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PLEASE READ HERE BELOW
THIS DICTATORIAL SPEECH:
KAGAME SPEECH / BWISIGE
*
Speech by President Paul Kagame
International Water Day
Rebero, Bwisige District, Byumba Province
March 31, 2003
…We cannot fulfill all the development actions we are
discussing, such as water and communication plants, and our many plans, unless
there is security. I would like to thank you for your continued support for
security in Byumba province and throughout the country. It is good to maintain
that support because it is in your individual self-interest and the national
interest. I thank you, the people of Rebero and Byumba province’s entire
population, because you understand and contribute to security issues.
In case you feel that you do not have enough strength on your
own, as a population, other institutions will assist you to maintain your
security in order to achieve a lot of development. But, never be weak.
All these security issues, and development actions within our
government of unity’s national policies—al these must continue because Rwanda is
undergoing a difficult but beneficial transitional process that must continue.
Political change started in Rwanda, especially in the aftermath
of the 1994 genocide. I said “especially” because change began many years
earlier, but obstacles arose generating the genocide. But, since then and even
in the future, this change has an agenda.
All Rwandans and the government of unity are deeply responsible
for this irreversible change, despite people who would prefer to wait until
they are wounded before understanding that. We also have the responsibility
to make them understand in this way.
Current changes in the Rwandan way of life include politics based
on national unity, security, and development—and on democracy we want to provide
to Rwandans. A good neighbor policy toward neighboring countries will never
change. If any change occurs, it must be progressive. It cannot be reversed.
Change is not something that happens by itself. It is brought
about by individuals who have strategies to achieve change under any
circumstances.
A few Rwandans who did not understand—those to whom I was
referring earlier who would wish to be wounded before understanding—are
among the leadership. This is not a phenomenon among the general population
because you, the people are good fellows; you don’t have problems. (applause) It
is among my colleagues seated here that you find those problems.
These problems originate especially from gluttony and lack of
satisfaction. People are given rights and opportunities, but ultimately nullify
them, due to individual egotism instead of pursuing national interests. However,
because the general population understands that and does not have problems, it
is simple for us leaders to find a solution. We will find the solution. There is
already a solution, to a large extent. What is remaining is a small question.
You sometimes hear about people going and others coming back.
This is related to individual rights. But nothing will change our way forward,
either by going or coming back. Whether leaving with some hidden agenda in mind
or returning with the objective of reversing change—they will never reverse the
process. They will be wounded, for they need to understand that
Banyarwanda suffered for a long time due to poverty, ignorance, and division.
Rwandans no longer wish situations like these to develop.
I am aware of the way I put it. I constantly look around to see
what can reverse the process, but I have never found anything.
Whether among my colleagues who tried, or among those living
abroad and their supporters, they will never reverse anything. I want to be
clear on this now, and I have told them since long ago.
I told them we would repatriate refugees in the Congo and we did.
I told them we would provide them security and we did. I am telling you that
this process will continue and it will continue. I do not know why people do not
believe in the truth that I always tell them.
But, the reason why they do not believe is that we have been too
good to them. We have been too tolerant, and people have misunderstood that.
They never noticed that it was our responsibility to provide people with rights
and opportunities to be used well. On their side, they interpreted that as
weakness. Tolerance is progressively diminishing as a
result of that, leading to unnecessary actions.
As far as national security is concerned, you people of Rebero
and Byumba, conduct your business as usual. There will be no threats due to
either infiltration or invasion or from neighbors. (applause) It is impossible.
Capacities to protect Rwandans by Rwandans are there. We do have enough
capacity. It is even beyond the capacity you know. (applause)
I would like not to spend much time on this since talking about
it is not enough. I hope that it will not be necessary to demonstrate that
that capacity exists. I have always avoided that.
Those who want to leave, as I said, or those who want to enter
the country, and others that we know, we shall tell them. There are people who
would wish to leave and think we are not informed about their plans, we will
remind them to go. (light applause)
There are some individuals who are held back by official
positions whom I will soon liberate. I will request that they hand back those
positions to allow them to find a way to go.
We always have information about all those you hear who leave and
we let them go. When it is time for them to go, they try to hide, thinking that
we are not informed about their departure. Among those who leave, there are
individuals whom we remove from office to allow them to go. To me, leaving is
not a problem. We will soon put aside official positions for those being held
back by those positions, to let them go.
To those who would pride themselves on having harvested abundant
sorghum or maize, we will tell them that we have enough machines to grind
(crush) the grains….
As it has been decided, there will be a referendum by the end of
May, which will be followed by presidential and parliamentary elections. We
wish, and we would like to request, that you hold these events in a peaceful and
transparent manner. We think it will be in that way.
If there are people who desire the contrary, we will convince
them otherwise. It must be carried out peacefully and in a transparent manner. I
can even say that outcomes of these elections are known.
Those elected will be individuals who are 100 per cent in line
with the current political agenda, aimed at building the country. This will be
the case, and I am sure it is also your view and your wish to have national
security, unity, development, and democracy.
Anyone who would bring in division—because I know that the views
of those who intend to come are based on division—will not be elected. As I told
you, the agenda of national reconstruction will never be reversed. I hope to
make them understand this will be done peacefully.
We hope that the whole process will be peaceful and in a
transparent manner.
Something I am sure of is that the ultimate outcome will be to continue building
the country. People who want to destroy the country will not be elected.
The most surprising thing is that only Rwandans seem to be
ignorant about our achievements over the last nine years. Expatriates and
foreign partners say that our achievements are exceptional. What surprises me is
that Rwandans don’t see that.
I hope that sooner or later Rwandans will appreciate and
understand that their achievements should conform to their plans based on peace
and unity. In order to build up Rwanda as a respected (respectable) country.
Throughout history, Rwanda has always been a respected country. I
do not know why some Rwandans want it to become an unrespected country. From
recent history, and before we were born, and what we read about Rwanda, Rwanda
has always been respected. Rwanda has always made great achievements leading
people around the world to understand that it was a country of respectable
people….
* Independent
translation sources of his Kinyarwanda speech.
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