The PANAFRICAN Review
FLN terror attack , Nyabimata Sector .
Why Won ’ t Rusesabagina ’ s Supporters Recognize the Humanity of His Victims ?
Alphonse Muleefu
I
had no intention of writing again on this ongoing case of Mr Paul Rusesabagina and others , but since his family and supporters are interested in keeping it on the front burner of the media , I guess we should all help them to achieve it . Honestly , I have not seen a day pass without a statement made about this case from Lantos Foundation ( an organisation that gave Rusesabagina a human rights prize in 2011 ), the Lampe Strategic Communications Firm ( run by Paul Rusesabagina ’ s communications strategist Kitty Kurth ), a family member , or an American / European parliamentarian . With this media attention coupled with the fact that Rwandan courts decided to livestream this case , one can arguably state that the trial of Rusesabagina will serve as evidence of the contradictions , double standards and contempt underlying western assaults on African institutions , in general , and Rwanda ’ s , in particular , thus reinforcing the idea that indeed “ Quod licet Iovi , non licet bovi ” ( what is permissible for Jupiter may not be permissible for a bull ).
In the context of endless information sharing and attention seeking , it would be pointless to return to some of the basics of the case because I think they ’ ve been exhaustively discussed . First , I will not go back to the issue of whether Paul Rusesabagina was kidnapped or lured into a trap of arrest . In truth , Rusesabagina ’ s supporters confuse the two , but they shouldn ’ t . Moreover , while “ tricking a suspected criminal ” may be considered by a few as not ideal , there is sufficient legal doctrine , precedents and literature , at both national and international levels , which support luring illusive suspects of serious crimes into arrest . The existence of such precedents , yet again , speaks volumes of the double standards that characterise western critics ’ views on African governments — views that they defend unashamedly . Second , I do not consider it attention-worthy to dwell on the allegations of torture , cruelty , inhuman or degrading treatment as claimed by Rusesabagina ’ s defend-
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