Rwanda Media; Not a Martyr - a Sanctuary of Voices

For a news editor in Rwanda, the truth was a death sentence.

Jeanne Umwana was the Deputy Editor for the publication, Umuvugizi. Courtesy: The Committee to Protect Journalists

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - A highly respected Rwandan journalist and Deputy Editor for the publication, Umuvugizi, was murdered just outside his home on the evening of June 24^th. Reports indicate four shots fired at close range killed Jean Leonard Rugambaje instantly.

Two men were taken into custody on June 29^th as suspects in this murder, however, a great deal of skepticism encircles their arrest. The Committee to Protect Journalists has asked the Rwandan government “to conduct a thorough, transparent investigation and produce credible results.”

Umuvugizi was banned and blacklisted within Rwanda as of April, as well as restricted local access to its online format. Jean Basco Gasasira, editor, has been living in exile since the closure of this paper. Both men received numerous threats via phone and in person for several weeks prior to the murder of Jean Leonard. Mr. Gasasira believes both the murder and threats come from within the Rwandan government in an effort to silence any and all opposition to President Kagame’s rule.

This is the second murder in weeks; including multiple journalists as well as outspoken political figures living in exile. Recently, an American lawyer was released and sent back to the United States after his dissident comments regarding the current political climate.

The 1994 genocide has left its mark not only physically but also emotionally and mentally on the people of Rwanda. National security is very important for the over 11 million Rwandans. This is the encumber for the current president as well as those running in this year’s upcoming August elections. Within this context, the media has seen an extreme blackout of journalists and newspapers within Kigali and the repression of information getting out; Reporters without Borders ranked Rwanda 157^th or of 179 within the press freedom index.

 “The Democratic Green Party (DGP) of Rwanda strongly condemns the murder of the Rwandan Journalist. We appeal to the Rwandan Government to use all means available to bring to justice these criminals and do whatever possible to help end these sad happenings. Revenge killings are completely un-acceptable. We support all non-violent means in conflict resolution. We call upon the Rwandan Journalist Association to take this initiative forward and support the Late RUGAMBAJE family. The International media fraternity should take this initiative seriously and show solidarity to the deceased’s family, which is indeed in urgent need for support. The deceased journalist has left behind a two year old boy whose mother is un-employed.” – Frank Hebineza, founding President DGP

Inside Rwandan culture the burial and mourning ceremonies last one week.  The family house is full every evening, burning fires in the garden, singing and bringing food for the surviving family. July 1^st ended the week long memorial for Jean Leonard Rugambaje. Once the ceremony is complete the fire is extinguished and the community goes back to their own families; this widow and her young child are left alone without their husband, father and provider.

The international media community is seeking and demanding answers and accountability, the families are asking for their loved ones to return home. Neither, appear to be within our grasp.

=======================================================

Alysha Atma spends many hours working on projects that support and benefit the beleaguered people of African nations who spend way too much time off the western media's radar. This writer explains that she is a culmination of all her experiences, most importantly knowledge she says, and all that she still needs to learn; lessons of love, laughter and the extraordinary giving of both young and old. She says she has the enormous fortune of learning from the best; every person around her, and the amazing strength and fortitude of those she has never met but will always strive to listen to. "I continue to work and write because I believe in the power of community and the power of one, both contradictory to each other and yet can move together in a very powerful way. I feel a responsibility to use my place, freedoms and connections here in the US to stand up and yell for those who need my voice and actions. I have seen such strength in my fellow humans that I cannot even begin to comprehend, they have traveled distances, have gone without food, water, shelter and safety for days and weeks at a time. I have a responsibility as a fellow human to put our common humanity before anything else. Everyone deserves to look towards tomorrow, to dream of a safe future and to have a peaceful present." You can write to Alysha Atma at: alyshann78@comcast.net