We demand respect from our American friends

Editor, RE: “Rwanda and Burundi: Democracy at its best” (The New Times, January 11). The West couldn’t give two hoots for democracy in Africa or any other place. What the West wants are client regimes ready to do as they are ordered, including even when that might be against the most fundamental interests of their own people. In any situation in which the interests of Western powers conflict with those of the people of African countries, African governments are expected to favour the interests of those foreign powers over those of their own people. Every time African leaders are told to jump by Western officials, theirs is supposed not to ask why but rather how high they should jump — any claims to the contrary is pure hypocritical twaddle. Ample evidence exists everywhere to support this conclusion. Mwene Kalinda ********************* I feel that the US is very disappointing, and I don’t believe this time it is about democracy — they seem to be having a sinister agenda. They are so obsessed with President Paul Kagame so much so that to them the people of Rwanda cease to matter in the process of their national governance. Just for argument’s sake, if almost 100 per cent of all the Americans had petitioned the US Congress or the House of Representatives for any of their presidents to go for another round, how many choices would they be left with? For the American people, would this be a democratic or an undemocratic act? Finally, if he conceded, would it be him or the people at fault? While in Burundi people have been dying because of opposing the president’s decision to impose his extension of his leadership over them, in Rwanda, it is totally the opposite. I feel we should demand respect from our American friends. They know these things are possible and should remember similar situations happened at some point in their own history too. At least they know that we’re neither kids nor fools. Donart

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We demand respect from our American friends