vicious cycle of wars and endless deaths.

    The foundation of all that has been achieved is RPF’s Eight-point program that includes rule of law, repatriating refugees and protecting the right to citizenship, uniting Rwandans, defending national sovereignty, building a corrupt-free society and governance based on democracy to mention but a few.

    Moreover, I’m sure, this will remind many of President Kagame’s campaign strategy last year when he was vying for the second term presidential elections.

    For those who don’t remember, it was dubbed: “Imvugo niyo ngiro” loosely translated to mean that action speaks louder than words. That literally, winds up the past and present successes as well as the destiny for citizens of this tiny, beautiful state of a thousand hills.

    As earlier indicated, unlike in the other four East African Community members and the African continent at large, where the big fish have thrived deep in the pond of corruption with a high degree of impunity, the greedy will have nowhere to swim here in Rwanda. This on top of other clean credentials is why Rwanda has a good record globally.

    According to analysts, the country’s home-grown solutions have led Rwanda to achieve significant results in the areas of justice, unity and reconciliation, economic growth, good governance, and partnerships with the global community.

    Flipping over the coin in the interests of our readers and for purposes of diligence, Rwanda could do much better other than being regarded as a one-eyed-man among the blind.

    Yes, there are challenges that require the leaders and everybody to revisit the present situation. This will strengthen the resolve to struggle on as well as influencing the next generation to carry on with the struggle for a better society.

    Unlike, in most countries in the neighborhood where the same promise of fighting corruption by the presidents and other politicians’ is repeated and yet the cancer continues to grow bigger, the watchdogs in Rwanda have shown progress.

    The Auditor general’s reports have repeatedly shown irregularities on accountability. The Ombudsman’s annual reports show gaps on justice and governance and the RPPA has done the same excellently.

    Have the alleged culprits been held accountable?

    For the last five consecutive years the auditor general’s office has presented to parliament annual reports and revealed tens of billions of public funds unaccounted for by the relevant institutions.

    The Ombudsman’s office and public procurement has done the same. In fact, the 2008 Auditor General Report stated that public institutions failed to account for more than 6.5 billion Rwanda francs (US$11.5 million), 8.7 billion Francs for 2009 report while the most recent one of 2010 which is still before the lawmakers shows a whooping Frw9.7 billion is reportedly unaccounted for.

    Some tenders totaling 2.1 billion Rwanda francs (US$3.1 million), were awarded without providing evidence that they had been approved by competent internal tender committees.

    Without going into the details of what this or that institution has exposed, the bottom line is: have the suspects been diligently investigated, prosecuted and convicted or acquitted? Wouldn’t the over 30 billion Francs supplement and improve on the current government’s pro-poor programs like medical insurance and the anti-Nyakatsi scheme… if the culprits were held accountable?

    It’s my humble belief that a true democracy cannot exist unless all citizens have a right to participate in the affairs of the polity of the country. One-sided information, disinformation, misinformation and non-information all equally create an uninformed citizenry, which makes democracy a farce when medium of information is monopolised either by a partisan central authority or by private individuals or oligarchic organisations.

    Freedom of expression has four broad social purposes to serve: Helps an individual to attain self-fulfilment; assists in the discovery of truth; strengthens the capacity of an individual in participating in decision-making; and provides a mechanism by which it is possible to establish a reasonable balance between stability and social change.

    And I’m convinced that the press should play a crucial role on the anti-corruption crusade. Citizens’ right to know is derived from “freedom of speech and expression, access to information and free press” principle. The people have a right to know every public act, everything that is done in a public way by public office holders.

    Like the Chief Ombudsman Mzee Tito Rutaremara once suggested, I think the naming and shaming of corrupt individuals in gazette notices and leading dailies is a step in the right direction to undressing these wolves who don sheep skin yet they are economic mercenaries.

    Contact author at: [email protected] or [email protected]

  • Security chiefs reshuffled

    President Paul Kagame also the Commander-in-Chief of the Rwanda Defence Forces has named other officers to lead the security and intelligence departments.

    Col. Dr. Emmanuel Ndahiro is being replaced by Maj. Gen. Karenzi Karake to head the National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS).

    Col. Dan Munyuza who has been the Director of military intelligence is made the new Director of external security replacing Col. Gatete Karuranga.

    The new Director of military intelligence is Brig. Gen. Richard Rutatina who has been advisor to President on Security matters.

    Rutatina has been replaced by Capt. Patrick Karuretwa who has been heading the security of the first daughter.

    The head of the powerful Republican guard Col Tom Byabagamba has also been sent to Ministry of defense to head the anti terrorism desk which is a new department in this ministry.

  • US volunteers aim to improve rural health

    A team of 17 US public health professionals under Peace Corps volunteer program have been sworn in for a two year mandate aimed at improving health standards in the rural.

