Keep Us Strong WikiLeaks logo

Currently released so far... 97115 / 251,287

Articles

Browse latest releases

Browse by creation date

Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
ETRD EAGR ETTC EAID ECON EFIN ECIN EINV ELAB EAIR ENRG EPET EWWT ECPS EIND EMIN ELTN EC ETMIN EUC EZ ET ELECTIONS ENVR EU EUN EG EINT ER ECONOMICS ES EMS ENIV EEB EN ECE ECOSOC EK ENVIRONMENT EFIS EI EWT ENGRD ECPSN EXIM EIAD ERIN ECPC EDEV ENGY ECTRD EPA ESTH ECCT EINVECON ENGR ERTD EUR EAP EWWC ELTD EL EXIMOPIC EXTERNAL ETRDEC ESCAP ECO EGAD ELNT ECONOMIC ENV ETRN EIAR EUMEM ENRGPARMOTRASENVKGHGPGOVECONTSPLEAID EREL ECOM ECONETRDEAGRJA ETCC ETRG ECONOMY EMED ETR ENERG EITC EFINOECD EURM EENG ERA EXPORT ENRD ECONEINVETRDEFINELABETRDKTDBPGOVOPIC EGEN EBRD EVIN ETRAD ECOWAS EFTA ECONETRDBESPAR EGOVSY EPIN EID ECONENRG EDRC ESENV ETT EB ENER ELTNSNAR ECHEVARRIA ETRC EPIT EDUC ESA EFI ENRGY ESCI EE EAIDXMXAXBXFFR EETC ECIP EIAID EIVN EBEXP ESTN EING EGOV ETRA EPETEIND ELAN ETRDGK EAIDRW ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS EPEC ENVI ELN EAG EPCS EPRT EPTED ETRB EUM EAIDS EFIC EFINECONEAIDUNGAGM EAIDAR ESF EIDN ELAM EDU EV EAIDAF ECN EDA EXBS EINTECPS ENRGTRGYETRDBEXPBTIOSZ EPREL EAC EINVEFIN ETA EAGER EINDIR ECA ECLAC ELAP EITI EUCOM ECONEFINETRDPGOVEAGRPTERKTFNKCRMEAID EARG ELDIN EINVKSCA ENNP EFINECONCS EFINTS ECCP ETC EAIRASECCASCID EINN ETRP EAIDNI EFQ ECOQKPKO EGPHUM EBUD ECONEINVEFINPGOVIZ ENERGY ELB EINDETRD EMI ECONEFIN EIB EURN ETRDEINVTINTCS EIN EFIM ETIO ELAINE EMN EATO EWTR EIPR EINVETC ETTD ETDR EIQ ECONCS EPPD ENRGIZ EISL ESPINOSA ELEC EAIG ESLCO EUREM ENTG ERD EINVECONSENVCSJA EEPET EUNCH ECINECONCS ETRO ETRDECONWTOCS ECUN EFND EPECO EAIRECONRP ERGR ETRDPGOV ECPN ENRGMO EPWR EET EAIS EAGRE EDUARDO EAGRRP EAIDPHUMPRELUG EICN ECONQH EVN EGHG ELBR EINF EAIDHO EENV ETEX ERNG ED
KMDR KPAO KPKO KJUS KCRM KGHG KFRD KWMN KDEM KTFN KHIV KGIC KIDE KSCA KNNP KHUM KIPR KSUM KISL KIRF KCOR KRCM KPAL KWBG KN KS KOMC KSEP KFLU KPWR KTIA KSEO KMPI KHLS KICC KSTH KMCA KVPR KPRM KE KU KZ KFLO KSAF KTIP KTEX KBCT KOCI KOLY KOR KAWC KACT KUNR KTDB KSTC KLIG KSKN KNN KCFE KCIP KGHA KHDP KPOW KUNC KDRL KV KPREL KCRS KPOL KRVC KRIM KGIT KWIR KT KIRC KOMO KRFD KUWAIT KG KFIN KSCI KTFIN KFTN KGOV KPRV KSAC KGIV KCRIM KPIR KSOC KBIO KW KGLB KMWN KPO KFSC KSEAO KSTCPL KSI KPRP KREC KFPC KUNH KCSA KMRS KNDP KR KICCPUR KPPAO KCSY KTBT KCIS KNEP KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KNNB KGCC KINR KPOP KMFO KENV KNAR KVIR KDRG KDMR KFCE KNAO KDEN KGCN KICA KIMMITT KMCC KLFU KMSG KSEC KUM KCUL KMNP KSMT KCOM KOMCSG