Letter to A US Senator - RE: Rwanda

Sent to US Senator 8/29/13



Senator ________:

I am very concerned about the lack of United States concern for the flagrant abuses Rwanda has taken against the Democratic Republic of the Congo in violation of MANY United Nations reports and findings.  The US-UN Diplomats have repeatedly failed to take seriously the fact that President Kagame is responsible for the murder of over 6 Million Congolese and is on the brink of war again in the DRC.

I have contacted our delegation several times and have never received as much as an automated response in return.

I would like to know how much Federal Aid goes to the Government of Rwanda, and why the US continues to allow President Kagame to have free reign of Central Africa while we continue to intervene on "human rights" violations in other areas of the world - most recently, Syria (at least at the level of making threats of bombing at this point).

Open Letter to the People of Rwanda

August 28, 2013

Dear Rwandan Citizens and People of the Rwandan Diaspora,

This is a letter from me, an American, to you, Rwandans - Hutu, Tutsi, and Twa.  I know as Rwandans you are a divided nation. Some of you live in your homeland while others are fearful of making a return. I know that your tribal affiliation has come to define which side you often have to choose to be on, though I also know that is not always the case.

I know that in 1994, when I was a teenager who was more concerned about getting my driver's license than what was happening in the world around me, many of you survived a horrific genocide. Maybe some of you who are reading this were not yet born, but I'm sure most, if not all of you, are in some way affected by the events of those 100 days. I also know that this genocide remains a divisive issue to this day - one which divides the Great Lakes Region of Africa with political and military instability.

Just last night before I was about to go to bed, I received a message from a Rwandan friend who told me that the Rwandan Defense Forces are preparing to send 2500 troops to the Democratic Republic of the Congo to defend the M23 Militia against the UN MONUSCO Forces, the DRC FARDC Forces, and the FDLR Militia (which may or may not be in the immediate area as reports are conflicting).  I was hurt to hear this news.

Why would I, a white American be hurt to hear about an impending war halfway around the world from me? Let me try to explain.  I am hurt to hear that there would be more war in your area because we are all Children of God. Yes, I feel the same way about war in any area, but I feel a special bond to your area. This bond is not something I can explain. I personally know only one person from the Great Lakes Region and others through social media.  But, who I know and don't know doesn't make a difference to me. You are my brothers and sisters. Even if we disagree - Even if you hate me - I consider you a brother or sister. It hurts me that the people of the DRC suffer as they do. It hurts me more that my tax dollars support that suffering. Yes, I know that my government contributes both directly and indirectly to this problem. I've petitioned members of my government, and I've been ignored.  Rwandan Friends, your government has paid more attention to me than my own.

If you've ever read any of my writings, my stance on your President, Paul Kagame, is no secret. I understand that early in his life, he had many reasons to grow up angry. As a Rwandan not allowed to enter his own homeland, I would expect anger. I would have been angry too. I in no way justify violence. But, I also can't say what I would have done. Would I have joined the RPF if I were in the same situation? I don't know. I can say that the RPF should have stopped all military action and settled with the Arusha Peace Accords.  Were they perfect? No. But, Rwanda is for all Rwandans - Just as America is for all Americans. Yes, I realize the irony that I am stating as there is so much racism and hatred in my own nation, but I fight that as well to the best of my ability.

Though he was found "innocent" by a French judge, much evidence still points to the fact that President Kagame had Former President Habyarimana murdered by ordering the shooting down of his airplane. The RPF bragged about this until they became the de facto government. Former RPF officials have confessed to this. True, President Habyarimana led a government that favored the Hutu over the Tutsi and Twa.  That is a sad fact. The Arusha Peace Accords helped this issue. By murdering Habyarimana, Kagame set off the Genocide that would kill mainly his own tribe - Tutsis.  This way, Kagame could be the "hero" who ended the Genocide.  While no Kagame supporter wants to believe this, and I understand your unwillingness to believe this, please think long and hard. If peace were an option, why would Kagame continue to be a man of war? If you believe that it was a radical Hutu group that shot down the plane, why does Kagame still continue to be a man of war? Why is war the first option on the table rather than the last resort?

I realize that what I am saying is "genocide ideology" in Rwandan Law. Let me be VERY CLEAR. I DO NOT support any sort of genocide, murder, or killing! I believe in peaceful solutions to every conflict. Yes, I am an idealist. Gandhi was an idealist. He liberated the nation of India from the most powerful empire of the time - Britain - without firing one shot.  Idealism is not weakness. Idealism is strength.

