Press Release

United States Embassy Marks World Press Freedom Day

The United States Embassy in Kigali joins governments, journalists, and civil society representatives around the world in celebrating World Press Freedom Day.  

World Press Freedom Day recognizes the critical role that a free, fair, and professional press plays in empowering people, exposing corruption, encouraging transparency, and prompting public participation in the political process.  For that reason the United States Embassy has made supporting press freedom an integral part of our work with the Government of Rwanda, civil society representatives and ordinary Rwandans to strengthen democratic institutions and deepen democratic principles in the country. 

The negative role played by certain journalists and media outlets in Rwanda’s genocide undermined the credibility of the profession; Rwanda’s media has struggled in the years since to attain its rightful place as a pillar of democracy.  A successful democracy requires both a professional press corps and a willingness on the part of the police, judiciary and political leadership to accept criticism and investigative journalism.  There has been progress: private radio stations have grown in number and in the diversity of program content; no newspaper issues were seized in 2006; the number of print publications increased; and critical content appeared on a more regular basis.

However, recent events demonstrate that more must be done to promote press freedom.  Since the beginning of 2007, one journalist has been convicted and jailed, a second journalist has been charged with multiple criminal offenses, and one professor/journalist has been expelled from the country, all for stories they published.  One journalist also has been severely beaten in suspicious circumstances.  Without rendering judgment on each individual case, together they raise concerns about press freedom.

Instances of verbal and physical harassment against the press have no place in a democratic society: relevant government authorities must investigate seriously allegations of harassment and do everything in their power to prevent them.  Likewise, legal limitations on the freedom of expression should conform to international documents such as the International Covenant of Civil and Political Rights, the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, and the Declaration of Principles of Freedom of Expression in Africa.  These instruments provide internationally accepted standards for addressing issues such as hate speech and incitement to violence, which are very real threats in Rwanda.  At the same time, Rwanda’s journalists must commit themselves to meeting the ethical standards of their profession.     

Rwanda has made tremendous strides in the past 13 years in rebuilding societal and governmental structures.  The Embassy of the United States encourages all concerned parties to redouble their efforts to ensure that Rwanda’s press plays its proper role in Rwandan society and that freedom of the press is respected.  The United States Government remains committed to working with the Government of Rwanda, the country’s journalism community, and the public at large toward this goal. 

 

Ambasade ya Leta Zunze Ubumwe za America yizishije Umunsi Mukuru w’Ubwisanzure bw’Itangazamakuru.

Ambasade ya Leta Zunze Ubumwe za Amerika i Kigali yifatanije n’abayobozi b’ibihugu, abanyamakuru nabahagarariye abikorera ku giti cyabo hirya no hino kw’isi mu kwizihiza umunsi mukuru w’ubwisanzure bw’itangazamakuru.

Umunsi mukuru w’ubwisanzure bw’itangazamakuru utwibutsa uruhare rukomeye itangazamakuru ryigenga, rikavuga ukuri kandi rijijukiwe rigira mu gufasha abaturage,  mu kugaragaza ruswa, mu gufasha gukorera ibintu mu mucyo no gukangurira abaturage kugira uruhare muri politiki. Ni ku bw’izo mpamvu gutera inkunga itangazamakuru biri mu bikorwa by’ingenzi Ambasade ya Leta Zunze Ubumwe za Amerika ikorana na Leta y’u Rwanda, n’abahagarariye abikorera ku giti cyabo n’abanyarwanda muri rusange kugira ngo demokarasi ishyigikirwe inashinge imizi mu gihugu.

Uruhare abanyamakuru bamwe n’ibitangazamakuru byagize  muri jenocide  rutuma n’umwuga warahatakarije ikizere; niyo mpamvu itangazamakuru ryarwanye intambara itoroshye kugirango ribe ryakongera gusubirana umwanya urikwiriye nk’imwe mu nkingi za demokarasi.

Kugirango demokarasi itere imbere hakenewe itangazamakuru rizima rikora uwo mwuga neza, hakanakenerwa na none ubushake bwo kwemera ko habaho kunega ibitagenda no  kwemera itangazamakuru ritangaza inkuru zacukumbuwe ku ruhande rwa polisi, rw’ubucamanza n’abanyapolitiki.

Hari ibyiza byagezweho: havutse amaradiyo menshi yigenga kandi atanga gahunda zitandukanye; nta kinyamakuru kigeze gifatwa mu mwaka wa 2006; umubare w’ibinyamakuru byigenga wariyongereye; n’inyandiko zinenga ibibi zagiye zandikwa kenshi.

Ariko hari ibikorwa byagiye biba vuba aha bigaragaza ko hari ibigikenewe kugirango hatezwe imbere ubwisanzure mu itangazamakuru.

Kuva uyu mwaka wa 2007 watangira, biturutse ku nyandiko banditse, umunyamakuru umwe yaciriwe urubanza arafungwa, undi munyamakuru yarezwe ibyaha bitandukanye n’undi warimu wa Kaminuza/Umunyamakuru yirukanywe mu gihugu.

Umunyamakuru wundi umwe yakubiswe mu buryo budasobanutse. Tutiriwe tugira icyo tuvuga kuri buri kibazo ukwacyo, ubirebeye hamwe byose, usanga ari ikibazo ku bw’isanzure bw’itangazamakuru.

Ntabwo gutuka no gutera ibitangazamakuru ubwoba bifite umwanya mu bantu bagendera kuri demokarasi: inzego zibishinzwe zari zikwiriye gukora iperereza ku birego by’ihohoterwa n’iterabwoba, hakanakorwa ibishoboka byose ntibizongere kubaho. Ikindi kandi, ubucamanza nabwo bukwiriye gukorwa bwubahiriza amategeko mpuzamahanga. Nk’itegeko mpuzamahanga ku burenganzira muri politiki “International Covenant of Civil and Political Rights” mu cyongereza; Ihame ryashyiriweho gukumira no guhana ibyaha bya Jenocide, “ the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide” mu rurimi rw’icyongereza; n’itegeko rirebana n’uburenganzira ku bwisanzure bw’itangazamakuru muri Afurika “Declaration of Principles of Freedom of Expression in Africa” mu rurimi rw’icyongereza.

Aya mategeko asobanura neza kandi aremewe ku rwego mpuzamahanga ibijyanye n’imvugo zihamagarira urwango, izihamagarira abantu gukora ibikorwa by’urugomo byatera akaduruvayo, kandi izi mvugo rwose ni ikibazo ku Rwanda. Ariko na none, abanyamakuru bakwiye gukora uko bashoboye byibuze bagakora uwo mwuga hari ibasabwa by’ibanze babashije kugeraho nko gusobanukirwa n’umwuga wabo no kubahiriza amategeko agenga umwuga.

Nyuma y’imyaka 13 ishize, u Rwanda rwakoze umurimo ukomeye mu kugerageza kubaka abanyarwanda no kubaka inzego za leta. Ambasade ya Leta Zunze Ubumwe za Amerika irasaba inzego zose iki kibazo kireba kongera umurego kugirango itangazamakuru rikore neza umurimo waryo mu banyarwanda n’ubwisanzure bwaryo bwubahirizwe. Leta Zunze Ubumwe za Amerika iboneye kongera gushimangira ubushake bwayo mu gukorana neza na Leta y’u Rwanda, n’umuryango w’abanyamakuru mu Rwanda, ndetse n’abanyarwanda bose kugirango intego