KSPR KPMI KRAD KIND KCRP KAUST KWAWC KTER KCHG KRDP KPAS KITA KTSC KPAOPREL KWGB KIRP KJUST KMIG KLAB KTFR KSEI KSTT KAPO KSTS KLSO KWNN KPOA KHSA KNPP KPAONZ KBTS KWWW KY KJRE KPAOKMDRKE KCRCM KSCS KWMNCI KESO KWUN KPLS KIIP KEDEM KPAOY KRIF KGICKS KREF KTRD KFRDSOCIRO KTAO KJU KWMNPHUMPRELKPAOZW KEN KO KNEI KEMR KKIV KEAI KWAC KRCIM KWCI KFIU KWIC KCORR KOMS KNNO KPAI KBWG KTTB KTBD KTIALG KILS KFEM KTDM KESS KNUC KPA KOMCCO KCEM KRCS KWBGSY KNPPIS KNNPMNUC KWN KERG KLTN KALM KCCP KSUMPHUM KREL KGH KLIP KTLA KAWK KWMM KVRP KVRC KAID KSLG KDEMK KX KIF KNPR KCFC KFTFN KTFM KPDD KCERS KMOC KDEMAF KMEPI KEMS KDRM KEPREL KBTR KEDU KNP KIRL KNNR KMPT KISLPINR KTPN KA KJUSTH KPIN KDEV KTDD KAKA KFRP KWNM KTSD KINL KJUSKUNR KWWMN KECF KWBC KPRO KVBL KOM KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KEDM KFLD KLPM KRGY KNNF KICR KIFR KM KWMNCS KAWS KLAP KPAK KDDG KCGC KID KNSD KMPF KPFO KDP KCMR KRMS KNPT KNNNP KTIAPARM KDTB KNUP KPGOV KNAP KNNC KUK KSRE KREISLER KIVP KQ KTIAEUN KPALAOIS KRM KISLAO KWM KFLOA
PHUM PINR PTER PGOV PREL PREF PL PM PHSA PE PARM PINS PK PUNE PO PALESTINIAN PU PBTS PROP PTBS POL POLI PA PGOVZI POLMIL POLITICAL PARTIES POLM PD POLITICS POLICY PAS PMIL PINT PNAT PV PKO PPOL PERSONS PING PBIO PH PETR PARMS PRES PCON PETERS PRELBR PT PLAB PP PAK PDEM PKPA PSOCI PF PLO PTERM PJUS PSOE PELOSI PROPERTY PGOVPREL PARP PRL PNIR PHUMKPAL PG PREZ PGIC PBOV PAO PKK PROV PHSAK PHUMPREL PROTECTION PGOVBL PSI PRELPK PGOVENRG PUM PRELKPKO PATTY PSOC PRIVATIZATION PRELSP PGOVEAIDUKNOSWGMHUCANLLHFRSPITNZ PMIG PREC PAIGH PROG PSHA PARK PETER POG PHUS PPREL PS PTERPREL PRELPGOV POV PKPO PGOVECON POUS PGOVPRELPHUMPREFSMIGELABEAIDKCRMKWMN PWBG PMAR PREM PAR PNR PRELPGOVEAIDECONEINVBEXPSCULOIIPBTIO PARMIR PGOVGM PHUH PARTM PN PRE PTE PY POLUN PPEL PDOV PGOVSOCI PIRF PGOVPM PBST PRELEVU PGOR PBTSRU PRM PRELKPAOIZ PGVO PERL PGOC PAGR PMIN PHUMR PVIP PPD PGV PRAM PINL PKPAL PTERE PGOF PINO PHAS PODC PRHUM PHUMA PREO PPA PEPFAR PGO PRGOV PAC PRESL PORG PKFK PEPR PRELP PREFA PNG PGOVPHUMKPAO PRELECON PINOCHET PFOR PGOVLO PHUMBA PRELC PREK PHUME PHJM POLINT PGOVPZ PGOVKCRM PGOVE PHALANAGE PARTY PECON PEACE PROCESS PLN PRELSW PAHO PEDRO PRELA PASS PPAO PGPV PNUM PCUL PGGV PSA PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PGIV PRFE POGOV PEL PBT PAMQ PINF PSEPC POSTS PHUMPGOV PVOV PHSAPREL PROLIFERATION PENA PRELTBIOBA PIN PRELL PGOVPTER PHAM PHYTRP PTEL PTERPGOV PHARM PROTESTS PRELAF PKBL PRELKPAO PKNP PARMP PHUML PFOV PERM PUOS PRELGOV PHUMPTER PARAGRAPH PERURENA PBTSEWWT PCI PETROL PINSO PINSCE PQL PEREZ PBS