    The health minister Dr.Agnes Binagwaho applauded the volunteers’ courage to work in the country adding that they ought to learn a lot from the history, especially on how Rwandans have gained courage to progress after the war and Genocide.

    “There’s nothing impossible with hope and nothing is impossible with solidarity,” she under scored.

    A new country agreement was signed with the government on July 18, 2008. The first new group of thirty-five Public Health trainees arrived in January 2009. They were assigned to the Ministry of Health and the National AIDS Committee to health centers throughout the country.

    After the swearing in ceremony the volunteers will depart for rural health clinics and health organizations across the country.

    The volunteers have spent two months learning Kinyarwanda and the culture in order to interact well with the community. Jacob Deering, who’s among the volunteers says that he has been assigned to Nyaruguru district in the South province where will assist in public health education.

    “The only way to understand the needs of the community is by interacting with them and be part of the society,” he remarked adding that: “Nishimiye kuza mu Rwanda guteza imbere ubuzima (I’m proud to be here and I expect to promote health standards),” he said out.

    He said he has been assigned to Nyaruguru district in the South province where will assist in public health education.

    “I will conduct trainings that will be highly based on nutrition, hygiene, HIV/AIDS prevention amongst others,” he said.

    Mary Abrams the director of Peace Corps in Rwanda noted that several initiatives undertaken by the volunteers have shown progress.She cited education being the most successful with eighty volunteers in various secondary schools where there’re assisting in the nine year free basic education program.

    There’re a total of 128 volunteers working in education and health sectors in the country. They join volunteers already serving in health organazations or as math, science and English teachers in secondary schools who have arrived in 4 groups since 2009.

    The Peace Corps volunteer initiative was started by past US president John. F. Kennedy fifty years ago. In Rwanda, the Peace Corps signed an agreement with the Rwandan government in 1974 and the first group of Volunteers arrived in 1975. The agency withdrew volunteers in 1993 due to the civil war and the program closed in 1994.

  • Cow produces 4 calves, 2 die on spot

    Yesterday July 12, in the morning hours the residents in village of Kigabiro, Kinyana cell, Rusororo sector in the district of Gasabo were surprised when a cow delivered 4 calves. Three females and one male.

    It was unfortunate because 2 died on spot and now the remaining is one female and one male calf.

    Rusororo sector veterinary officer, Eric Ndayisaba who made the artificial insemination to this cow was also surprised and said it’s unusual for cows to produce a number of calves at ago.

    Leon Mugenzi, the owner of the cow also said that he has been a farmer for a long time but he has never seen this and that he never knew that his cow would produce such a number of calves at ago.

    Mugenzi has been a farmer since 2006 and he now owns 10 cows. He is also a Lecturer at the University of Agriculture, Technology and Education of Kibungo (UNATEK) in the Eastern Province.

  • Peter Erlinder hits back again

    Since early 2010, American Lawyer Peter Erlinder has not had the best of relationships with United Nations or the Rwandan Government.Since 1982, Erlinder has been a professor at William Mitchell College of Law in Minnesota.

    He has worked on the defense counsel on for many unpopular, and high-profile cases including the legal defense of Mohammed Abdullah Warsame, a Canadian citizen who in 2009 pleaded guilty in federal court in Minneapolis to aiding Al-Queda.

    Other high profile-clients have included, Sami al-Arian, a former University of South Florida professor who pleaded guilty in 2006 to conspiring to aid terrorists. Either way records show a trend of defending those who are not exactly well-liked by the public.

    However, this trend took a dangerous turn on May 28th of 2010 when Erlinder was arrested and charged with promotion of genocide ideology and denial by Rwanda National Police. On the Wednesday of the following week, police officials checking in on him in the morning found him unconscious overdosed with a handful of his own prescription drugs.

    Erlinder was eventually officially announced as released on June 17th, 20 days later, for health reasons. He remained in King Faisal Hospital before and after announcement of the verdict, later returning to America for better medical services.

    Most recently, in April of this year Erlinder returned to the headlines when he was barred by the United Nations from working at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda after refusing to appear in court in Tanzania as defense counsel for major Rwandan genocide suspects, such as Victoire Ingabire. He now resides back in the U.S. as a law professor at William Mitchell College of Law in Minnesota.

    Since this incident, Erlinder has been reprimanded for his behavior at the ICTR by the UN, ICTR officials as well as by Rwandan government officials that todate defend the arrest of Erlinder.

    However, few have attempted to get the infamous lawyers side of the story and ask the man himself what exactly happened in his brush with Rwanda.
    Whether or not Erlinder displayed unprofessionalism during his work in Rwanda is difficult to judge, however, barely any stories exist containing his perspective.

    In an exclusive interview with Igihe.com, Erlinder finally has spoken. Below we bring you excerpts of the raw interview.

