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On Col. Karegeya's
arrest
A lot of fuss has been made about the arrest of
Colonel Patrick Karegeya, especially in the foreign media. However, General
Kabarebe emphasized that there is nothing strange about Karegeya's arrest and
that just like any other indisciplined RDF officers of even higher ranks, he is
being punished.
"He has persistently been indisciplined and crossed the
expected line of the RDF disciplinary Code of Conduct, ethics and values," the
General said, adding that on more than one occasion, the Colonel had been warned
and advised to change, which he failed to do thereby attracting the
punishment.
Kabarebe emphasized that with properly managed institutions like
the RDF that checks and emphasizes on discipline, it is to no surprise that
officers are reprimanded.
"We do not believe in heroism or untouchables, no
one is beyond disciplinary conduct," the General warned.
Kabarebe said that
on one occasion Col. Karegeya, while a Corporate Staff asked for permission to
go to South Africa, which he was granted, "however, during the same trip, the
Colonel also went to Kenya and on his return to Rwanda, he never bothered to
explain his stay in Kenya. The reason as to why the Colonel went to Kenya or how
he behaved could not be established."
"That is gross indiscipline not
required of someone of his status," General Kabarebe noted adding that there are
several other cases which he would not want to discuss in the
press.
Kabarebe, who said he personally counseled the Colonel, disclosed that
the Prosecutor of the General Court Martial (Auditorat Militaire G�n�ral) is to
prefer charges against Karegeya soon.
"This is a normal procedure and should
be considered as a positive development; an institution that does not discipline
will crumble," Kabarebe said adding: "That is why we are respected, we have
earned it. It depicts who we are in terms of character."
On coup reports in
the Ugandan media
Over the last couple of days, the Ugandan media had
continuously published articles suggesting that there was an eminent coup by the
RDF in Rwanda. However, General Kabarebe rubbished the reports describing them
as 'deliberate anti-Rwanda propaganda that abuse a respectable
institution'.
"The talk of a coup is very strange to RDF and Rwanda," the
general said adding that, "those who preferred to do it are suffering from the
hangover of their past which is synonymous with coups."
General Kabarebe
also pointed out that the RDF is a well commanded, highly disciplined and
professional army that has contributed to the democratic values that Rwanda has
achieved.
"The RDF is respectful of the Executive, Legislature and
Judiciary. Its loyalty to the leadership and Commander-in-Chief is real," the
General emphasized, adding that it should not be compared to other armies in
neighboring countries that are characterized by acts of gross indiscipline such
as gang raping, flogging and beating of Members of Parliament.
"The RDF is a
much more superior institution and adheres and respects its values and codes of
ethics. It is unfortunate comparing it with institutions that are totally
different in terms of character, command form and practice," the general pointed
out.
The media reports had linked Colonel Karegeya with the alleged coup
plot, something the General simply laughed about.
"He is not even among
senior Colonels. To tell you, it is something laughable for the Karegeya coup
connection," said the General, while questioning the motive of the media house
that published the story.
"Whoever is the author or architect of the
propaganda should be irked by the continuous successes registered by the RDF and
by the leadership of Rwanda as a whole," Kabarebe said.
"All the good image
RDF depicts should not be marred by erroneous propaganda," he further asserted.
On army transfers, appointments and
promotions
When Brigadier General
Jack Nziza was transferred from heading the G2 to heading G5, it was perceived
as a demotion with media reports alleging that he had fled the country. General
Kabarebe shed some light on the issue saying that a demotion is when one is
stripped of his ranks. "Re-assigning, transfers, promotions and re-appointing is
a routine phenomenon in the military, there is nothing strange about it,"
Kabarebe said.
The General clarified that the G5 commanded by Brigadier
General Jack Nziza is a reputable department and one of the biggest in
RDF.
On the new
military headquarters
General Kabarebe revealed that come late June
or early July, the military will move to its newly constructed building commonly
referred to as the Rwandan Pentagon.
"The furniture is currently on its way.
Installation will take about a month and by end of June or early July, we shall
move," the general said
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EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
THE NEW
TIMES 13th May
2005
Gen.
Kabarebe speaks out on RDF missions
By Collin
Haba
The
Rwanda Defense Forces (RDF) has of late won international accolades for
its various missions. In an exclusive interview with The New Times,
General James Kabarebe, the RDF Army Chief of General Staff talked about
the RDF, some of the missions and the regional media reports discrediting
the institution.
On the mission to Southern Sudan
Rwanda will
soon be sending over 200 troops to Southern Sudan to protect, man and
offer clerical support at the Headquarters of the United Nations Mission
in Sudan (UNAMIS).
According to General Kabarebe, the Rwanda Defense
Forces (RDF) was formally asked by the UN peace keeping in New York to
contribute 243 officers and men to UNAMIS. "We are sending one Lieutenant
Colonel, eight Majors and six Captains," Gen. Kabarebe said, adding that
all of the selected soldiers are currently undergoing a mission
orientation course.
