Rwanda is slowly ‘becoming whole’ again

Dr. Jailal, Queens NY — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 20:32:51 GMT

What wonderful news! I know that there are many Christian organizations working and praying for this miracle. I myself have been asked to come to Rwanda and help in the process of healing and i am truly grateful to Jesus cghrist for his healing in that land. As tghe peope turn to God the land will recover and the people will have their mourning turn to joy

Rwanda is slowly ‘becoming whole’ again

Randy Bennett, Aurora, Illinois — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 22:30:44 GMT

Hey!I know Freddy. I met him last summer when I was in Rwanda. My brother has lived there as a missionary since 1978. He was there during the Genocide and still remains committed to the country. I am proud to say that I am playing a part in the healing process. As a counselor I have been there to train pastors in basic counseling skills. I also met with Freddy's staff to talk about their intensely emotional job. I will go back to Rwanda this April and hope to see Freddy and his staff then.

Rwanda is slowly ‘becoming whole’ again

Alexandria, Dallas, TX — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 00:28:52 GMT

I never knew of the atrosity that occurred in Rwanda until the movie came out. It is the most horrific crimes against human beings.We all should all be thankful that we stay in America and should stop complaining. Be thankful for what you have.

Rwanda is slowly ‘becoming whole’ again

Bob Duron — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 00:29:32 GMT

Let's hope that Mr. Corke remembers that bill clinton sat in the oval office and did nothing to stop it. As the article states, by the time bill clinton acknowledged the slaughter, close to a million people were murdered.

Rwanda is slowly ‘becoming whole’ again

brett poole — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 00:30:05 GMT

Oh Please! Let these people continue to hack each other up. They will doing the same thing in another 10 years anyway. Africa continues to be a model for why Tribal Societies SUCK. When has an African nation ever been able to sustain growth and be self governing?

It's the same old, same old and will continue to be, well, Africa.

Rwanda is slowly ‘becoming whole’ again

Evelyn Tyson . Woodson Valrico Florida. Izmir Turkey — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 10:19:50 GMT

I watched the nightly news , when this was unfolding , I saw the actions and results , of course at first no one wants to beleive this , is actually taking place , But Kososovo and Ethnic Genodice seem to have been a infetious disease over the course of human history, We see this behavior , and it tell us the potential in most people to join the crowd , It reqiures numbers for such or nay devistating events such a Nazi Germany and the offshoots of it tha tis alive and thriving in Ameica Danada nd many European and Middle Eastern Countires, Our heats must change, we must stop thinking any form of suffering is far removed from us, The long term effects of those who's imprints is on the African people , is not visiable to he current state of affairs but none the less they are there.

Evelyn Tyson. Woodson

USA & Turkey

Rwanda is slowly ‘becoming whole’ again

D Costa — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 13:03:14 GMT

The thing that troubled me more than anything in regards to the atrocity that occurred in Rwanda was the way the world sat on its hands and allowed the genocide to continue once it had become clear what was going on. NATO proved itself ineffective due to the fact of "following orders" and not using better judgment in dealing with a matter that cost so many people their lives.

Rwanda is slowly ‘becoming whole’ again

los angeles, ca — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 13:03:43 GMT

it sucks that the US didnt intervene, just like they are doing a damm thing in Darfur. its ok when Blacks kill each other but when whites do it, it must be stopped

Rwanda is slowly ‘becoming whole’ again

Polycarpe Bilindiro, Pawleys Island, SC — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 13:23:05 GMT

It is a great thing to know that things are starting to look good again in Rwanda. It is import to notice that we still have long ways to go to make it a safe country.

Rwanda is slowly ‘becoming whole’ again

Michael Kaczorowski, Ottawa, Ontario - CANADA — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 13:43:08 GMT

In marking Rwanda's efforts to heal, let us also remember the courageous efforts of those like General Romeo Dallaire who risked their lives to save those they could from the slaughter of innocents - when much of the world was turning a blind eye. Both the movie "Shake Hands With the Devil" and the book of the same name by General Dallaire should be required viewing/reading for anyone who wants to understand what happened and why.

Rwanda is slowly ‘becoming whole’ again

Borden McKenzie — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 13:56:09 GMT