    Igihe.com: Why is it that you often take the defense cases for defendants that may be deemed “unpopular”?

    The second President of the U.S. John Adams defended British Soldiers who killed American colonists, and won acquittals before an American jury “facts are stubborn things” without a vigorous defense of those the majority considers “unpopular” there is no democracy and Facts are Facts.

    Igihe.com : What are the difficulties of defending such cases?

    Being confused with one’s clients and discovering facts, those in power would prefer not to be known as John Adams said “facts are stubborn things.”

    Igihe.com : From your account what happened in 2010, and how did it affect the way you are viewed defending your particular clients?

    It is not my account, the defense was based on original UN and USG documents in evidence at the ICTR which reports events in 1990-1995 that are completely the reverse of that told by those who won the war.

    This happens in all wars; the difference here is that the UN and USG have records that describe a different set of events….

    Igihe.com : Do you feel that the Rwandan government had valid reason to this considering what happened in 1994?

    The government and all who suffered in 1994 have valid reasons for explaining their views. I was not in Rwanda and cannot express an independent viewpoint.

    I have reported only the judgment of the ICTR that the upper levels of the FAR were not engaged in a long term conspiracy to commit crimes against the civilian population before, or after April 1994, including genocide.

    This does not mean that such a conspiracy did not exist. Just that, after 15 years there was insufficient evidence to prove it in court when all evidence was considered, including UN and USG documents.

    Igihe.com : Rwandan government spokeswoman Louise Mushikiwabo was quoted saying about your arrest, We understand that human rights activists schooled in the U.S. Bill of Rights may find this objectionable.
    But for Rwandans — schooled in the tragedy of the 1994 genocide — Mr. Erlinder’s arrest is an act of justice.

    What is your response to this? Do you feel she has a point about differing views of justice?

    Every country makes its own laws, it is not my place to tell Rwanda what it’s laws should be.

    But, in the U.S had a law been passed that said only one side was responsible for all crimes in the U.S. civil war and the other side was the victims, it would not only have violated the U.S. constitution, but would have distorted history and prevented an honest discussion of how to reach reconciliation because there has never been a civil war in which only one side was the victim and the other the criminals, including U.S. civil war and WWI and II.

    Igihe.com :What was your experience in jail like in Rwanda?

    The individuals treated me well, in the context of RPF control of government and courts.

    Igihe.com : Do you believe yourself as innocent when you were jailed? What did this reveal to you about the Rwandan government?

    I wrote factually correct articles and statements in the U.S., in Europe, and the ICTR in English.

    ICTR was never accused of making any public statements in Rwanda. The question of guilt or innocence depends entirely upon how the Rwandan government decides to define the crime.

    Igihe.com : Why did you refuse to appear to court in late April for the defense of your clients in Tanzania?

    The ICTR record reflects that my co-counsel and I were under doctor’s orders not to travel for medical reasons, which were supplied to the Chamber confidentially long before the hearing.

    Igihe.com :What has life been like since the UN barred you from the international tribunal?

    I continue my normal work, being barred as punishment for following written physicians orders is viewed as bizarre in all normal legal systems and the first time it has occurred in any international tribunal, which reflects badly on the ICTR, rather than me.

    Igihe.com : Do you regret your actions at all? Why/Why not? Would you go back and change anything you did during that time?

    I provided my credentials to Rwandan Embassy in DC before I left, informing of my mission, U.S. State Deptartment, Rwandan Justice Ministry Public Prosecution, etc.

    Had they preferred I not enter the country, they could have turned me away at the border because my entering Rwanda and my purpose was not a surprise and I attempted to behave in an open an professional manner.

    I made the mistake of thinking Rwanda would not claim criminal jurisdiction over writings/speeches in other countries, since I never said or did anything in Rwanda that violated Rwanda law and had not been in Rwanda since 2004. I was wrong.

    Igihe.com : What is your work now?

    The same as it has always been, the ICTR case had only 4 hours left to complete the 8-year case.

    Igihe.com : What else do you feel is important for the public to know about your side of this story?

    Of course…but I fear for anyone in Rwanda who reports accurately that the “genocide of Tutsi” story now memorialized by the RPF government does not explain the whole story of what happened in 1994 and the UN description of “a genocide of Tutsi and moderate Hutus” includes Hutus as victims and can only be a “genocide” if they were killed by perpetrators other than Hutus, not just according to me, but according to the UN, and the details are explained in the documentary evidence in the Military 1-2 cases at the ICTR.

    Igihe.com: In your own words, please describe the events leading up to your arrest in 2010 as well as the 20-days you spent in prison/hospital until your release on June 18th?

