Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair has defended Rwanda government progress and the proper use of Aid money and thinks that cutting aid to Rwanda is counter-productive.
Blair said Rwanda can not just adopt a western style of Democracy because the recent historical events Rwanda has experienced would only require the current form of leadership the country has.
Below is a detailed interview Mr Blair had with the BBC.
(Editor: Original interview is in audio.. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-21608731)
Tony Blair: In general terms i believe in the UN. I actually don’t share the criticism of the people that have done the report.
On the other hand I have to say if you read and I have read the UN report and the very detailed rebuttal of the Rwandan government you have got to say there is a dispute of facts here.
If you look at the massive reduction in poverty, the additional jobs, things like for example the Rwanda government has through the use of aid-money has virtually eliminated measles and now is moving on to Rubella.
These are massive achievements done through aid.
To withdraw the aid in those circumstances seems to me a way to punish the Rwandan people without necessarily helping with the issue of Congo conflict.
What leverage exisits then to stop the alleged support of M23 rebel movement.
Blair: If events in Congo spin out of control, everybody including Rwandans are deeply affected and we have an agreement that has been brokered in Addis Ababa-Ethiopia with the AU and UN and others, I want it implemented with an African force
But one of the keys to that agreement is for Rwanda government to condemn M23 rebels.
Blair:The Key thing is not whether they (Rwanda) condemn M23 or they support the implementation of the agreement.
They have signed that agreement so they are under obligation to implement it and they should.
You make a strong argument in support of the Rwandan government but the Rwandan opposition has responded to your article.
They say your support for Mr. Kagame is driven by greed and even accuse you of subtle racism.
Blair: The hysterical nature of that attack rather undermines its credibility to be honest.
The fact is that am simply wanting to see a situation which Rwanda in almost 20yrs since the genocide has made remarkable progress
Is Rwanda a model democracy in your View?
Blair: No, No..
look, after you have had an ethnic conflict as deep and profound as that, you are bound to have politics and form of government that isn’t same as we have here in the UK.
However, in time I would like to see that they get there and they should.
Is that a justification for what the Human Rights Watch says ; opposition party members, independent journalists other government crititcs after the 2010 elections were subjected to persistent intimidation, harassment, detention, death threats, extrajudicial killings.
Blair: Nothing can justify human rights abuses . The argument am making is that Rwanda has made an enormous progress and the fact is that it has made that progress under Paul Kagame’s leadership..
Can someone argue that the Rwanda economic progress isn’t in dispute but it’s the treatment of domestic opposition?
Blair: We have to be cognizant of the fact that Rwanda is a country that has been through immense difficulty and its not going to develop a western style democracy in a short period of time but if you look at the way it actually is a society today where there are people from all different ethnicities in the government, I think there is a lot to commend him.
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