AS ANGE KAGAME JOINS U.S. MODELLING INDUSTRY, RWANDAN REFUGEE WOMAN HAS THIS REQUEST FOR HER

ANGE KAGAME WITH HER FRIEND ANGELA SIMMONS

November 6, 2014 21:51   Opinion

Today as I was going for my usual gym classes at 5 W 30th St, New York, NY 10001 on the streets of NY I came across something very interesting to all Rwandans. I was going to the gym then guess who was there. The first daughter of the Rwandan President Paul Kagame Ms. Ange Kagame. 

In her company was also her girl friend Angela Simmons. They were at work out class in New York.Who is that girl Angela Simmons? She is the daughter to Run DMC member Joseph Simmons, and niece to business mogul, Russell Simmons. It is a good thing a a lady to see another girl from my country in NY, especially the first daughter of the president of my country. and the country of my ancestors. I just said hi to her and walked away but as I was walking away from the fitness studio so many questions came across my mind of which I thought I should share with other people interested in the issues of Rwanda and the Rwandan first family.

Dear Ange Kagame I would have come closer and introduce myself buy several things haunt me and I decided to just walk away. I wanted to come and socialize we have our girls talk but I realized that though we are both from Rwanda we have multitude of differences and likes and dislikes then I just got back into my car and drove home. When I was on my bed several questions came into my mind and started wondering why that is why I decided to write about these challenges that made me not talk to you in our own mother tongue. It could have been fantastic, couldnt it?

ANGE KAGAME WITH HER MOM

Dear Ange Kay, I am from Rwanda too but I never lived in Rwanda for all my life. I was born in January 1991. I am told that we used to live in a place called Rukara. I guess the name means black or someone who is black, am I right? I always wonder why our district was called that way. My dad was a school teacher and my mom a nurse at what used to be called Gahanga or Rukara I dont remember well the names because I learn this from my parents stories.

THIS PHOTO WAS TAKEN BY AN AMERICAN MISSIONARY WHO WAS VOLUNTERRING IN KAHINDO REFUGEE CAMP IN 1995. SHE LATER CAME BACK TO LOOK FOR THIS WORRIED GIRL. LUCKILY THEY RECONNECTED AND MOVED HER WITH HER FAMILY TO NEW YORK. SHE IS NOW THE ONE WRITING TO THE FIRST DAUGHTER OF RWANDA 20 YEARS AFTER

I am writing to you as your Dad’s girl. We have to know that you are the favorie or favorite of your dad or UMUTONIWASE that is why I believe that if I wrote to you you will get the message across your dad. This would help me as a Rwanda, helps both of us as Rwandans, and at the end of all it helps your dad and all Rwandans in general. My message is a girls talk I would have liked to share with you on One on One but circumstances and times do not allow us to go there. However, thank God the 21st century tech makes it easier for all Rwandan millennials to go out there and share what their hearts think about the illness of the Rwandan community.

Your brother Yvan Cyomoro (or KOMORO) as your Rwandan commission on language and culture wants to call it he is 24. You are 22, and I am 23 therefore we are in the same group and we should be in the same school year something like that. You all studied in America on Rwandan coffers expenses I studied in America because my parents were shelled at in Gahini by your dad’s army and found themselves in Cameroon. 

I cannot blame you for what your dad did because you were not there and you too cannot blame me for what other Hutus did, especially my dad though I know he is innocent, but still you cannot blame me for the some Hutus did because I was not there. That is why i want us to talk as Rwandans who had opportunities here in US due to various circumstances.

As a young girl I am sure now many men have started courting you so am I. We are both educated and mature to face the reality of the world. Soon you will be married off either to a Rwandan or a foreign suitor. The same here I might end up with another green creature either from Mars or the black one from Africa, I cant also ignore those yellows from Latin America or the eclipse yed from China. 

The world is open for us so is a window of opportunities to do good with our time or misuse it as our dads have done so far. Whichever way the world takes us with God’s direction I want to chat with you as a Rwandan girl not only an ordinary one but a first daughter of a country I am proud of though I am not associated with all that is transpiring in that landlocked territory.

As I have said I dont want to imbue you in the quagmire of our country’s past. I just want us to discuss the solutions of the Rwandan nightmare. What I am telling you no body else will tell it to you even your own family. Not because they dont love you but because they know more than what they would love you to know. 

They dont want to look different in your eyes. I have interacted with those who know you well they all say that you are not an extremist Tutsi girl who see others as IBIPINGA. 

I asked them whether you associate yourself with Hutu girls they all say that it is only when you are participating in charity activities, which is understandable because most of the poor girls in Rwanda are of the Hutu background therefore if you wanted to make a difference in philanthropy world you will find where the masses affected by bad policies are languishing in dire poverty. 

That is in rural or slum areas of Rwanda which is flocked by poor Hutus. You wont find Tutsi girls suffering from Kwashiorkor because FARG, IBUKA, and other RPF agencies have taken care of that and the Girinka project started among them way back when the country was quasi-empty. However, that is not my story today.

