US slams efforts to silence dissent in Rwanda
(AFP) – 3 hours ago
Washington — The United States on Friday denounced efforts to silence
Rwandan dissidents after condemning the killing of Kigali's former spy
chief.
"Vibrant democracies allow peaceful political opposition. Efforts to
silence dissidents run counter to Rwanda's democratic development," a
State Department official told AFP.
The United States on Thursday condemned the killing of Patrick
Karegey, a former Rwandan spy chief and dissident who was found dead
in a luxury Johannesburg hotel on January 1.
Washington also voiced concern over a threatening statement by Rwandan
strongman Paul Kagame.
The body of Karegeya, a fierce critic of Kagame who had spent the past
several years in exile, had marks to the neck, South African police
said, indicating he might have been strangled.
"We urge the government of Rwanda to respect the rights of all
political parties and political leaders that are committed to a
peaceful, democratic process in Rwanda," the State Department official
said in an email.
South African police, who found a bloodied towel and a rope in the
room's safe, have opened a murder probe, and Karegeya's supporters
have accused the Rwandan government of his assassination.
"We are aware of the case. We condemn the murder of former Rwandan
government official, Colonel Patrick Karegeya in South Africa, where
he lived in exile," State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki told a
press briefing Thursday.
She said the US welcomes South Africa's "prompt and thorough
investigation" into Karegeya's death and was awaiting the outcome of
the probe.
"We also welcome their statement pledging... to leave no stone
unturned in bringing to justice those involved in this criminal act,"
Psaki said.
"And let me also say we are troubled by the succession of what appear
to be politically motivated murders of prominent Rwandan exiles.
President Kagame's recent statements about, quote 'consequences' for
those who betray Rwanda, are of deep concern to us."
Kagame on Sunday said in Kigali that "treason brings consequences"
without referring directly to the Karegeya case.
"If someone feels no shame in destroying what we have built over a
period of time, I for my part will not feel shy of protecting what we
have built. Anyone who betrays our cause or wishes our people ill will
fall victim. What remains to be seen is how you fall victim," Kagame
said.
Karegeya was the former head of Rwanda's external intelligence service
and once a close ally of Kagame.
In 2004 he was demoted, then arrested and served an 18-month jail
sentence for desertion and insubordination. He was stripped of his
rank of colonel in July 2006 and he fled the country the following
year.
Washington, which has long been an ally of Kagame, imposed sanctions
against Kigali last year amid accusations that Rwanda was helping to
recruit child soldiers to M23 rebels in the neighboring Democratic
Republic of Congo.
"In July 2012, we suspended all $200,000 of the fiscal year 2013
foreign military financing program for Rwanda because of its support
for the M23," the State Department official confirmed.
Copyright © 2014 AFP. All rights reserved. More »
Photo:
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/media/ALeqM5gJn5RNXByphAx-soI920ix-dMraw?size=s3
Members of the Rwanda National Congress opposition party shout slogans
while holding pictures of slain party founder Patrick Karegeya (L)
outside the Rwandan embassy in Pretoria on January 9, 2014 (AFP/File,
Alexander Joe)
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gyO1LFSsi-wRpnenfkDoubUFTnHw?docId=6affb3fb-ca19-484f-baef-d07cbd0e3d16
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SIBOMANA Jean Bosco
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