Comments on: Rwanda will never be the same, after Victoire Ingabire’s return

By: in_belgium

in_belgium — Sat, 14 Jul 2012 03:29:57 +0000

In fact, more precisely, I believe it used to be / is ? a caricature of Hutus by Tutsis.

By: Selina

Selina — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 19:11:46 +0000

As long as Ms. Ingabire doesn't allow any western nation to financially back
her presidential campaign if she's ever allowed to run nor allow the west to back her

once she's in office then she will be a success, my her Ancestors protect her and guid her in her life's pursuit

By: raoul perrin

raoul perrin — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 15:10:42 +0000

I am very surprised by the comments to this article. Why are you comparing a human being with animals? It was the behavior of Nazism during the 2nd world war. In Europe we are helping refugees of Rwanda since decades, mostly Tutsis. We are not setting ethnic barriers. It is even fortunately forbidden. All origins ethnical groups are welcome. If you consider your origin as a superior race (Nilothic, Bantu, Arab, Indo-European, …), then we do not need to help you with billions of dollars for humanitarians and development projects, which is mandatory for your current healthcare coverage and vibrant economy … Most of the refugees have never worked since they are in Europe, we tolerate that, but if you are arguing like Nazis, please go home. We do not need your hate and racism.

By: Ann_Garrison

Ann_Garrison — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 01:28:50 +0000

What you described. . . "her [Victoire's] big flat nose and jaws like a gorilla" is a racist caricature of Black, and would be extraordinarily bad taste even if it were not.

By: Jean Pierre Papin

Jean Pierre Papin — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 04:10:53 +0000

Mr writer, again, you have your facts wrong.
See, guys, you can't hide behind newspapers anymore without being subjected to evil stoppers' scrutinizing and watchful eye. We did let Kangura and RTLM operate without any challenge, and we all know what happened in 1994.
1) Really, you "don't blame anyone for their existance"? If you don't, then someone who thinks like you, does?
Listen, as far as i'm concerned, almost my entire family in Bugesera near the Burundian border, got wiped out from the face of the earth by people who harbor similar views like yours.
Geographically and ideologically, there was no close proximity between them (my family) and the northern rwanda-based Inkotanyi Rebellion. So, this begs the question, why were they targeted and killed with the aim of exterminating them? The answer is simple: They were "blamed for their [very] existence", period.
So, Mr writer, don't hide behind internet newspapers, and hurl preposterous lies that you never blamed anyone for their existence. If you never did, then people who think like you did indeed blame my family for their existence.
2) As for Hutu, Tutsi, and Twa heritage, you seem to be suggesting that these 3 communities have distinct heritages. Again, as i indicated in my previous comments, there is no such thing in Rwanda as Hutu culture, or Tutsi language, or Twa religion. Therefore, it doesn't add up to me how these 3 components of the rwandan society can be categorized as different ethnicities when they share the same language/Ikinyarwanda, they share the same culture/Umuco, and used to share the same religious beliefs before the advent of colonizers.
3) You also compare apples and oranges when you mention the US ethnic make-up versus Rwanda's hutu, tutsi, and twa communities. For starters, America's different ethnicities speak the same language (English) because of the arrogant US' melting pot policy. If it wasn't for that, the US should now be at least a bilingual country with English and Spanish being the official languages. The other aspect you're totally overlooking is the fact that the African-Americans whose ancestry descends from slavery were brought to the US in chains and against their will, therefore, they couldn't keep their mother vernacular. For this reason, the American people today are speaking the same language (English) because they are being forced to, by the melting pot policy i just touched on above. If the American laws were truly pluralistic as their society is, the US should at least be a bilingual country by today. So, you cannot compare the rwandan society and the American's because the 2 are unrelated.
4) As for Ingabire's views being the cause of her imprisonment, that's inaccurate. Instead, it's the opposite, her views are slowly changing as a result of her imprisonment.
5) Remember when i called you a "wishful thinker", i really meant it. Look, for you to suggest that your article is seeking to promote same rights to education, employment, property for all rwandans is totally absurd. Where were you before 1994 when those rights were violated and out of reach for Tutsis? If anything, today's Rwanda has never been more equitable and fair to all its citizens. It was an unrealistic dream for a Tutsi to graduate from the national university of Rwanda, no wonder why that institution only produced less than 2000 graduates throughout the entire first 30 years post-independence. However, only 17yrs after the genocide, the higher learning sector is a far cry from what it was pre-1994. Paved roads are no longer a luxury that can only be afforded to provinces close to the regime, the whole country is criss-crossed by them. Malaria related deaths have been cut to half from what they were before 1994, infant mortality rate has significantly dropped. I can go on and on but i've already made my point. Peace out! LA LUTA CONTINUA!

