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Obama's Choice: Appease an Ally or Do the Right Thing
Many of us thought, after the recent expulsion of the French ambassador, that the French government would act reasonably and even offer some sort of apology for its role in the genocide. A parliamentary inquiry was soon underway in Paris. But the “odd” arrest warrant was issued nevertheless, and when Kabuye, now Kagame’s chief of protocol, was traveling through Germany last week she found herself detained (France and Germany have an open border). Ramrod-straight and calm, she asked to be deported directly to France, as it’s there that the showdown will take place. The Germans were vaguely embarrassed, and wish this would all go away, but it now seems likely that the result will be a trial uncovering the French involvement in the lead-up and execution of the mass violence that took up to a million lives in just a few months.
Obama may delight in leading a “team of rivals,” but when two allies are going toe-to-toe, what will he do? Side with France for strategic reasons? Or acknowledge that justice should be served, whatever the consequences? Certainly, his close aide Susan Rice will know all of the details of this case, which will be on everyone’s mind in Rwanda, if not in France. Some Rwandans are spoiling to have their day in court. The Minister of Information Louise Mushikiwabo put it this way: "This is really the moment of truth with France. We have been disappointed many times by international law, but we do hope that justice is not only for the wealthy and mighty."
Next week, we’ll consider our own dirty secrets: U.S. policy towards Haiti over the past few decades. France is no competition for us in the realm of international bullying, I fear, but the new administration may be open to charting a new course for our relations with our oldest sovereign neighbor, the former French colony liberated by its slave population.
Paul Farmer, MD, PhD, is Presley Professor of Social Medicine at Harvard Medical School, Associate Chief of the Division of Global Health Equity at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and a co-founder of Partners In Health, a non-profit organization that provides free health care and undertakes research and advocacy on behalf of the destitute sick. He is known for helping create innovative community-based approaches to treat HIV/AIDS and TB in resource-poor settings, particularly in Haiti and Rwanda.
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Paul Farmer, MD, PhD, is Presley Professor of Social Medicine at Harvard Medical School, associate chief of the division of global health equity at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and a co-founder of Partners In Health, a nonprofit organization that provides free health care and undertakes research and advocacy on behalf of the destitute sick. He is known for helping create innovative community-based approaches to treat HIV/AIDS and TB in resource-poor settings, particularly in Haiti and Rwanda.
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Paul Farmer, MD, PhD, is Presley Professor of Social Medicine at Harvard Medical School, associate chief of the division of global health equity at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and a co-founder of Partners In Health, a nonprofit organization that provides free health care and undertakes research and advocacy on behalf of the destitute sick. He is known for helping create innovative community-based approaches to treat HIV/AIDS and TB in resource-poor settings, particularly in Haiti and Rwanda.
As a Rwandan and having survived the 1994 Genocide, am sometimes appalled by actions and comments made regarding my country.
The Rwandan problem has been oversimplified and is typically forced into the framework of a Hollywood-style morality play - complete with villain, victim and hero.
Books are published, movies screened, theories developed and lectures given at rate never seen. The blood of my people has become a gold mine for some who portray themselves as "Specialist on Africa".
Rwanda has always been a beautiful country but has never had a decent leader. From the time of Kings to this day, our leaders have cultivated a system of impunity which has led to the loss of many lives in the great lakes region.
And as long as that vicious circle is not broken innocent lives will always be lost in that region.
There has to be justice, fair justice. There is no place for Victor's justice or one way justice. Justice has to be for all, regardless of Ethnic group, gender, religion, position or achievement.
And I believe it can be achieved as long as the judiciary system is INDEPENDENT, whether it's at the ICTR (International Criminal Court for Rwanda) or in any other country in Africa, Europe, Asia or America.
Who was that elected French judge and where was he working? No judges are elected in the French court system at any level. Interesting article though....
You may be sincere, or not, in recounting what is essentially the official Rwandan version of events, including the farfetched but much touted theory of French complicity in the clinching plane crash. You should be aware, however, that it is much disputed, and that several of its major proponents in France have been exposed as false witnesses or downright liars. For President Obama to embark on diplomatic action on such a flimsy basis would show very poor judgment - which is not really like him...
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