KIGALI - The Executive Secretary of IBUKA - the umbrella body bringing together associations of Genocide survivors-Janvier Folongo, has said that the security for Genocide survivors has improved.

During a phone interview, Folongo said that the number of genocide survivors being murdered has gradually been reducing and even cases of intimidation and torture from genocidaires and other extremists are on a decrease.

"I believe this has been made possible by the strong partnership among security organs, IBUKA and the survivors themselves,” Folongo said.

According to Ibuka’s 2009 annual report, 24 genocide survivors were killed while in 2010 three survivors were murdered in 2010. And, in 2009, close to 200 cases of intimidation were reported while in 2010 there were only seven.

Folongo said that that most of the cases of intimidation were letters containing death threats, destruction of homes and gardens as well as poisoning of livestock belonging to the survivors.

He also noted that the closure of Gacaca courts in several parts of the country has been one of the factors for the drop in murder cases of genocide survivors saying that majority of survivors were killed by genocide suspects who feared they would testify against them.

Folongo, pointed out that the major challenge survivors face is having to live with the fact that there are perpetrators of the Genocide who are still living freely.

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