VZCZCXYZ0001
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHLGB #0407/01 1181224
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 281224Z APR 06
FM AMEMBASSY KIGALI
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2683

C O N F I D E N T I A L KIGALI 000407 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR AF/C, DRL AND HR/OE 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/28/2016 
TAGS: AFSN KDEM KJUS PHUM PREL RW
SUBJECT: FORMER PRESIDENT ASKS KAGAME FOR A PARDON 
 
REF: A. KIGALI 168 
     ¶B. 02 KIGALI 736 
 
Classified By: Poloff GLearned, reasons 1.4 (b/d) 
 
¶1. (U) Summary.  Ex-President Pasteur Bizimungu recently 
submitted a handwritten letter to President Kagame requesting 
a pardon for his 2004 conviction for incitement of civil 
disobedience, formation of a criminal association and 
embezzlement of public funds. In the letter, Bizimungu 
maintains that he had no "criminal intentions" and appeals to 
Kagame to release him due to his poor health and for the 
"general interests of the Nation". Charles Ntakirutinka, a 
former Minister and Bizimungu,s co-defendant (ref B), also 
requested a pardon. Although President Kagame has said he 
would consider a pardon if he was asked by Bizimungu, there 
has been no official GOR comment and officials have given 
Emboffs no indication of how this process will proceed. End 
summary. 
 
¶2. (SBU) Bizimungu and Ntakirutinka, in prison since 2002, 
lost their final appeal in a Supreme Court hearing on 17 
February 2006 (ref A). According to Bizimungu's wife 
Seraphine and lawyer Jean Bosco Kazungu, the letter was 
delivered directly to the President's Office by Claude 
Karara, Director of Kigali Central Prison. Ntakirutinka,s 
pardon request was reportedly delivered the following day and 
used the same "interests of the nation" rationale. (Note. 
Embassy's request for a copy of his letter was declined. End 
note.). 
 
¶3. (C) In a 26 April meeting unrelated to Bizimungu, 
Ambassador Arietti asked Ambassador Dr. Richard Sezibera, 
Special Envoy to the Great Lakes Region for the President, if 
he knew how the pardon request would be handled. Sezibera 
acknowledged that the President had the authority to grant 
the pardon but did not know the process and offered no other 
insight on the issue. 
 
¶4. (U) There will be no immediate decision as President 
Kagame is currently on a trip to the US and Canada.  On 2 
April, prior to his departure for the US, on a Radio Rwanda 
version of "Meet the Press", President Kagame reportedly told 
an interviewer that he would consider a pardon if Bizimungu 
asked for one. 
 
¶5. (C) Emboffs have kept in regular contact with Seraphine 
Bizimungu who has consistently expressed concerns for her 
husband's health. Both she, and Ntakirutinka's wife Florida, 
were pessimistic about a pardon. Seraphine said there was no 
indication that her husband would be released as he is 
perceived as a vocal political figure. She attributed 
Kagame's 2 April comment as a way of preempting anticipated 
criticism during his trip to the US and Canada. 
 
¶6. (C) Comment. Kagame's April 2 comment did not represent a 
major shift in his position as he has repeatedly said in the 
past, both publicly and privately, that he would consider a 
pardon if Bizimungu were to ask. Embassy will continue to 
monitor GOR reaction to the clemency appeal. President Kagame 
is an adept international operator and he recognizes the 
importance of this issue to donor nations. It appears that he 
has set the conditions to make the wise move to pardon 
Bizimungu and Ntakirutinka. 
 
¶7. (U) A very rough translation of the appeal letter from the 
Kinyarwanda version follows. 
 
BEGIN TEXT 
 
His Excellency the President of the Republic, 
 
In just concluded court proceedings, I was led by my 
conscience that showed that I had no criminal intentions, and 
break the law. The trial is now over. 
 
That's why I am requesting Your Excellency's pardon by 
lifting the remainder of my sentenced imposed by the court. 
So that I may be released and receive proper medical care for 
illnesses that were not treated in prison and so I can 
collaborate with others in rebuilding Rwanda. It's better 
that remaining tied in prison, where I have spent more time 
than the usual time to be eligible for pardon in the general 
interests of the Nation. 
 
I thank you in advance your Excellency and wish you peace. 
 
//s// 
 
Pasteur Bizimungu 
 
END TEXT 
ARIETTI