The deployment of the soldiers will start after the
RDF and United Nations have signed a Memorandum of Understanding. Two
Rwandan army officers are leaving for New York to sign the Memorandum,
scheduled to take place next week.
The
Darfur Mission
During the interview, Gen. Kabarebe revealed
that three more battalions will be added to the soldiers already involved
in the African Union (AU) mission in Sudan. "We are preparing 2,000 troops
to add to those already deployed. They are undergoing training and we are
organizing their logistical support," the General said. He added that the
AU also requested Rwanda for about twenty military observers including a
Colonel.
"We have no doubt we shall be in the mission area at the
required time, we are always ready," the General assured.
According to
Gen. Kabarebe, all the RDF achievements are a result of high
professionalism, which has enabled the force to gain respect and trust
from the international community.
General Kabarebe, however, hastened
to add that despite the foreign peacekeeping missions, RDF continues to
play its roles. "�at the same time we fulfill our noble mission of
protecting our nation and promoting national development," he said.
On
Col. Karegeya's arrest
A lot of fuss has been made about the arrest of
Colonel Patrick Karegeya, especially in the foreign media. However,
General Kabarebe emphasized that there is nothing strange about Karegeya's
arrest and that just like any other indisciplined RDF officers of even
higher ranks, he is being punished.
"He has persistently been
indisciplined and crossed the expected line of the RDF disciplinary Code
of Conduct, ethics and values," the General said, adding that on more than
one occasion, the Colonel had been warned and advised to change, which he
failed to do thereby attracting the punishment.
Kabarebe emphasized
that with properly managed institutions like the RDF that checks and
emphasizes on discipline, it is to no surprise that officers are
reprimanded.
"We do not believe in heroism or untouchables, no one is
beyond disciplinary conduct," the General warned.
Kabarebe said that on
one occasion Col. Karegeya, while a Corporate Staff asked for permission
to go to South Africa, which he was granted, "however, during the same
trip, the Colonel also went to Kenya and on his return to Rwanda, he never
bothered to explain his stay in Kenya. The reason as to why the Colonel
went to Kenya or how he behaved could not be established."
"That is
gross indiscipline not required of someone of his status," General
Kabarebe noted adding that there are several other cases which he would
not want to discuss in the press.
Kabarebe, who said he personally
counseled the Colonel, disclosed that the Prosecutor of the General Court
Martial (Auditorat Militaire G�n�ral) is to prefer charges against
Karegeya soon.
"This is a normal procedure and should be considered as
a positive development; an institution that does not discipline will
crumble," Kabarebe said adding: "That is why we are respected, we have
earned it. It depicts who we are in terms of character."
On coup
reports in the Ugandan media
Over the last couple of days, the Ugandan
media had continuously published articles suggesting that there was an
eminent coup by the RDF in Rwanda. However, General Kabarebe rubbished the
reports describing them as 'deliberate anti-Rwanda propaganda that abuse a
respectable institution'.
"The talk of a coup is very strange to RDF
and Rwanda," the general said adding that, "those who preferred to do it
are suffering from the hangover of their past which is synonymous with
coups."
General Kabarebe also pointed out that the RDF is a well
commanded, highly disciplined and professional army that has contributed
to the democratic values that Rwanda has achieved.
"The RDF is
respectful of the Executive, Legislature and Judiciary. Its loyalty to the
leadership and Commander-in-Chief is real," the General emphasized, adding
that it should not be compared to other armies in neighboring countries
that are characterized by acts of gross indiscipline such as gang raping,
flogging and beating of Members of Parliament.
"The RDF is a much more
superior institution and adheres and respects its values and codes of
ethics. It is unfortunate comparing it with institutions that are totally
different in terms of character, command form and practice," the general
pointed out.
The media reports had linked Colonel Karegeya with the
alleged coup plot, something the General simply laughed about.
"He is
not even among senior Colonels. To tell you, it is something laughable for
the Karegeya coup connection," said the General, while questioning the
motive of the media house that published the story.
"Whoever is the
author or architect of the propaganda should be irked by the continuous
successes registered by the RDF and by the leadership of Rwanda as a
whole," Kabarebe said.
"All the good image RDF depicts should not be
marred by erroneous propaganda," he further asserted.
On
army transfers, appointments and promotions
When Brigadier General
Jack Nziza was transferred from heading the G2 to heading G5, it was
perceived as a demotion with media reports alleging that he had fled the
country. General Kabarebe shed some light on the issue saying that a
demotion is when one is stripped of his ranks. "Re-assigning, transfers,
promotions and re-appointing is a routine phenomenon in the military,
there is nothing strange about it," Kabarebe said.
The General
clarified that the G5 commanded by Brigadier General Jack Nziza is a
reputable department and one of the biggest in RDF.
On
the new military headquarters
General Kabarebe revealed that
come late June or early July, the military will move to its newly
constructed building commonly referred to as the Rwandan Pentagon.
"The furniture is currently on its way. Installation will take about a
month and by end of June or early July, we shall move," the general
said |
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