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Transcript/Script((PLAYBOOK SLUG: COMMONWEALTH SUMMIT RWANDA
HEADLINE: Rwanda Prepares Showcase Commonwealth Summit, Overshadowed by Human Rights Concerns
TEASER: Controversial British plan to send asylum seekers for processing in Rwanda highlights human rights concerns on eve of summit
PUBLISHED AT: Wednesday, 06/21/2022 at 2:44 a.m.
BYLINE: Henry Ridgwell
DATELINE: LONDON
VIDEOGRAPHER: Henry Ridgwell
PRODUCER: Jason Godman
SCRIPT EDITORS: MAS, DLJ
VIDEO SOURCE (S): AFP, APTN, Reuters, Skype
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB X TV X RADIO __
TRT: 3:05
VID APPROVED BY: Salem Solomon
TYPE: VPKGN
EDITOR NOTES:))
((INTRO))
[[Rwanda is preparing to welcome leaders from fifty-four nations for a Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. As Henry Ridgwell reports, the Commonwealth summit — which began as an organization of former British colonies — is being overshadowed by human rights concerns in both Britain and Rwanda.]]
((NARRATOR))
By hosting the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, Rwandan President Paul Kagame wants to showcase the country, says analyst Philip Murphy.
((Philip Murphy, Director of Institute of Commonwealth Studies at University of London)) ((Mandatory cg: Skype))
“That’s another international forum which Kagame will be able to attach himself to. And clearly, he’s a very controversial figure. Rwanda’s human rights record is questionable and controversial.”
((NARRATOR))
Civil society groups complain of a lack of media and political freedom. Rwandan journalist Eleneus Akanga fled the country in 2007 after his newspaper was shut down by the government.
((Eleneus Akanga, Rwandan Journalist)) ((Mandatory cg: Skype))
“My crime was reporting the truth. I had written a story, or I sought to write a story about journalists that were being beaten by unknown people. And it turned out that these journalists thought that the government was beating them up using state agents. I found out later that that they were going to charge me with espionage.”
((NARRATOR))
Akanga fled to Britain — and was granted asylum in 2007.
((NARRATOR))
Earlier this year, Britain signed a deal with Rwanda to send asylum seekers arriving on its shores for processing there. The first flight was due to depart last week but was blocked minutes before take-off by the European Court of Human Rights. Critics say it breaches refugee law — but the government says the policy is legal and will deter migrants.
((Boris Johnson, British Prime Minister))
“When people come here illegally, when they break the law, it is important that we make that distinction. That is what we are doing with our Rwanda policy.”
((NARRATOR))
Journalist Akanga says the policy is contradictory.
((Eleneus Akanga, Rwandan Journalist)) ((cf. Skype logo))
“It is astonishing when you see the British government, which has given people like myself asylum, now being the same government that is out there telling us that somehow, Rwanda has transformed so much so that it is a country they are willing to send the most vulnerable asylum seekers that there could be to, because they believe the situation has changed. And we know it hasn’t.”
((NARRATOR))
The Commonwealth meeting will be overshadowed by the dispute over Britain’s asylum policy, says analyst Murphy.
((Philip Murphy, Director of Institute of Commonwealth Studies at University of London)) ((Mandatory cg: Skype))
“In a way it’s focused international attention on Rwanda’s human rights record. Since the 1990s the Commonwealth has tried to reinvent itself as an organization that’s united more by common values than by common history. The problem is it hasn’t been very good at policing those values.”
((NARRATOR))
Rwanda denies the government commits human rights abuses - and supporters of President Kagame say hosting the Commonwealth meeting is another milestone in the country’s development.
((Henry Ridgwell, for VOA News, London.))
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Location (dateline)London
BylineHenry Ridgwell
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