Browse by classification

Community resources

courage is contagious

Viewing cable 06KIGALI180, MEDIA COVERAGE OF BIZIMUMGU TRIAL REFLECTS

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs

Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
  • The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
  • The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
  • The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.

Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #06KIGALI180.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
06KIGALI180 2006-02-23 15:39 2011-08-24 00:00 UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Embassy Kigali
VZCZCXYZ0010
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHLGB #0180/01 0541539
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 231539Z FEB 06
FM AMEMBASSY KIGALI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2403
INFO RUEHXR/RWANDA COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RHMFISS/CDR USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY
UNCLAS KIGALI 000180 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR AF/C AND DRL 
EUCOM FOR POLAD 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV KDEM PHUM RW
SUBJECT: MEDIA COVERAGE OF BIZIMUMGU TRIAL REFLECTS 
DIVERGENT VIEWS OF JUDICIARY 
 
REF: A. KIGALI 168 
     B. KIGALI 54 
 
This is sensitive but unclassified.  Please protect 
accordingly. 
 
1. (U) Summary:  Local and international media provided 
mixed commentary on the Bizimungu verdict announced February 
17 (reftel).  While some lauded the long-awaited decision of 
the Rwandan Supreme Court as a positive development in 
Rwanda's judicial reform process and an example of the 
judiciary's independence, others criticized the trial and 
outcome as politically motivated.  Others simply reported 
the facts of the decision, as announced by the Court, 
without further comment on the decision itself or the merits 
of the case.  End summary. 
 
Evidence Cited by Court 
----------------------- 
 
2. (U) Pro-government newspaper "The New Times" (TNT) 
detailed the basis of the Supreme Court's decision to uphold 
the lower court's guilty verdict and 15-year sentence on 
former President Bizimungu.  The newspaper quoted Court 
President Aloysie Cyanzayire as stating during sentencing 
that Bizimungu will serve 15 years total (the maximum 10- 
year sentence for the additional conviction of treason and 
the five-year sentence for his prior conviction of 
embezzlement).  The sentence on the treason conviction will 
run concurrently with his prior five-year sentence for 
formation of a criminal association and five-year sentence 
for incitement of civil disobedience. 
 
3. (U) According to TNT, Cyanzayire cited the most 
aggravating factor supporting the charge of treason as 
Bizimungu's 2001 interview with French weekly magazine 
"Jeune Afrique," in which he stated that "The Rwandan army 
top brass is comprised 100 percent of Tutsis, while Hutus 
make up 85 percent of the population, and in ten to fifteen 
years Hutus will again take up arms and lure Tutsis out of 
the country."  Additional evidence cited by Cyanzayire 
included two letters found in Bizimungu's residence that 
were written by self-exiled renegade Rwandan Army Major 
Alphonse Furuma and addressed to President Kagame and Papal 
Nuncio that were critical of the RPF. 
 
4. (U) Government-owned "Radio Rwanda" similarly reported 
the facts of the Supreme Court's decision but did not 
provide any comment on the decision or the merits of the 
case.  It stated only that the Court affirmed the 15-year 
jail sentence of Bizimungu, who was found guilty of 
"treason, spreading malicious rumors aimed at inciting the 
public against the government, and creating a criminal 
association."  It also reported that his co-defendant, 
former Minister of Transport Charles Ntakirutinka was 
sentenced to ten years, while the other co-defendants were 
acquitted of all charges and ordered immediately released. 
 