By: Jean Pierre Papin

Jean Pierre Papin — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 01:40:43 +0000

Here we go again.
Ann Garrison, you just proved one more time, how lacking your understanding of rwanda is.
What's wrong with you Americans? You see everything through the lenses of skin colour.
Is it because of your country's history, or is it just because Americans tend to travel around the world less than other people?
Look, what ever the answer may be, your attempt to inject race/skin colour into rwandan issues is way off the mark.
The fact of the matter is, 99.9% of rwandans are black, myself & Ingabire included.
Therefore i cannot harbor racial bias against Ingabire because we are of the same race and have the same skin colour.
Besides, since when having a big, flat nose and large jaws is tantamount to being black?
For the record:
1) Not all black people have big, flat noses and large jaws. There are millions of blacks around the world who do not have big, flat noses and large jaws.
2) At the same time, not all people who have big, flat noses and large jaws are blacks.
Numerically speaking, the vast majority of people with bigger, flatter noses and larger jaws happen to be East Asians (ie: Chinese, Japanese, Philippino, Koreans, Vietnamese, Cambodians, Thais, etc.).
So, for you to accuse me that i find Ingabire's facial features unattractive and uglier is because she's black, really speaks volume of who you are.
Look you're trying to understand Rwanda from an american point of view, that's why you're always wrong.
Keep in mind, American population is only 300 millions in a world made up of 7 billions of people, which amounts to less than 5% of the total world population. Chances are, you maybe ignorant of 95% of what's going on in the world. Here is a piece of advice baby, most people that you engage on this forum are
a) well-traveled,
b) most likely foreign-born/not natural US citizen,
c) multilingual,
d) well-versed in international matters,
Therefore, when it comes to matters not directly related to the US, please shut up and let us school you.
LA LUTA CONTINUA!

By: mercy

mercy — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 07:51:56 +0000

@Rising continent, you talk about same rights of education, employment and property as if they existed in the 90's. i think we should learn to give credit where its due. The Rwanda of today is totally different from the Rwanda of then. Ingabire wasnt bringing anything new to Rwandans that would contribute to its development, her ideology is the same ideology that led to the 1994 genocide and i assure you speaking as a Rwandan i'll do whatever it takes not to see the same happen to my country again. The joke is on whoever thinks Rwanda will not be the same after Ingabire and the likes return. Rwanda will move forward regardless.

By: Ann_Garrison

Ann_Garrison — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 02:33:12 +0000

Appreciate your even tone, Ambrose.

By: Ann_Garrison

Ann_Garrison — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 02:12:28 +0000

"Her big flat nose and large jaws like a gorilla"? Really? Or is your point that she's Black?

By: therisingcontinent

therisingcontinent — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 15:20:27 +0000

@Selina. I agree with you on your hope about Ingabire. When we think of our politicians becoming good leaders once in power, we cannot unfortunately foresee or predict the future. We can however prepare for it by staying vigilant on what we want them to be for us.

@Imenagitero. You describe Ingabire as an evil lady, probably because of her statement [re:article] on how Rwanda and Rwandans should be. It’s only a guess and of course I disagree on that. But One question: can you point in the text I reproduced where she appears divisive or arrogant or against unity of Rwandans? Is she asking special favour for any ethnic group? Isn’t she instead demanding the abolition of discriminative attitude [even among the deceased] towards any ethnic group?

@Jean Pierre Papin. I won’t venture into character assassination of Ingabire as it seems to be your motive. However, on your point over ethnicity in Rwanda, allow me to disagree with you. Hutu, Tutsi and Twa exist as ethnic groups and I don’t blame anyone for their existence as some sources do; their existence or non existence don’t depend on a government policy.
As for their different heritages, these are only denied by those who want to discriminate one group at the expense of others, by hiding behind their politically motivated non-existence.
Black and White, and even Indian Americans have been living together for several centuries. Today they speak the same language; there is also a common heritage they share, but there is another one which is unique to each group. It is not enough to deny the existence of something to erase it from its everyday reality.

