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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 KIGALI 000842 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR AF/C, DRL 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/28/2015 
TAGS: KDEM PGOV PHUM RW
SUBJECT: PRESS FREEDOM IN RWANDA: CHARGES OF HARASSMENT AND 
GOVERNMENT RESPONSE 
 
REF: KIGALI 790 
 
Classified By: Poloff GLearned, reason 1.4 (d) 
 
Summary 
------- 
¶1.  (U) During August, there have been several incidents of 
alleged threats, and one physical attack, against Rwandan 
journalists by unknown perpetrators.  Two journalists have 
left the country, although one may return soon.  GOR 
officials vehemently deny any official GOR involvement in 
negative actions directed at journalists, and the Minister of 
Internal Security has assured the Ambassador that a police 
investigation is underway.  Ambassador and Emboffs have been 
in regular contact with the journalists, high level GOR 
officials, NGO representatives and diplomatic colleagues. 
Ambassador has insisted that the GOR take these accusations 
seriously, conduct a thorough investigation, and take action 
against anyone involved.  There is little trust between the 
GOR and journalists alleging harassment (some of whom claim 
that cliques of high ranking government members are 
responsible for the threats and the one physical attack). 
However, senior members of the GOR do understand the 
importance of press freedom and its impact on Rwanda's 
ability to garner support for its development goals.  After 
three weeks of accusations and counter-accusations, the facts 
are still unclear. End summary. 
 
The Allegations 
---------------- 
¶2. (U) There have been four journalists, all Rwandan 
nationals, involved in the August flare up of problems 
between the GOR and independent press.  All have maintained 
various degrees of contact with Emboffs, primarily by cell 
phone text messaging.  Of the four, three are editors of 
independent Kinyarwanda papers 'Umuco', 'Umuseso' and 
'Umuvugizi'.  The fourth, Lucie Umukundwa, is head of the 
Voice of America office in Rwanda. 
 
¶3. (SBU) 'Umuco' editor Bonaventure Bizumuremyi fled to 
Kampala following the issuing of a summons to appear before 
the police, and an attempt by members of the Judicial Police 
to bring him in for questioning.  This was purportedly in 
connection with an investigation of a potentially defamatory 
statement about President Kagame (Reftel).  On 10 August, 
Bizumuremyi published in 'Umuvugizi' an open letter to Kagame 
apologizing for what he termed a typesetting error that 
resulted in an unintended insult. 
 
¶4. (C) Multiple sources within the GOR have stated that 
Bizumuremyi,s summons was issued by the head of the CID, who 
intended to question Bizumuremyi about the possible 
defamatory statement against Kagame.  Prosecutor General 
Martin Ngoga stated that while he personally would not have 
summoned Bizumeremyi, the CID Director was acting within his 
authority when he did so.  Ngoga also stated that he was 
satisfied with Bizumuremyi,s explanation and letter of 
apology, considered the defamation matter to be closed, and 
said Bizumeremyi faced no threat of being charged with 
defamation.  He did say that Bizumuremyi would have to answer 
for his failure to respond to the summons, which is a routine 
step in police investigations in Rwanda.  Emboffs have also 
received unconfirmed reports that police officers who 
attempted to detain Bizumuremyi were punished for violating 
proper procedures, since they had not been authorized to use 
force to bring him in for questioning.  According to Belgian 
poloff and 'Umuco' colleague Jean Leonard Rugambage, 
Bizumuremyi was seriously considering returning to Kigali. 
 
¶5.  (C) The picture is less clear with respect to the case of 
VOA reporters Olivier Isatibasumba and Lucie Umukundwa (who 
is Olivier,s brother).  On 15 August, poloff and PAO 
received reports that Isatibasumba had been attacked and 
threatened in Kigali by unknown assailants on the evening of 
14 August. The assailants reportedly said the attack was in 
response to negative reporting about Rwanda.  On 16 August, 
PAO met with Lucie and Olivier at the VOA,s office. 
Umukundwa and Olivier confirmed that they had not/not 
reported the incident to local police authorities but Lucie 
said she had attempted to report the case to director of the 
Rwandan National Police,s Criminal Investigation Division 
(CID).  When he failed to return her call, Umukundwa then 
reported the matter to the Director of Military Intelligence. 
 
KIGALI 00000842  002 OF 003 
 
 
 
 
¶6. (C) During the week of 20 August, Umukundwa reported to 
PAO what she regarded as suspicious/threatening incidents 
that had prompted her to depart Kigali for Gisenyi, on the 
northwest border of Rwanda, where she spent four days before 
crossing into the Democratic Republic of the Congo.  Prior to 
leaving Rwanda, Umukundwa also reported that an unknown 
 high authority, in the Rwandan Government had told a VOA 
colleague that Lucie should come out of hiding and that if 
she fled Rwanda she would be tracked down and killed.  On 28 
August, Lucie reported to PAO and VOA Washington that she had 
made her way to Uganda, where she intends to stay until the 
matter is resolved. 
 
