Is decorated Rwandan a genocide hero or villain?

Genocide survivors including those who witnessed the trend of events at Hotel des Mille Collines during the genocide have repeatedly said that ‘Hotel Rwanda’ is clearly fiction.

Tatien Ndolimana, the former co-ordinator of the Crisis Committee of the Refugees in the Hotel during the genocide, now residing in Belgium published a damning document accusing Mr Rusesabagina of, “telling lies in the film and tampering with the truth in an attempt to cover up the acts of the masterminds of the genocide in Rwanda and adopting a political position reflecting a dangerous revisionist.”

As a result of the movie, Mr Rusesabagina gave a number of talks in 2005 and 2006.

He was also received by former US President George W. Bush who awarded him the Presidential Medal Award and the International Freedom Award among others.

However, for many reasons including distortion of facts, Mr Rusesabagina is no hero among a cross section of Rwandans.

Hollywood actor, Mr Cheadle who visited Kinigi, Rwanda last week as one of the prominent guests who graced ‘Kwiti Izina’ the baby gorilla naming ceremony, on World Environment Day (WED) told reporters, “I haven’t seen Paul Rusesabagina in the last seven years.” 

Asked what he thinks his host, President Paul Kagame would take of his role in a movie a number of genocide surviving Rwandans think was simply Hollwood drama, Mr Cheadle said:
 “I think he (President Paul Kagame) understands, as most people should, that (my act) in the movie … it was just a movie and there is another side of the story which is the reality. So no, he’s been nothing but very generous and we just had a wonderful meal together,” Mr Cheadle said.

Very friendly

Reporters also asked the Oceans 11, 12 and 13 actor whether he was a personal friend of President Kagame.

“I wouldn’t say I am personal friends with the President. He has been gracious enough to invite me into his home and has always been a great host for me.” he said.

“I consider him very friendly, but I would not … attempt to raise myself to the level of his friendship. Hopefully that’s something we can continue to work toward,” he added.

Mr Cheadle who was appointed on Saturday in Rwanda as a UN Environment Programme Goodwill Ambassador also added that his role in the ‘Hotel Rwanda’ production sparked off his activism in fighting genocides.

“I educated myself about what was happening, particularly in Darfur (Sudan), I was kind of pulled into a stream of activism that was already happening before I showed up and was able to use my voice and celebrity status, to draw attention to the cause and raise the level of the din and hopefully draw some attention,” he said.

‘Hotel Rwanda’ was directed by Terry George and written by both George and Keir Pearson.

It is purported to be based on real life events of the genocide.

The film stars Mr Cheadle as hotelier Paul Rusesabagina.

Since 2005 a number of feature films retracting the events in the Rwanda genocide have been produced and distributed on the international scene.

There was ‘One Hundred Days’, produced by Eric Kabera in 2000, ‘Sometimes in April,’ by Haitian Raoul Peck, ‘Shooting Dogs,’ produced by David Belton and ‘Back Home’ directed by a genocide survivor.

However the most successful one was undeniably ‘Hotel Rwanda’.