About Ingabire not being a European-backed puppet because she’s slowly seeing Rwanda from a local’s perspective, this confirms an understanding of the country I highlighted in another article. She is in prison because of her political ideas. And I can only see her imprisonment about that local’s perspective you are mentioning, nothing else. Even if there was some economic development, which is again very questionable, I cannot see it from the angle you present it. Millions of Rwandans don’t access the economic miracle you praise your government about.

It is unfortunate your comment didn’t touch at all on any of the important issues of the article, which are: seeking same rights [to education, employment, property] for all Rwandans indiscriminately, freedom of association and speech, freedom to elect their leaders, and release of political prisoners.

By: Jean Pierre Papin

Jean Pierre Papin — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 03:55:54 +0000

As per Ingabire, “Rwandans from different ethnic groups, …, need to unite, respect each other and build our country in peace".
This sounds great, right? Wait until you see the fallacy in her reasoning.
According to wikipedia, An ethnic group (or ethnicity) is a group of people whose members identify with each other, through a common heritage, often consisting of a common language, a common culture (often including a shared religion).
The last time i checked, all Rwandans identify each other through a common heritage which consists of our common language/Ikinyarwanda, common culture/umuco karande, and a shared religion /at least until the advent of colonizers.
In Rwanda, there is no such thing as Hutu culture, or Tutsi language, or Twa religion.
All the 3 components of the Rwandan society share the same heritage, hence why no ethnicities.
Ingabire's words are yet again one more proof that her nonsensical tribal core beliefs are so ingrained in the pre-genocide Hutu power extremist ideology.
For the record, post-genocide Rwanda does not recognize the existence of ethnicities in the country, and this stance is validated by the aforementioned "ethnicity"'s wikipedia definition.
ALUTA CONTINUA!!!

By: Jean Pierre Papin

Jean Pierre Papin — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 03:12:06 +0000

Mr writer, your article is based on a wishful thinking.
Do you really believe Rwanda will never be the same after Ingabire's return, really?
You're a wishful thinker of the highest level.
If anything, Ingabire's return to Rwanda did trigger a lot of change to herself.
Ingabire is slowly mellowing her views and tone.
Although she's still radical, tribal, and extremist, she's slowly seeing Rwanda from a local's perspective, and not a European-backed puppet.
She came back to a country she's been absent from for 16yrs, only to find a vibrant economy, a healthcare coverage of about 90% of the population, clean water access vastly improved since she left the country, and a population that can no longer be misled into accepting that "UMULIMO N'UGUHINGA" is the only way of life.
Mr writer, I understand you may be nostalgic of the pre-genocide Rwanda where Tutsis used to be killed like coachroches with impunity, where the discriminatory "IRINGANIZA" policy was the order of the day.
Know this, today's rwanda will never be the same as the one you and Ingabire helped destroy in 1994.
Whether you like it or not, Kagame and all fair-minded Rwandans, we'll make our country the shining star of Africa where people from the world over, not just Rwandans, will enjoy living, working, studying, as well as getting inspired by what we've been through and what we've achieved. ALUTA CONTINAU!!

By: Jean Pierre Papin

Jean Pierre Papin — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 02:17:16 +0000

Yes beauty is in the eyes of the beholder.
I can't fault you guys for thinking this woman is beautiful.
To me, i've never seen someone uglier than this woman.
With her big, flat nose and large jaws like a gorilla, how can this genocide apologist be beautiful?
ALUTA CONTINUA!!

By: Imenagitero

Imenagitero — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 21:26:38 +0000

She is an evil lady who only attract attention for those who harbor the same ideological beliefs of Hutu power. Rwanda can no longer tolerate divisive and arrogant ideologies. The country is now built on unity of Rwanda and no special favors for ethnic groups as said in this article.

By: Selina

Selina — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 18:46:14 +0000

I'm proud to say I have a relative who almost looks like her although the relative
is not as attractive as Victoire Ingabire

By: Ann_Garrison

Ann_Garrison — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 16:34:15 +0000

It's hard to know how to take that, Amata Akonje. Sounds like you might be saying she belongs in jail. But it has occurred to me that she's very beautiful, even with her head shaved, and that, even though it's not her choice, it brings her features even more into focus.

By: Selina

Selina — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 16:01:57 +0000

opps She does

By: Selina

Selina — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 16:01:41 +0000

I hope does become President and hope she stays true to all Rawandans

By: Amata Akonje

Amata Akonje — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 15:17:55 +0000

The short hair actually quite suits her!