by MICHAEL O. ALLEN, Daily News Staff Writer | Sunday, August 7, 1994
KIGALI, Rwanda–Sylvestre Kamali finally broke down.
Imprisoned for 21 days, he was tired, hurting and badly in need of a bath.
A career diplomat, he has served his country in all branches, including terms as vice president of the Supreme Court and ambassador to Belgium, Burundi and China.
Now Kamali was wearing the gray pants and white shirt he had on the day he was arrested in July. He was unshaven and had no shoes. He had not been given hismedication and special diet for a colon condition.
The tears came this day when he was told the new leaders of Rwanda are holding him on a charge of genocide. His jaw dropped. He looked at his two prisonguards and his face spread into a smile of incredulity.
“I am happy because now I know the reason why I am in prison,” the diplomat said in an interview with reporters from the Daily News and the Washington Postlast week. It was the first time he had been seen by people other than his jailers since his arrest in July.
In his native language, Kinyarwanda, as a prison guard translated, he said, “They told me my cars did not have all the proper papers.
“Me, Kamali?” he asked, shaking his head in disbelief. “Me, Kamali? From the time I was brought onto this earth until now, and I am 59 years old, I have never killed anyone, or ordered anyone to be killed.”