    I had not been in Rwanda since 2005, when I spent about 1 week on UN mission. Before I entered Rwanda I notified the Rwandan embassy in Washington DC that I wished to enter the country, so that they could turn me away at the border if they wished, as they had done so to a Human Rights Worker earlier that week and the US. State Dept members of Congress. I informed all that Ms. Ingabire had asked me to consult with her.

    After I arrived in Rwanda on May 23, I presented my credentials to Justice Ministry and to Mr. Ngoga’s office and bumped into Mr. Ngoga himself.

    I went to US embassy and UN ICTR office to inform them that I was in Rwanda to consult with Ms. Ingabire. I spent 4 days in my hotel and consulting with Ms. Ingabire. I made no public statements and wrote no published documents in Rwanda, never.

    I was arrested while having breakfast before leaving for the airport on May 28. I prefer not to comment on my detention or the Rwandan government’s conclusion that I attempted to commit suicide.

    Igihe.com: What exactly is your current stance upon the 1994 Rwandan Genocide and what is it based upon?

    I have no independent conclusion and rely only on the evidence presented by the Rwandan government, ICTR prosecutors, and the original documents in UN and USG files reporting what was occurring according to US and UN personnel 1990 to 1995, as well as the ICTR judgments in Military 1 and 2, which are the only 2 ICTR judgments which have considered this evidence:

    The UN/USG documents and Military1-2 Judgements show that;

    1. Military 1-2 Judgments both found…NO long term conspiracy by FAR upper level officers to commit genocide or other crimes against tutsi, or other civilians before, or after, April 6, 1994, I accept this as the Judgment of two trial chambers of the ICTR…the prosecution has not appealed;

    2. Many Tutsi were killed after April 6 1994 in ways that meet the definition of genocide, some which did not….according to the documentary evidence at the ICTR, not me;

    3. Many Hutu were killed after April 6, 1994 in ways that did not meet the definition of genocide, some of which that did….according to the documentary evidence at the ICTR, not me;

    4. According to the evidence in the ICTR prosecutor’s files, both the RPF and FAR committed massive crimes for which both sides should be prosecuted at the ICTR according to ICTR Prosecutor Carla Del Ponte’s memoirs, published in English Feb. 2009, not me;

    If one examines the basis for Rwanda’s charges against me….they are based on articles I wrote in the U.S. that cite evidence or other sources, such as the Economist or the Military-1 Judgement, I cannot say that either is objectively correct….but I can say that the Judgement was issued after given the RPF government almost 10 years to prove that there WAS a conspiracy….for which there IS no evidence.

    This does not mean that there WAS no conspiracy…just that there is NO EVIDENCE to support the charge.

    Igihe.com : Thank you, hope to hear from you soon!

    Good luck…I hope you can report with or without distorting the meaning…I don’t know how this will be possible and I hope you stay safe, which is unlikely if you are in Rwanda and not working for the RPF directly or indirectly, as we both know.

  • Indigenous skills still useful for farming

    Although the introduction of modern agriculture skills has dominated local farming practices, some farmers still insist that indigenous ways of planting would be more essential if they were improved.

    This is because the majority of traditional practices are still affordable compared to the modern ones which are not only inaccessible but also require some expertise from the farmers.

    However, modern skills on the other hand have proved to advance the yield of those using them yet the worry is on the decline of some of the native practices which can fused with the integrated methods.

    Xavier Mvuyekure, a farmer in Ngoma district in Gasanga sector explains that he doesn’t bother himself to buy pesticides since he can fight the pests through traditional methods which are far much affordable.

    “In case of a tomato or potato infection, I spray my plants with a fluid derived from garlic, soap jell and pepper, it really works like magic since within a few days change is seen on my crops,” he comments.

    This is not enough, Mvuyekure boasts of knowing several traditional measures to fight pests: “With bananas for instance, after harvesting a banana which is joined to another stem, I make sure I cut its roots then later on I use a leaf or a polythene paper to cover the cut part, the trick is to avoid pests often formulated in the soil to affect the remaining banana plant” says the farmer.

    Moreover, Crop rotation is another organic farming practice that enables consecutive planting of different crops on the same land in order to improve soil fertility as well as control insects and pests.

    Another interesting traditional practice is the use of manure which is effective in several types of crops. Dr. Jean-Pierre Busogoro, the Technical Assistant at Belgian Development Agency (BTC) insists that the best homemade manure should be decomposed for six months and above.

    “The longer the decaying process, the more the nutrients become efficient. Another thing farmers need to note is that during planting the seed is mixed with manure in order to facilitate an effective germination,” he advises.

    The use of indigenous skills does not only improve the yield but also traditional seeds are important too since most of them interact well in the local soil.

    However better farming skills are essential. Dr. Busogoro highlights that in bananas for instance the Rwanda’s Injagi type would do better compared to the FHIA 25hybrid banana if proper planting and cultivation practices are adhered to.