‘Hotel Rwanda’ hero arrested
The man portrayed as a hero in the film “Hotel Rwanda” will stand trial for allegedly supporting rebel violence.
Rwandan President Paul Kagame, appearing on national television Sunday, said Paul Rusesabagina has been held in custody for more than a week. Rusesabagina, who has lived outside Rwanda since 1996, is a citizen of Belgium and has a US permanent-residence permit.
He is credited with saving 1,200 lives during the 1994 genocide by letting people shelter in the hotel he was managing during the massacres, in which 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus were killed.
But Kagame said, “Rusesabagina heads a group of terrorists that have killed Rwandans. He will have to pay for these crimes. Rusesabagina has the blood of Rwandans on his hands.”
The government said it issued an arrest warrant for Rusesabagina on charges that include terrorism, arson, kidnap and murder perpetrated against unarmed civilians.
Kagame said Rusesabagina’s
trial will be held openly and conducted fairly.
He said others were Rusesabagina’s accomplices in alleged violent activities and are already facing trial in Kigali, Rwanda’s capital.
Of Rusesabagina’s return to the country, Kagame said, “What if someone told you that he brought himself — even if he may not have intended it? You will be surprised how he got here. He was not kidnapped or hoodwinked. His coming to Rwanda has more to do with himself than anybody else.”
Rusesabagina’s family and supporters, however, say they believe he was “kidnapped” during a visit to Dubai.
They claim Rwandan authorities have denied him access to a lawyer nearly a week after he was paraded in handcuffs.
Rusesabagina is an outspoken government critic who has denied funding rebel groups and has said he is being targeted for slamming the Kagame government over human-rights abuses.