Journalists arrested for spreading 'false rumours' - Rwanda

[dArKeR]

Rwandan police on Thursday seized copies of the country's only independent newspaper and arrested its director and at least two of his journalists on charges of libel and "divisionism."

Robert Sebufurira, director of the weekly Umuseso, and his two colleagues were arrested for having published "false rumours, within the framework of the law that prohibits inciting divisionism and libel," said police spokesperson Damas Gatare.

A human rights activist said a total of five journalists from the weekly were arrested and that the latest edition, due to go on sale Thursday, had been seized at the border with Uganda, where much of Rwanda's press is printed.

The edition contained an article on the former head of the Rwanda army Nyamwasa Kayumba and other senior officers that caused offence, according to the police.

http://www.mg.co.za/Content/l3.asp?ao=23916

They just don't get Democracy do they! Democracy means the White GOP Men come in and buy all the media sources, higher puppet CEO's and boards, who in turn higher MEDIA WHORES; Fineman, Russert, Gergen... set up shadow NEONAZI THINKTANKS; Heritage, Hoover, PNAC, AEI... and you only invite these Whores onto TV networks... and Whala, you have American Whore Democracy and you don't have to bother assassinating Presidents, Senators, Journalist... or jailing them. And if for some unforseen circumstance the Sheeple should try to get together, you fire rubber bullets and mace at them then beat them up and arrest them.

[xultar]

1. Yeah, if they were in the US they'd be working for the Pentagon n/t

[1songbird]

2. We are no longer living in a democracy here in the US.

I think we all know it deep down but we don't want to admit it. We may look at Rwanda and think OMG that's terrible, but really you are right on point in pointing out that things aren't really that different here. Thanks for the story.

[magatte]

3. Rwanda has a special case for censorship...

Rwanda has had a BAD, BAD history with so called "free speech". The civil war and genocide of nearly 1 million people was brought about (or at least accelerated) by continuous propaganda by the "1000 Hills Radio station". The radio kept propagating rumors trying to scare people into revolting against and killing people of Tutsis descent. I am just saying that they have some particular reasons to try to actively monitor what the media says.
To be honest, I'm personally entirely for the prosecution and monitoring of deceitful reporting. Media is way too powerful of a weapon for journalists to be left free of accountability for the stories they print.

[MrPrax]

4. Well Kagame is trained to do this stuff...

Genocide and Covert Operations in
Africa 1993-1999
Prepared Testimony and Statement of Wayne Madsen
<snip>
The background to the U.S. relationship with the RPF government and Uganda goes back to 1990 before the original invasion of Rwanda by the RPF from Ugandan soil, and it has taken many different roles. It includes, as I mentioned in testimony, covert and overt assistance.

There is, of course, the overt assistance, the African Crisis Response Initiative, which Uganda seems to be in and out of that program depending on whether they are being suspended for human rights violations or failure to withdraw troops from the DRC, but, more importantly, it is included in what they call Joint Combined Education and Training Program, JCET, Enhanced International Military Education and Training.

President Kagame himself was attending the U.S. Army's staff college in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, at the time the invasion was launched in 1990. I have been told that Kagame has very close ties with the U.S. military, including the Defense Intelligence Agency. Many members of his upper echelons in his military and intelligence structure who, incidentally, I understand may be indicted here by the U.N. war crimes tribunal, were trained by U.S. personnel. That goes right through the military and the RPF intelligence structure.
http://www.globalresearch.ca/articles/MAD111A.html

Prior to that I read Kagame has attended the School of the Americas...another successful alumni

[schultzee]

5. Well a reporter and journalist were arrested in Miami for taking pictures

Welcome to bu$h's America.