The risks of criticizing Rwandan President Paul Kagame

by KPFA Weekend News/Ann Garrison

Sun, Feb 12, 2012 6:40PM

Rwandan refugee journalists have addressed a letter to Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, Reporters without Borders, the Committee to Protect Journalists, and Swedish authorities expressing concern about Jean Bosco Gasasiras, a fellow Rwandan journalist and political refugee, who appears to have gone missing in Sweden. Gasasira has not published on Umuvugizi, the website that bears the same name as his newspaper, which is now banned in Rwanda, since January 11th. Audio: 2 minutes, 59 seconds.

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Rwandan journalist and political refugee McDowell Kalisa in Sweden, where he has had refugee status. He was one of four Rwandan journalists and political refugees, who signed a statement expressing concern about fellow Rwandan journalist and political refugee Jean Bosco Gasasira, who has not published on his website Umuvugizi since January 11th and has not been seen sinceJanuary 13th. Two Rwandan journalists critical of Rwandan President Paul Kagame have been shot dead, in Rwanda and Uganda, two have been imprisoned for 17 and 7 years respectively, and many others have fled. Reporters without Borders ranks Rwanda, a longstanding ally and military partner of the U.S., 156th, 21 countries away from the worst of 179 countries, in their 2011-2012 Press Freedom Index.

For more information: http://www.anngarrison.com/

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