Oxford, UK–Exactly about a month ago, Lt Gen Karenzi Karake, Chief of Rwanda’s National Intelligence and Security Services, was arrested in London UK, as he tried to board a flight back to Kigali. He had been in the country on an official visit during which he met his British counterparts. On hearing the news, I first thought that it was a hoax. But as the truth progressively emerged, I was left dumbfounded; how could Britain, a country which we all know has been so far regarded as our friend, do this to him? I suspected that something fishy was going on. The arrest of our national hero was a direct affront not only to the person of Gen. Karake, but also to the leadership of Rwanda and its people as a whole. What was shocking was the motives of his arrest. It became clear that he had been arrested on a very controversial EAW (European Arrest Warrant) issued by a Spanish Judge, Fernando Andreu Merelles, in 2008, I thought had been consigned to the dustbin. Let’s us remember that this arrest warrant was issued by the Spaniard on very outrageous and baseless charges against 40 top RPF senior military officers, alleging that they committed acts of torture, Genocide and crimes against humanity. The aim was seen at the time as an attempt to cripple the entire leadership of a government that had swept to power after routing the genocidal forces. I will not dwell on issues relating to the fact that this arrest warrant has been discredited by many. I would nevertheless cite Interpol and Michael R. Arietti, the US Ambassador in Rwanda in 2008. Interpol had refused to circulate it because it found it a political stunt; while the US official according to WikiLeaks, labelled it a blotted political tract. Then one wonders why the Metropolitan Police went ahead and acted on this controversial arrest warrant. Was it an act of an overzealous immigration officer just doing his duty? Or was there a wider plot to embarrass Rwanda and its leadership? All I know is that the Metropolitan police has been in the past hoodwinked by some individuals claiming to be opponents of President Paul Kagame and that he was plotting to eliminate them. It is a sad reality that authorities here are very gullible in giving credence to fugitives and other self-seeking individuals who do not support the current government. I would not be surprised if these individuals did not have a hand in liaising with their co-plotters in Spain to resurrect this insidious arrest warrant. Soon after his arrest, the chain of abuses and humiliation started. It has been reported to me that he was immediately arraigned before a judge at the Westminster District Court, and straight to Belmarsh Prison, in South East London. This prison was once home to very notorious international terrorists like Abu Qatada, Abu Hamza, and several others. The following lines from Wikipedia sends shivers down the spine when I think of the stature of Lt Gen KK and this humiliation. It is said that this category A prison is: “Between 2001 and 2002, Belmarsh Prison was used to detain a number of people indefinitely without charge or trial under the provisions of the Part 4 of the Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001, leading it to be called the “British version of Guantanamo Bay”. The law lords later ruled that such imprisonment was discriminatory and against the Human Rights Act.” Imagine what could happen if, the head of MI, FSB, or for that matter the Director of CIA was arrested in Rwanda and sent to 1930? This would certainly be a “casus belli” and the repercussion and retaliation by the UK, Russia, or the US would raise hell and if need be, they could use force to free the detainee. But what is even more shocking is the breach of the diplomatic protocol this entails given the fact that Gen KK had been here on official visit. Gen KK is not anybody. He is ranked no 24 on the list of the Rwanda government top officials with the equivalent rank of Minister. Moreover, he had been in the UK working with his counterparts. Why was the last meeting with these officials that he had on Thursday, the day he was supported to end his stay in the UK, cancelled and no notification was given to him? This leads me to believe that the British authorities in the highest echelons of power, government and police knew well in advance the plight that was awaiting him at Heathrow Airport. I am not aware of any of these officials coming out and distancing the government from this travesty of justice. It is worth noticing that one man of great dignity, Andrew Mitchell MP, stood up and vehemently condemned this arrest as a serious political mistake. No word from Prime Minister David Cameroon, or the Home Secretary Theresa May. This arrest highlights once again a case of double standards. Why on earth that is, in the recent past the British government has done everything possible to prevent the arrest of some officials from the Israeli government like former Israeli Foreign Minister, Tzipi Livni, from attempts to have her arrested by some human rights activists. Why did the UK not do the same for KK? Is it because Rwanda is a small country with no economic resources or political might? Or is it because of the preconceived prejudices that are common place in these countries. Another act of perfidy of highest order, officials from the Rwanda High Commission in the UK were denied immediate access to the detainee after his arrest. More humiliation was yet to come. The debasing treatment of Gen KK was further on display during the court bail hearing on May 21. He appeared handcuffed, wearing a green yellow jumpsuit, escorted by two security guards from a company called Serco. What a shame to treat such a hero of the struggles of liberation in Uganda and Rwanda as a no-body? Surely when the dust will have settled, those who have contributed to such a degrading treatment of our hero should be held to account. What is even more difficult to comprehend is the idea that Britain can arrest a man like KK on allegations concocted by a cabal of Genocide revisionists and apologists, in association with so-called human rights organisations like S’Olivar Foundation-Inshuti whose links with the terrorist organisation FDLR is well-established? The irony is that the UK continues to provide sanctuary to dozens of genocidaires. Some of these were arrested, tried and found guilty. Yet, the UK government has failed to detain them or to send them back to Rwanda like many other countries have done and continue to do. One other important factor that emerged from KK’s arrest is the fact that some European governments, Britain included, continue to give credence to groups of activists, and self-styled members of opposition, whose aim is to topple the current government and return our country to its dark past. The arrest of KK and his subsequent degrading treatment in the UK has shown us once again that the enemies of our country are not yet completely defeated. But the forces that liberated Rwanda – and at its helm, our President Paul Kagame – from the jaws of the genocidaires and their backers offer us hope. They may try to humiliate us by any stratagems but they cannot rob from us our Agaciro (dignity). Let all of us, especially we who live here in the UK and in neighbouring Western European countries, prepare for the D-Day on September 28, for the next Court hearing. Come and join us on this date to support our hero and to show to the world that we will never trade nor compromise our dignity. An assault on KK or any other Rwandan is an assault on all of us. “Ukuri guca mu ziko ntigushya” (the truth passes through fire but it never gets burnt). All I know is that the truth behind the indictment by the Spanish Judge will be brought to light and their genocidal agenda exposed. The author is a freelance journalist and former Reuters Correspondent in Rwanda