Having been to Rwanda and followed its evolution for several years, I appreciate this article and coverage. However, there is something important that was overlooked. While Rwanda has made progress on the economic front, and while this progress is good to highlight, the human rights record of Rwanda is a mixed bag at best, and Rwanda experts underline that post-genocide justice has been one-sided (undermining any hopes of reconciliation) and has failed to hold the ruling party (government) accountable for numerous crimes allegedly committed following the genocide. French and Spanish courts have recently issued international arrest warrants for President Paul Kagame's inner circle (the ruling elite, high-ranking officials) for these alleged crimes. In addition, the current Kagame regime continues to use fear of another genocide to charge political opponents and critics of the ill-defined "genocide ideology," and continues to harass local NGOs and imprison members of the small independent Rwandan media. It also continues to manipulate the government-influenced/owned media to claim that the hero of the film Hotel Rwanda, Paul Rusesabagina, is a liar and aims to divide the country, which is hard to believe after he received the Medal of Freedom from President Bush (and after seeing the movie, which is largely accurate). Many analysts and human rights observers rightly underline that political space and civil liberties remain significantly limited under the Kagame regime. If the U.S. wishes to be a friend to Rwanda, it must not only promote economic growth and offer condolences for inaction during the genocide; the U.S. must also increasingly promote human rights and democracy (not the kind of democracy where the elections continue to be marred by fraud in a state where one party has a virtual monopoly on power). According to the U.S. human rights report on Rwanda from 2006: "In August 2003 President Paul Kagame won a landslide victory against two independent presidential candidates, receiving 95 percent of the vote. International election observers, representing both foreign governments and NGOs, noted that the country's first post genocide elections, though peaceful, were marred by numerous irregularities, including ballot stuffing, "guarded" polling booths, and irregular ballot counting in at least two of the 12 provinces. There also were numerous credible reports that during the 2003 presidential and legislative campaigns, opposition candidates and their supporters faced widespread harassment and intimidation, including detention. In 2006, limits on political party activities continued to restrict citizens' rights to peacefully change their government. There were reports that security forces committed extrajudicial killings and tortured and abused suspects with impunity. Prison and detention center conditions remained harsh despite positive measures taken by the government. Security forces arbitrarily arrested and detained persons, including street children and other "vagrants," and members of Jehovah's Witnesses. Prolonged pretrial detention, limits on judicial independence, unfair public trials, and the holding of former political figures--including former President Pasteur Bizimingu--remained problems. There continued to be limits on freedom of speech, press, and association. Government corruption and restrictions on civil society remained problematic. In addition, societal violence and discrimination against women, trafficking in persons, child labor, and restrictions on labor rights continued to be problems."

Rwanda is slowly ‘becoming whole’ again

the orchidee — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 14:17:48 GMT

I,m glad I can bring my apport to the reconstruction of this country with 1 of my inventions about reduce costs of electricity. It,s not working the way should,and because I haven,t been invited to celebrate any of my inventions, as people believe they can do everything without me, robbed to last breath, because personal I,m going thrue worse situation than theirs, I just send my greetings and best wishes to next development that I prepare for all countries if there somebody will consider to transmit as soon as possible that I exist and I,m there for people.

Rwanda is slowly ‘becoming whole’ again

Pete, Viera Florida — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 14:30:44 GMT

Bret the REASON the Hutus killed the Tutsis was a manufactured reason...when Rwanda was still a Belgium "protectorate" they began the strife between the tribes to essentially keep them down and from rising up against the Belgium government.

Instead of acting like you know something about this genocide, why dont you take some time and actually LEARN what happened? Read The Bishop of Rwanda, by John Rucyahana...then see how you feel about the peoples of Rwanda.

Rwanda is slowly ‘becoming whole’ again

M Albulet — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 15:08:04 GMT

I have seen Hotel Rwanda and Shaking Hands With The Devil, the story about Romeo Dallaire's fight to keep peace in Rwanda...
All I could think was how NATO should be ashamed of themselves...
God helps us all if those powers to be are so ineffective and useless.

Rwanda is slowly ‘becoming whole’ again

Jimmy, Elkhorn, WI — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 15:47:11 GMT

Why blame Clinton and the U.S. for not stopping the massacres in Rwanda? And why blame Bush and the U.S. for not stopping today's violence in Darfur? Africa was carved up and colonized by European nations at about the same time that the Americas were carved up and colonized. Thirteen of those American colonies united, declared their independence from Europe, and adopted a more-or-less (sometimes more, sometimes less) isolationist attitude.

The new United States of America, as they called themselves, never colonized Africa or set their imperial sights on the continent. It was the European nations, in their zeal for empire, that did that. You can't blame the USA for the slave trade, either. That started long before the USA became a nation, and the slave traders didn't sell only in North America: they also sold in the Caribbean islands and in South America.

Why, therefore, should the USA be required to clean up the mess that someone else created? Or why do you chastise the USA for not doing so? Let the Belgians clean up their own mess in Rwanda. Let the French and the Portugese clean up theirs in the Congo and elsewhere. Let the Italians clean up theirs in Somalia and environs. Let the Dutch and the British clean up their mess way down south. But leave the USAians out of it.

Europe is a lot closer to Africa than North America is. Aid to Africa can be trucked from Europe, whereas it must cross hundreds of miles of ocean from North America. Europe is in a much better position to render aid than the USA is.

Rwanda is slowly ‘becoming whole’ again

mark constantine — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 15:53:52 GMT

Sad that "the family" visits now,... a little late.

Where was the compasion and concern in 1994?

M.C.