AV/917

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RESTRICTED: Original audiovisual materials are closed to use. Use of these materials may require production of listening or viewing copies. Please contact Research Services before coming to use this collection.

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Containers:

Box 120, Audio-cassette RW071

Extent:

Sony Super EF 90

Scope and content:

1. Air Date: 1994 Apr. 16
2. Producer: Radio Rwanda
3. Original Language: Kinyarwanda, French
4. Side A of the tape begins mid-sentence. Journalist Hyacinthe Bicamumpaka (1) reports on the Defense Minister's praise of the population's "bravery" and patriotism in helping the army, (2) suggest that the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) is receiving logistical and material assistance, such as helicopters, from foreign countries, (3) claims that in the north and in Kigali the RPF is now "infiltrating to reach places that it could not conquer by arms . . ."
5. Bicamumpaka continues with a summary on the various options under discussion by the UN Security Council.
6. After a break in the tape, Bicamumpaka praises the "courage" of the Rwandan people following the "assassination of the Chief of our State by criminals." The Reporter then introduces his interviewee, Eliezer Niyitegeka, Minister of Information.
7. Niyitegeka explains (1) that cell leaders who "finish their duty" receive rewards from the government, (2) that cell leaders are in a position to "ensure security" by organizing the population to "conduct patrols" and "fight against and denounce the enemy to the authorities." Niyitegeka also (3) stresses that the government has always needed the cell leaders in this capacity.
8. Niyitegeka continues by saying (1) that the Rwandan army is fighting against the "enemy," (2) that the "enemy" violates the population's rights by shooting at innocent people and burning them alive in their houses, (3) that the population should continue fighting alongside the soldiers and in their place against the "small Inkotanyi," and (4) that the population should do this with whatever weapons it has—spears, bows, and arrows.
9. Following Bicamumpaka's mention of "Inkotanyi wickedness," Niyitegeka (1) suggests that 3,400 of the RPF's 4,000 soldiers in Kigali are either infiltrators or spies, (2) asserts that in Gikondo and Nyabarongo, Inkotanyi have killed innocent people, (3) and that Inkotanyi trained by RPF soldiers encircle civilian families at night and throw grenades at them.
10. In response to a question about Muhabura and Bujumbura Radio, Niyitegeka denies the "enemy's" claims regarding refugees and the fleeing of top government ministers.
11. The reporter then asks Niyitegeka to respond to RPF appeals to the population to fight against the "government of killers." Niyitegeka denies the charges and claims that in Kigali only RPF soldiers were killed, and that this was after they infiltrated the Presidential Guard compound. Niyitegeka admits that the Presidential Guard was responsible for violence in the immediate wake of the President's assassination but asserts that this violence did not come on orders from the army, but as a result of the Presidential Guard's justifiable "anger and fury" at the murder of their President.
12. Niyitegeka then explains the Inkotanyi's motives for violence: they are furious because they mistakenly believed that assassinating the President would allow them to "enthrone" their own leader.
13. Niyitegeka's final remarks regard the RPF's alleged unwillingness to sign a cease-fire or abide by the Arusha accords.
14. Following the interview, there is a report on the death of Major General Nsabimana Déogratias — he was on Habyarimana's plane — and the cabinet's choice for replacement, Colonel Bizimungu Augustin. The journalist explains that promotions in the army are based on soldiers' "competence, work, courage at work and at the front."
15. Tape stresses need for population to show its "courage" by collaborating with the army and local officials in "ensuring security " against the "enemy."
16. Side B is blank
17. In an interview with Hyancinthe Bicamumpaka, Elieser Niyitegeka (Minister of Information) lauds the population's bravery in fighting alongside the army and accuses "Inkotanyi" of atrocities which violate the population's rights.

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