Two suspects in Kirehe District have been arrested for allegedly threatening to kill a survivor of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. Threats were sent by means of a written letter blaming the survivor for the imprisonment of a man only identified as Harerimana.
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On Saturday, December 14, a letter circulated on X (formerly Twitter) addressed to Makurata, a Genocide survivor residing in Umutuzo Village, Bisagara Cell, Mushikiri Sector, in Kirehe District. The letter contained threats, including plans for revenge. It was shared on X by a user named Gen. Bitero.
In the letter, the author, identified as Harerimana, claimed that his father&039;s imprisonment was Makurata's act, and he threatened to avenge him by killing her.
Thierry Murangira, the Spokesperson of Rwanda Investigation Bureau, confirmed the arrests and ongoing investigation.
"Two suspects have been arrested so far, and the investigation is ongoing to determine who is responsible for authoring the tract," he said.
According to Gen. Bitero, Murekatete is a Genocide survivor who lost her seven children and husband during the 1994 Genocide and has been persistently harassed and threatened by those who murdered her family members.
In the letter, Harerimana urged Makurata to speak to him before he could proceed with his actions. He provided his contacts and said that whether Makurata pressed charges against him or not, nothing would stop him from doing what he promised unless he was silenced.
The letter also mentioned a second potential target, identified as Fiyete, who was threatened in case the plot against Makurata failed. Harerimana noted that Fiyete was targeted solely because she is a Tutsi, further emphasizing the malicious intent behind the threats.
This incident comes in the wake of other attacks on Genocide survivors. On November 14, Pauline Nduwamungu was murdered.
Alphonsine Mukarugema, the Vice President of AVEGA-Agahozo, an association of genocide widows, condemned such attacks.
She emphasized that attacks on Genocide survivors not only cause irreplaceable harm but also threaten the fabric of Rwanda's national unit and reconciliation efforts.