Let me also address one more issue. I read much of what President Kagame says in public addresses. President Kagame is an excellent politician. He would be a great American Politician. It doesn't surprise me that people like Former President Bill Clinton, Former President George Bush, and Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair are so supportive of him.  President Kagame has learned from the best! Sadly what he has learned is what these politicians have used - Fear as a motivator.

Compare the way that Kagame is driving Rwanda to war because of the FDLR to American and British motivation to go to war against Iraq. The American and British politicians used fear to motivate the population. "The Iraqi government was out to destroy us with their chemical weapons." "They hate our way of life." "They hate freedom." "They would destroy anything American." Let's also remember that Iraq NEVER had chemical weapons at this time. Of course the governments will claim "bad intelligence," but in all reality, this war was planned years in advance for financial gain.

Kagame is doing the same thing with the FDLR. "They want to finish the job (of the genocide)." "They won't stop (till every Tutsi is killed)." "We must annihilate them before they destroy us."  Let's remember that the RDF is a strong military and that ANY attack from the FDLR could be immediately stopped. This method of fear is only to generate public support of a non-necessary war for financial gain by exploiting the DRC.

Remember your history. Kagame did this following the genocide. While he may have been justified in attacking the genocidaires - though in all reality, he created this genocide - why were entire refugee camps massacred? Where ALL refugees genocidaires? The very elderly? Children? ALL men? ALL women? It's statistically impossible for an entire race or tribe to be completely unified in anything, much less unspeakable acts of genocidal horror. But, Kagame invaded these camps because he led by promoting fear.

My friends, do not let fear rule your lives. There are many "what ifs" that we can ask ourselves. Some of those "what if" fears may happen. Most of them will not.  I beg of you, see each other as brothers and sisters. You may come from different tribes just as I come from a different nation, but remember - We were all made by the same God. We all have made mistakes - some of us worse than others. We are all worthy of being forgiven. Yes, sometimes that means some of us may have to face punishment while being forgiven, but God demands forgiveness with justice. Finally, live your lives with the hope that the future holds!

I fully know that some of you will not agree with me. I do however hope you will read what I actually wrote and not add your own words. I do not see any of you as enemies - even those of you disagree with me. I just ask that you take what I say seriously. If you choose to laugh it off, that is your choice. You are all in my prayers for the Peace and Prosperity of your nation, your people, and your region!

In God's Love,
Tom

Can There Be Peace?

Any regular followers of my blog will know that the majority of my writings are related to the ongoing violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the vicious nature of President Paul Kagame of Rwanda and his past and accused current War Crimes. Please note, however that though the subject of this blog is on the Great Lakes Region of Africa, the places could be changed to Egypt, Syria, the streets of Chicago, New York City, the Drug Cartel violent areas of Mexico, and any other violent areas around the globe. Space and time and my own ignorance of geopolitics prevents me from naming every conflict around the world.

Of course, these issues are not as simple as the old movies of "good guy" vs. "bad guy."  They are so intertwined with militias and armies with members of each crossing and double-crossing sides so that today's ally is tomorrow's enemy and vice versa.  Even the national interests change on a fairly regular basis because they are not regionally based at all.  While this seems to be a conflict contained within the heart of Africa, there are unseen forces hard at work to keep the conflict brewing so that their corporate interests can thrive.  Simply put, if militias and their workers can get the materials out of the DRC that a corporation wants for cheaper than a paid worker can get it, it is in the corporations best "business" interest to keep the conflict going.

What is obviously missing is any sense of personhood or morality of killing. People have become pawns. Regional leaders have allowed themselves to become pawns of Corporations. While leaders such as Paul Kagame of Rwanda and Joseph Kabila of the DRC believe they are acting for their own good or the good of their nation, they are essentially acting as Pawns of Corporations who want the minerals and materials that they hold. These leaders have "sold their souls," whether it is knowingly or unknowingly, for power, money, stability, or whatever false idols to these Corporations to keep these conflicts going.

Smaller leaders of the countless militias that are in the DRC have also become part of this scheme.  While they claim to have "noble causes," they continue the cycle of violence that plays into the hands of the Greedy.  They continue the instability that allows the Greedy to continue their pillage of the land and people.