Positive Sign of Judicial Independence 
-------------------------------------- 
 
5. (U) In contrast, independent radio "Contact FM" praised 
the Court's decision to acquit the six co-defendants, who 
were tried jointly with Bizimungu and Ntakirutinka, as a 
positive sign demonstrating the independence of the Rwandan 
judiciary.  (Note:  The 2003 Constitution established the 
Rwandan judiciary as a separate branch of government.  End 
note.) 
 
Criticisms of Political Motivation 
---------------------------------- 
 
6. (U) Other independent media, however, took a more 
critical view of the Court's decision.  Independent "Radio 
France International" (RFI) commented that the Court's 
decision to uphold Bizimungu's conviction was not only a 
serious decision with consequences for Bizimungu but a 
warning for anyone considering challenging the ruling RPF, 
as did the former president in attempting to create an 
independent political party.  Agence France Press (AFP) 
commented that Bizimungu was a prisoner of his own views. 
It dismissed his trial as purely politics and said that the 
verdict must be viewed in that context. 
 
7. (U) BBC reporter Geoffrey Mutagoma observed that the 
courtroom was so packed that it was difficult to see 
Bizimungu's reaction as the court upheld his conviction. 
 
Ntakirutinka's wife told BBC afterwards that she was not 
surprised by the decision, while another person who was 
interviewed by Mutagoma viewed the trial as demonstrating 
that the Rwandan judiciary had matured. 
 
8. (SBU) Former Prime Minister Celestin Rwigema, living in 
exile in the U.S., dismissed the trial as "du theater" (a 
theatrical farce) during an interview with VOA.  Contrary to 
those who regarded the decision as a reflection of the 
judiciary's independence, he remarked that it shows that the 
"Rwandan judiciary is not free and works under the RPF and 
President Kagame." 
 
9. (SBU) Jean Paul Turinzwenamungu, Executive Secretary of 
the Rwandan League for the Promotion and Defense of Human 
Rights (LIPRODHOR), Rwanda's largest human rights NGO, also 
regarded the verdict as "politically motivated" rather than 
independent.  He pointed out that the January 17 
postponement of the decision for no reason was an indication 
that the Supreme Court was not sufficiently independent to 
render its own decision.  (Note:  On January 17, the Supreme 
Court clearly stated its reason for the postponement as a 
need for additional time to carefully review and document 
the voluminous facts of the case (ref B)).  He said that by 
convicting Bizimungu of criminal association, affirming the 
lower court's decision despite the prosecution's failure to 
provide sufficient evidence to sustain the conviction, the 
Supreme Court demonstrated lack of independence. 
Turinzwenamungu attributed the absence of loud public outcry 
over the verdict to self-censorship among civil society, 
which otherwise would have mobilized and put pressure on the 
GOR. 
 
10. (SBU) Francine Rutazana, Executive Secretary of the 
League of Human Rights for the Great Lakes Region (LDGL), a 
regional NGO based in Kigali, shared LIPRODHOR's view of the 
verdict as "highly politically motivated."  She believed 
that Bizimungu's arrest was motivated by his intended 
candidacy for the 2003 presidential elections.  She 
expressed disappointment over the Supreme Court's lack of 
independence and perspicacity, and questioned the Court's 
decision to let the former president suffer unjustly in 
prison.  She added that LDGL was afraid to publicly 
criticize the Supreme Court and preferred to exercise self- 
censorship. 
 
Comment 
------- 
 
11. (SBU) The four-hour proceeding was conducted in a calm, 
orderly, meticulous manner, with a detailed recounting of 
the facts of each case, followed by a lengthy reading of 
each defendant's verdict and sentence (ref A).  While 
observers generally commented that Friday's court proceeding 
appeared more organized and procedurally transparent than 
the lower court's 2004 proceeding, the range of commentary 
from local and international media based in Rwanda reflects 
the ongoing divergence of opinion over the initial charges 
on which Bizimungu and Ntakirutinka were accused and 
convicted.