allAfrica.com                                                                               *


Group Says African Rights FDLR Report is 'Blatant Lies'


Rwanda News Agency/Agence Rwandaise d'Information (Kigali)


NEWS
18 December 2007
Posted to the web 18 December 2007
Kigali

Rwandan exiled opposition group that was singled out as a sympathiser of
the DRC-based extremist rebels by a recent African Rights report has said
the allegations are simply meant to divert attention from the real problem
causing regional chaos, RNA reports.

US-based, Rally for Unity and Democracy (RUD-Urunana), says for malicious
purposes, Mrs Rakiya Omaar (Director) and African Rights chose to create an
amalgamation of misinformation, intoxication, and blatant lies.


The 88-page African Right report 'A WELCOME EXPRESSION OF INTENT, The
Nairobi Communique and Ex-FAR Interahamwe' released last week came as
another international indictment of the FDLR rebels and its backers a
potential threat to regional security.

African Rights alleges that Rally for Unity and Democracy (RUD-Urunana) is
among the 'representatives and lobbyists' of the extremist rebels - some of
who stand accused in Kigali of Genocide - a claim that has also raised
concerns in some quarters.

In analysing the top echelons of the FDLR/RUD, as well as the background of
their representatives and supporters, there are few surprises, African
Rights said. For the most part, as the report suggested, they come from the
préfectures in the north of the country, Gisenyi, Ruhengeri, Byumba and
Greater Kigali, especially the communes of Rushashi and Tare in the north
of Greater Kigali.

African Rights also says RUD-Urunana includes people that were close to
late president Juvenal Habyarimana as they originated from the same
northern Rwanda region and were share-holders in the hate radio RTLM.

Ť In the report, African Rights alleges that the opposition to the Kigali
regime comes from Northern Rwanda and only from ethnic Hutus. Yet, the list
of persons contained in its report shows very well that the opposition
leaders not only are from all the corners of Rwanda, but include Tutsis as
well ť argues the opposition outfit.

Interestingly, African Rights says RUD-Urunana includes former Rwandan
Patriotic Army (RPA) members. Ť How can African Rights explain that Tutsis
chose to associate and be members of groups that want to exterminate them?
ť, the group asks in a two-page statement dated December 15.

Detailing information on individuals that are mentioned by Afircan Rights
as having previously been members of the FDLR, RUD-Urunana seems to suggest
that the organisation was giving wrong details.

Dr. Augustin Dukuze, RUD-Urunana spokesperson, has lived in Canada for more
than two decades and was never a lawyer and could not possibly be a lawyer
for Electrogaz, the group says of one member. It also says top RUD-Urunana
bosses Dr. Jean Marie Vianney Higiro and Dr. Felicien Kanyamibwa have never
been 'ex-FAR or Interahamwe' as African Rights suggests.

Ť We reaffirm that the problem in the region is not the existence of
political and/or armed opposition groups. The existence of such opposition
is a symptom of the current instability epicenter in the Great Lakes region
which is in Rwanda ť, it says. Ť As long as the Rwandan problem is not
resolved the Great Lakes region will remain unstable. ť

It adds : Ť As we have always pointed out, the Rwandan problem is political
in nature and requires political solutions. ť


  -----------------------------------------------------------------------
  Copyright Š 2007 Rwanda News Agency/Agence Rwandaise d'Information. All
  rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com).
  -----------------------------------------------------------------------