Dr Theogen Rudasingwa, one of the founding members of Rwanda National Congress based in the USA, interviewed Gen Kayumba Nyamwasa who is currently residing as a refugee in South Africa. The interview, which drew in a number of callers lasted almost one hour as Gen Kayumba answered questions as questions.
Dr Theogene started by sending his greetings to the Rwandese across board. Asking them to share their ideas in harmony, as it is our culture in RNC without hurrying insults like the Kigali regime.
Dr Theogene welcomed the guest and asked him to introduce himself to the listeners.
In his introduction, Gen Kayumba Nyamwasa greeted and thanked all the members of RNC around the world as well as FDU-Inkingi, Amahoro and CNR Intwali on the tremendous work done. He also told the listeners that he served as Rwandan Army Chief of staff and later became an Ambassador of Rwanda in India till 2010, when he fled to South Africa.
Dr Theogene started asking him to explain to the listeners why he parted ways with Paul Kagame.
Gen Kayumba started by explaining that he was a lawyer in Uganda and that he was not involved in the army. In 1982 while still in Uganda, because of prevailing circumstances when Rwandans had no place called home, they decided to join the army together with other Rwandese who were residing in Uganda.
In 1994, after taking over power in Rwanda, more than two million people fled the country into neighbouring countries. It was necessary for those that fled to return to their country in peace, so that we could build the nation as a whole. It wasn’t easy to achieve that because of different factors that refugees found in themselves, among them were soldiers, politicians and other people who did not want to return home.
He explained that, the RPF program during the struggle was to fight for democracy and against injustice suffered by the Rwandans and stop influx of refugees, to bring free and fair elections and to restore an independent judicial system for all Rwandans. All the above was never realised, what is even more painful is that Paul Kagame became worse than the system we were fighting. He started purging all perceived political opponents calling them his personnel enemies.
He gave an example of Joseph Sebarenzi who was targeted by Kagame who convened a meeting of RPF so that he could tarnish his image irrespective of the advice that I had given him. Kagame harassed and targeted him and wanting to kill him, he fled the country. The same trend moved to the former President Pastor Bizimungu, despite my several attempts to advice Paul Kagame on the contrary.
What hurts most is the fact that Rwandese youth have been exploited by Kagame and the generals have been turned into slaves for his personnel gains. He locks them up like doors as he pleases. He ignores that your opponents are not your enemy. He gave an example of General John who was sucked by George W Bush and another General whom was sucked by Baraka Obama during the Afghan invasion.
Under Kagame, the situation has turned for worse than what we were fighting against. Anyone who dares to ask or advice is targeted and harassed. Forcing us to flee the country and others to apologise for the crimes they never committed, for the sake of pleasing him.
Gen Kayumba cautioned those who think President Kagame represents Tutsis or their interests. He made it abundantly clearly that it is Tutsis who have suffered even more under the dictatorship of Paul Kagame . He laments of those who lost everything, their children paying with their lives for a man who has taken all the worthy of the country. He warned those who state that Paul Kagame stands for Tutsis or that Habyarimana stood for Hutus to stop using ethnic divisions for their benefit and entrenchment of their dictatorship.
Our political prevailing situtation can’t be divorced from what’s happening in the Arab world (Arab spring) Syria, Egypt, Tunisia and elsewhere. Those fighting the dictators, it’s not because they are warmongers, but they are fighting for freedom and human rights. For example;
Our own Victory Ingabire, why is she incarcerated?
Charles Ntakirutinka, what crime(s) has he committed to be sentenced for ten years, Pastor Bizimungu for five years? Why? Because of starting a political party! Yet Kagame leads one! We are told they are accused of starting a rebel group. Who are the commanders? Where is the commanding structure? Where are the weapons? Where are the training grounds?
Deo Mushaid, Ntaganda among other political opponents, it has become a culture that whoever criticises him has to be incarcerated, so we must all think like him. Does he think all Rwandans are his photo copies? Even other neighbouring countries have political opponents, they demonstrate for their rights but yet they are not thrown in jails, but only Rwanda. Look at Kiza Besigye of Uganda, Etienne Tshisekedi of Democratic Republic of Congo.
So, people sit and lament that it’s a political problem and it does not concern us. Those are my problems with Paul Kagame.
More than 42 callers on the line had a chance to ask their questions to the General. Those questions and answers will be published in our next issues as Part 2 of this interview. You can follow the interview on link bellow;
www.blogtalkradio.com/healing-rwanda/2012/02/27/radio-itahuka-ijwi-ryihuriro-nyarwanda
Posted by RNC NEWS ONLINE at 11:50:00 PM