By Jean Paul Romeo Rugero
Dr. Theogene Rudasingwa, former Paul Kagame’s adviser, chief of staff and Rwandan ambassador to US, explained once out of RPF favors, that when he was still a member of the organization, he lied lied lied to propagate RPF narrative of the genocide and ideology.
The problem I have is this: once one has been used to lying when do they stop and reconvert to telling truth. And when they ever do, how much truth are they able to provide. That has been my main question with people who are not consistent, or are consistent in their inconsistency.
I had some sort of apprehension about the speech of Rudasingwa as does the author of the following article on the same topic. However my question was more on some others of the former ambassador views not necessary reflected in his speech. I disagree with him for example when he justifies that RPF had to invade Rwanda in 1990 knowing well that the Tutsi refugee question was at the point of being solved by the Habyarimana government.
Another point of disagreement is on his particular request for protecting Tutsis from Hutus knowing again well that Tutsis extremists have always been in Rwandan history the troublemakers of any harmony that the country has ever had.
I just read the speech Dr Rudasingwa gave in France Senate, It is easy for an everyday citizen to see fairness and truth in this story. In reality the speech itself is a downgraded version of our history, especially history of Hutu population.
The very first thing i noticed is how he changed the timeline of Tutsi dynasty in Rwanda, by telling these Frenchmen that “Monarchial rule came under German Colonization at the end of 19th Century”. The truth is Germans only went along with already established Tutsi absolute monarchy, which was ruling Rwanda since 1450’s. And why would Dr. Rudasingwa make such an inaccurate statement? I don’t know. He went on by defining moments in 1959 with passion, once again within truth started appearing downgraded terms. Those small terms carefully chosen are the main explosive ingredient of our history.
The term ‘marginalized’ also means demean, depreciate, …by definition, it means to make someone or something seem not important or relevant. This choice of the term above, was used to set tone for what Dr. Rudasingwa was about to explain. By telling his audience that “The Pre-1959 period saw the rise of a marginalized Hutu”, it automatically discredits the 1959 popular revolution. Marginalized group are not pushed enough to commit to a revolution, marginalized people are not in pain enough to join a revolution movement.
Then to justify Tutsi (Inyenzi rebels) attacks in 1960’s, he added that the 1959 revolution marginalized Tutsis, massacred many of them, and sending hundreds of thousands (exaggerated number) in exile. This is no surprise as we all know. RPF members claim that a million people have died in their so called genocide against Tutsis, even though there was barely under one million Tutsi in Rwanda by 1994. So where did “genocide survivors” came from? Dr Rudasingwa proceeded with accusing the first Republic of closing political space to become one party state, under MDR-PARMEHUTU. This statement is far from truth, there has been no law abolishing multiparty system during Kayibanda’a presidency. Due to overwhelming popularity of MDR, parties simply grew weaker.
So why did I dissect that particular term “marginalized”? I did so because it matters than the entire seven pages of this document. It matters because it sat the tone for those who were listening to Dr. Rudasingwa. To the French men and women in audience who were sitting listening to Dr.Rudasingwa, left with a clear false understanding that Hutus and all their leaders are equally barbaric, and Tutsis are gentle and everyday good citizens except the Evil Kagame and his friends.
The real term or terms Dr Rudasingwa failed to utilize for Hutu situation Pre-1959 should be “Oppressed and enslaved Hutu population ». Each of these two terms justifies revolution of any type. The Hutu population lived as slaves (abaja, abagaragu) during Tutsi monarch. They were not human beings but properties, and Tutsi kings, and rulers could treat however they pleased. In addition to being slaves in their own land, Hutu were regularly whipped, severely beaten all in front of their families. Then by using the proper terms “oppressed and enslaved” the audience would have understood the inevitable popular revolution of 1959.
Let’s not forget gross crimes committed against Hutu males by Tutsi kings prior to revolution. Tutsi monarch symbol “Kalinga”, hidden somewhere in best kept secrecy, is decorated by genital parts, from then live young Hutus. Which by the way makes the last King Kigeli (who resides in United States) a criminal, who should be tried for crimes against humanity. For Kigeli the last king, things get even worse. When Hutus begun asking nicely their freedom, he responded by assassinating Hutu leaders in their own homes. Men like Kayuku, Secyugu, Mukwiye, Kajangwe and many more were murdered by Kigeli’s assassins in cold blood. No Tutsi in country or in exile ever mentioned these true events, which triggered the 1959 revolution.
So since we now know the truth about “The 1959 Popular Revolution”, let’s see what Hutus were and are entitled to.
- Hutus during pre-1959 were entitled to basic human rights and their land. They were entitled to be free from slavery and oppression they were subjected to by the Tutsi ruling dynasties.
- Hutu had right to make a revolution by any means necessary to make social, and economic positive changes in their own land.
- In 1959 Hutu mass population did what was way overdue by abolishing the King and his throne, and establish Republic
- The Republic of Rwanda had legitimate reason to fight and defended its population against King Kigeli’s rebels in 1960’s
- Rwandan government had the right to defend its territories in 1990 when RPF supported by Museveni invaded Rwanda
- Hutu population still have right and obligation to defend their people wherever they are, as long as they are targeted specifically because they chose democracy, and refuse to accept Tutsi dominance.
We must not stay silent, or settle for less. We must understand our rights and defend our revolution at all cost. It is a beautiful thing for a people to be liberated. Live long the spirit of freedom fighters of 1959, live long the freedom fighters of today, lets shape the freedom fighters of tomorrow.
Source: Ikaze Iwacu