¶7. (C)  Umuseso, editor Charles Kabonero and  Umuvugizi, 
editor Jean Bosco Gasisiba, who claim that there is a cabal 
of senior GOR officials intent on shutting down an 
independent press, have nevertheless continued publishing 
their papers, including stories very critical of the GOR, and 
maintaining contact with Emboffs.  Gasisiba told Emboffs that 
National Security Service Director General Emmanuel Ndahiro 
held a meeting with five journalists (including Gasisiba, 
Kabonero, and Umukundwa) to address reports of media 
harassment.  However, he reported no substantial commitment 
by Ndahiro to act on their accusations. 
 
The GOR's Response 
------------------ 
¶8.  (C) In a 29 August conversation with the Ambassador, the 
Minister of Internal Security indicated that he was aware of 
the case involving the VOA correspondent and had instructed 
the police to conduct a thorough and rapid investigation. 
Multiple senior level officials have underscored the 
importance of due process and denied any government intent to 
harass journalists.  All have said that any journalist who 
believes he/she has been harassed or threatened should follow 
normal procedures and report such incidents to the police. 
This creates a record which senior officials can then pursue 
should there be inadequate police action. 
 
¶9.  (C) In the case of the VOA correspondent, who was 
unwilling to file a formal complaint, the Minister of Justice 
volunteered to phone her directly to hear her views and 
former Ambassador to the US, Special Presidential Envoy to 
the Great Lakes Region Dr. Richard Sezibera, agreed that 
Embassy could provide the correspondent his personal cell 
phone number in an effort to move the situation forward. 
(Note: PAO subsequently informed Umukundwa of Sezibera's 
offer to speak with her directly about the matter, but she 
declined to do so. End note). Prosecutor General Martin Ngoga 
told polchief and poloff that there was no GOR effort to 
harass journalists.  He offered to investigate any police 
officer or government official accused by a journalist of 
making threats against them. 
 
¶10.  (U) The High Council of the Press (HCP) conducted 
lengthy interviews with Umukundwa and her brother, visited 
the clinic where he was treated after being attacked, and has 
been in regular contact with the police.  Their report on the 
matter is expected next week. 
 
Embassy Engagement 
------------------ 
¶11.  (U) Over the past ten days, Ambassador has met and 
discussed these freedom of the press cases, particularly that 
involving VOA correspondent Lucie Umukundwa, with the 
Ministers of Internal Security, Justice, Finance, and 
Information as well as with the Director General of the 
National Security Services, the Special Presidential Envoy to 
the Great Lakes Region, and the Principal Private Secretary 
of President Kagame.  PAO and poloff have had regular contact 
with the independent journalists, European diplomats, NGO 
representatives and members of the government including the 
Prosecutor General and the High Council of the Press. 
 
¶12. (U) Ambassador has insisted that GOR must take these 
accusations seriously, conduct a thorough investigation of 
these complaints, and take action against anyone found to be 
involved. GOR officials vehemently deny any official GOR 
involvement in negative actions directed at journalists and 
the Minister of Internal Security has assured Ambassador that 
a police investigation is underway.  The situation continues 
 
KIGALI 00000842  003 OF 003 
 
 
to be confusing and hard facts rare, especially with respect 
to the alleged attack and subsequent threats against VOA 
reporters and rumors of a small clique intent on disrupting 
independent newspapers critical of them and the GOR. 
 
Comment 
------- 
¶13.  (C) After extensive attention to the subject, post 
believes that Bizumuremyi,s case is largely resolved.  While 
he will have to answer to charges of ignoring a police 
summons, it appears that he does not face the threat of 
further criminal charges.  Indications are that Bizumuremyi 
will return to Rwanda soon, and even during this recent 
period UMOCO has continued to publish and has run other 
critical stories about the government.  The facts in the VOA 
case are less clear.  We do not dismiss reports of harassment 
and there appears to have been a physical attack.   While the 
facts are unclear, it is critical that the government take 
steps to investigate these allegations and take action to 
prevent any such harassment. 
 
¶14.  (C) Those who allege a broad conspiracy against certain 
independent journalists have not provided any solid evidence 
or details of such a plot. The high ranking GOR officials 
Ambassador has discussed these cases with all have 
strenuously denied any government plot or conspiracy against 
the independent press and/or individual journalists and point 
out that it is not in the GOR,s own self interest for these 
actions to take place.  Embassy has had extensive discussions 
with senior government officials about democracy/rule of law 
issues and key officials are very much aware Rwandan actions 
in this area are key to their prospects for receiving 
Millennium Challenge Account eligibility.  In general, we 
have seen an increase in critical independent reporting being 
published in Rwanda over the past year.  However, there is a 
fundamental lack of trust between some members of the 
independent press and key officials of the GOR.  This lack of 
trust hampers communication.  Freedom of the press is not a 
smooth progression in Rwanda, and there will continue to be 
problems.  The fact that the United States and other friends 
of Rwanda take such issues seriously and engage the 
government directly will we hope promote positive 
developments. 
ARIETTI