First, let me point out that not all Corporations are by nature greedy to this degree.  There are Corporations that want absolutely nothing to do with this conflict and they keep their hands clean of it.  By nature, however, a Corporation's job (unless it is a non-profit Corporation) is to make a profit. That is, it is to spend as little money as possible to make as much money as possible. To do so essentially takes an element of greed. We can argue all day as to whether this is Greed or Capitalism, but the point of the matter is that in a Corporate world there must be winners and losers.  Even if the loser doesn't lose everything, the winner still is taking from the loser. That loser may be informed, and it may be the "rules of the game," but the loses still loses to the winner.  Is that greed on the part of the winner? In it's deepest sense, yes. Anytime one desires more than one needs, that is a form of greed. Does that make a person evil? That answer is between the person and God. God calls some of us to give everything, while God calls some of us to give something.

Returning to the situation in the DRC - Can There Be Peace?

Without trying to sound like a doomsday preacher - I answer with a qualified No! As things stand, peace will not come. There may be moments of peace. There may be moments of less violence, but there will not be long lasting peace. A leader may be overthrown, charged with War Crimes, but still, peace will not come.  The problems are too deeply rooted for there to be peace.

So, What Are These Problems?

People have fallen for the false narrative that, "might makes right." People trust in the power of the gun to make peace. There is no greater irony than this assumption.  It is impossible to make peace by killing in a war setting.  Police settings are different because the gun is only used as a defensive and last resort tactic.

If the governments and militias that continually rape and pillage the DRC are serious about having the people at heart, why do they displace at least a million people from their homes? Why do they force so many hundreds of thousands of innocent people who only want to live a normal life into refugee camps with horrible conditions? Why do they force tens of thousands more to flee into the jungles to hope for survival there? Why do they rape and perform other sexually violent acts on the women and children they say they are there to protect? Why do they rob the families of goods and food if they are protecting them? Why do they kidnap children and force them to become soldiers? Why do they torture and kill men who are only trying to be fathers and husbands because they will not leave their families to fight a losing war?

They do this because they believe in the false power of the gun.  The gun will never bring peace.  Look at Afghanistan. This nation has been under attack since time immemorial from multiple nations. Afghanistan's people have not known peace. Sure, there have been pockets of time when there has been no shooting, but actual peace? - Not in a very long time!

If these governments and militias were serious about peace, they would first lay their weapons down.  They would show their strength in their resolve. I can hear my detractors now. "But that is ridiculous!" I ask, was Gandhi ridiculous when he freed an entire nation without firing a shot? Was Martin Luther King Jr. ridiculous when he fought non-violently for civil-rights and won without hurting one person? maybe both were a little ridiculous. Maybe we need more ridiculous people! Maybe we need more people who worry less about their image than about their cause and just refuse to "shut up!"

Am I naive? Maybe I am, but if I am, so were Gandhi and King.  Look at what they won! If they were naive, then Hitler was sane - and look what he lost. Look at even what the Allies lost. How many Allied troops in WWII lost their lives and how much money was spent in rebuilding Europe after WWII?

Can There Be Peace? - Maybe?

Maybe the next "militia" needs to be an unarmed militia of the people of Rwanda and/or the DRC! A "militia" that puts aside tribal affiliation, race, nationality, and demands peace! This is where my qualified no answer turns into a qualified yes - there can be peace!

It's obvious - The United States is not going to help. If anyone in the Great Lakes region of Africa is reading this, I am sorry that my tax dollars are funding the deaths of your friends and families.  I am sorry that Corporations based in my part of the world see you as expendable. I am sorry that the world has abandoned you rather than seeing you as created in the image of God! Please know that our Government and Corporations DO NOT speak for all of us! We write letters, make phone calls, protest, and do anything we can think of to call attention to your plight. We too are ignored. We promise to continue!

While we do our work, we need you to do your work.  Your work is much harder than ours. Your work may require much more sacrifice. Someday, we may have to do the same thing here, but we are not yet facing the same conditions.  You need to stand for peace and settle for nothing less.  You need to be the new Gandhi and King of today! You need to say no to violence, even if that means staring down the barrel of a gun. Will your lives be threatened? Almost certainly, I can answer Yes! Will some die, definitely! But you will have your nation and have it as you deserve it!

Fight the militias and governments by inviting them to "join the winning side" much as Archbishop Desmond Tutu did when the White Apartheid soldiers stormed his church and tried to disrupt a service.  Anyone can be violent - But it takes a special gift from God to make your enemy your friend.

Remember to keep the faith! Jesus said whoever lives in him dies in him and has eternal life! Remember that if you do this work in God's name, the Spirit is with you! My prayers and the prayers of many around the world are with you! Shalom!