LET’S TALK ABOUT WHAT WE SHOULD OR SHOULD NOT DO AS RWANDAN GIRLS

It is not about reminding you what you’d or should not do as a Rwandan first daughter but just to involve you in our girl’s talk. I am sure we both know the truth about what happened in Rwanda although we were both not present our parents were. Therefore we have nothing to do with the Rwandan past but we have something to do with the present Rwanda. Since I am not in your position I will virtually assume your responsibility using the words “if I were you.”  You will forgive me because as a graduate of NY University with double major one in actuarial science another one is physical science I am not going to talk like politicians do but to talk as scientists do.

AN RPF INKOTANYI SOLDIER OVERLOOKING HUTU REFUGEES BEING FORCIBLY RETURNED TO RWANDA BY US, UNHCR, AND UK IN 1996

If I were you I d sit my dad down and say to him: “Daddy, I have something to discuss with you.” I am more than sure that he would be willing to sit down and listen to you keenly since you dont discuss with him politics what you would tell him would stick than the advices from your mom, Kabarebe, and Dan Munyuza or Jack Nziza. All the above advice him on what advantage them but you would advice him on what is important for him as your dad, him as the president of Rwanda, him as a human being, and him as a man whose actions directly affected this country.

I would sit him down and show him one of the photos you once twitted about a young Hutu boy who was trying to wake his dying mother up as the rest of the people had run into the Congolese forests. I would show him another photo of a Hutu baby who is trying to suckle her mom’s breasts while she is dying in Lac Vert refugee camp. Then I would take him to Gisozi and let him look at all those bones displayed there. 

I would remind him that that is part of the 200 Tutsi victims of the Rwandan genocide and remind him that, according to himself and Rwandan statistics bureau there were more than 1 million Rwandans killed during the Rwandan genocide. This would tell him the rest of your words that there are still closer to 700000 bodies out there who have not been accorded respectful burial and morning and yet they are Rwandans.

A RWANDAN HUTU REFUGEE BABY SUCKLING THE BREAST OF HER DYING MOM IN LAC VERT DRC 1997

A RWANDAN HUTU REFUGEE KID TRYING TO WAKE HIS DYING MOM UP IN REFUGEE CAMP OF KIBUMBA

I know he does not give up his beliefs and convictions easily. He might start arguing with you that all those who died in Byumba, Ruhengeri, Kigali, Kibeho, Goma, Kibumba, Walikale, Tingitingi, and in Mabusos were guilty of the Rwandan genocide. Then tell him that if Interahmwe were 100000 we can substitute that number and give a respect to closer to 600000 Rwandans killed by RPF. 

Remember this figure does not include those who died in DRC. We are only dealing with the RPF accepted narrative. I know he might insist that he is not guilty and to some points try to walk away from you. Please dont accept that try and let him know that what you are doing is for his benefits nad his familys future. Be tactical and move from the hard facts to simple one to cool his temper down.

If I were you, I would sit him down again and let’s reason together. It has been 24 years of killings and disappearances or in the name of protecting your kingdom, bread, butter, and protect himself from the impending justice that all Rwandans expect. 

Tell him that he still has a chance to mend things for his own survival and also for your own good. Tell him to release those who are not guilty that we all Rwandans know that are innocent. Tell him to open space for political participation. 

Tell him to allow all Rwandans to be free and set up a cconstitutional courtthat will deal with Justice, Truth, and Reconciliation. I know he might not feel safe because he is guilty than anyone else in this Rwanda. 

Tell him that the South African model might work for his own good since you as a daughter you might be married abroad, especially here in America you spend most of your time, but how about your brothers? I am sure if he does not use constitution to promote peace, justice, and reconciliation, they will end up the Gadaffi way. Remind him that his best friend Compaore now is in Cote d’Ivoire not for a state visit but a forced exile and Rwandans are watching.

A HUTU REFUGEE GIRL SEEKING HER MOM AMONG THE DEAD IN MUGUNGA REFUGEE CAMP 1997

ONLY A SOUTH AFRICA JUSTICE AND RECONCILIATION COURT CAN SAVE DAD

 

If I were you I would let him know that there is a new younger generation who fear nothing because they are guilty of nothing. They have heard it from their parents how aawful it is to be a Hutu in this country called Rwanda under your dad’s regime.They have gone to school and learned their rights and tasted how democracy feels. 

Tell him this young generation of Rwandans are tired of being excluded from their own homeland and those in Rwanda are tired of being told to go and protest against BBC TWO and yet you know well that BBC is telling the truth you fear to hear because you know you are guilty of everything. 

Tell him to know that this younger generation have stood up and will never relent until their parents and grandparents breathe dignity of being Rwandans again. Tell him that Rwandans have had enough of your threats killing and disappearances. 

Tell him that Rwandan youth are ready to sacrifice their lives the same way people in Libya, Egypt, and Burkina Faso have put their lives on the line to save their countries from the bloody dictator like your dad. Tell him that there is only way to escape from the Tsunami awaiting for Kagame and his regime. 

That is to go to South Africa and consult with those who established the South African Commission for Truth, Justice, and Reconciliation and ask them what they can do to safe the future of your kids otherwise, tell him that AGATINZE KAZAZA N’AMENYO YA RUGURU. 

Tell him that “Dad I don’t want to go into exile because of your ego.” Be a Rwandan Girl Heroine and Tell Dad to Bring Freedom, Peace, and Reconciliation among Rwandans. Be our Ndabaga and save Rwanda from another awaiting calamity.

Juliette Niyos

Source: Kigali Evening post