General Karake's release and what it means to Rwandans

The arrest and subsequent release of Lt Gen Karenzi Karake was far from a quest for justice. It was rather a politicisation of international law and sets a dangerous precedent for the principle of universal jurisdiction. It is therefore unsurprising that Spanish authorities admitted that Gen Karake committed no offence and could not be prosecuted either in England or Spain. This admission, though commendable, is long overdue. This is based on the fact that Spanish indictments have for many years been questioned not only by respectable legal personalities but also by a United Nations panel of experts. More broadly, even within Spain, the Spanish High Court disagreed with Judge Fernando Andreu Merelles in March 2014 and overturned the arrest warrants on all the 40 former RPA soldiers, Karake inclusive. The Spanish claims and similar allegations have been ongoing for many years but the truth cannot be wished away. It is high time all the 40 cases are dropped as they have never been about law enforcement but rather a systematic agenda to deny the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. Rwanda’s search for justice and reconciliation can further be enhanced not by degrading people that stopped the Genocide but by apprehending war criminals freely roaming the streets of Europe. Absurdly, war criminals that masterminded the Genocide against the Tutsi are still accorded safe haven even when the Rwandan judicial system has cooperated on many occasions to make international peace and justice a reality. The Genocide against the Tutsi was stopped not by the international community but by RPA freedom fighters, including General Karake, who risked their lives for peace to prevail in Rwanda. Equally important, the RPF did not only stop the Genocide but has over the years promoted national reconciliation by providing justice to the victims of the 1994 Genocide, building institutions to fight genocide ideology and rekindling the spirit of togetherness. Indeed, it is this type of forward-thinking politics advanced by President Paul Kagame that has enabled Rwanda to achieve progressive socio-economic transformation that is evident for everybody to see. Karake’s arrest and subsequent release has many relevant lessons for Rwanda because it clearly demonstrates and reminds us that our dignity as a people is constantly at stake. We cannot expect that this kind of treatment will be the last, especially because genocidal forces are still at large and continue to regroup in different forms. Also, the arrest speaks volumes with regard to the ‘2017 constitutional debate’ and in many ways justifies the need to retain a strong leadership. Put succinctly, if it wasn’t for Rwanda’s determined and consistent leadership, the case would have prolonged even when everybody knows there is no case to answer. Importantly, the indignity Rwanda has faced is further testament that our country still needs exceptionally good leadership beyond 2017. This will be crucial to continue fighting the ideology behind the Genocide and the emerging international bullying. As a nation, we can have no better champion than President Kagame who has consistently demonstrated not only the firmness to manage the nuances of genocide ideology but has also steered our country to economic prosperity and stable social co-existence. Gen Karake’s fiasco in London underscores that Rwanda’s unique challenges require a unique and visionary leader, distinct attributes embodied by President Kagame. His style of leadership remains an enduring solution, maybe even an antidote to the politicisation and abuse of international justice. His leadership is necessary to maintain the current stability and the meaningful economic development that has taken place over the last two decades. The writer is an Investment/International Law Lawyer, and a commentator on national and regional issues. rkarugarama@yahoo.com

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General Karake's release and what it means to Rwandans