Letter to TIME's Editor: Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza was Intentionally Misquoted

Dear Editor,

I am writing to protest against the allegations by your reporter, Mr. Alex Perry, in his recent article titled " Rwanda's Rebel Reformer: Paul Kagame" to be published on Monday August 9, 2010 but already available online.

Mr. Alex Perry  intentionally misquoted Ms Ingabire when he wrote that [Erlinder's client, Victoire Ingabire, told TIME recently that if the Hutus win power again in Rwanda , "I am sure they will revenge themselves against the Tutsis."]

I would like to know what Mr. Alex Perry thinks about Ms Ingabire ethnic background. Kagame beingTutsi, Is Ms. Ingabire Tutsi or Hutu?

In case Mr. Alex Perry may not know, please tell him that Ms. Ingabire is a Hutu. She was designed by her party, UDF-Inkingi, to be the party's candidate during this year’s presidential elections in Rwanda.

How does Mr. Alex Perry explain the fact that Ms. Ingabire, a Hutu and presidential hopeful, may have told TIME that if the Hutus win power again in Rwanda, they will surely revenge themselves against the Tutsis?

I challenge Mr. Alex Perry to provide TIME's readers with specific written and/or recorded materials to prove his assertion. Otherwise, such a statement would simply be construed as old RPF lie propaganda aimed at tarnishing Ms. Ingabire who dared to efficiently challenge Kagame on the ground.

Upon learning about such lies by Mr. Alex Perry Ms. Ingabire wrote the following statement on her facebook page, Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza for President,  ‎["pro-Kagame propaganda, and that Ms. Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza was intentionally misquoted in a Hutu revenge story". She does not believe in such a nonsense.]

Such a PR has been a powerful tool the RPF has used to justify the ongoing failed but endless military operations against the FDLR in DRC .

Up to date, the RPF has failed to provide an exhaustive list of wanted genocidaires within the FDLR ranks simply because most of the current FDLR fighters were 5-10 years old during the 1994 Rwandan genocide.

It also is equally important to recall that the FDLR was created in 1998 following the destruction of Rwandan refugee camps in DRC by the RPF army with the help of the international community.

Kagame must avoid creating situations that may lead to renewed violence in Rwanda . Having himself been refugee for thirty years, Kagame should know that nobody has the right to keep someone refugee for ever.

Now that Kagame is virtually running against himself because the real opposition has been sidelined, his actions are not conducive to genuine national reconciliation and may ultimately make the current social tensions worse.

Elections should be organized to consolidate stability and democracy in any country. Obviously, this is not the case in Rwanda because this year’s elections will not appease the increasing political and military tensions within the ruling party and nothing can stop this growing movement for democratic change in Rwanda initiated by Ms Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza, the icon of the Struggle for Freedom, Democracy and Justice in Rwanda.

Sincerely,
Mamadou Kouyate

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