Police arrests two over genocide ideology

Police in Rwempasha Sector, Nyagatare District has arrested two people for allegedly propagating genocide ideology.

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Police in Rwempasha Sector, Nyagatare District has arrested two people for allegedly propagating genocide ideology.According to reports, one of the suspects, a 22-year-old man was on April 7, overheard threatening Eugenie Kawera, a Genocide survivor, who resides in Rwempasha Sector, that "they would keep killing them,” on the same day the 18th commemoration anniversary of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi began. Police said four cases of genocide propagation have been reported in various areas of the country, since Saturday. Another suspect, a 37-year old man, in the same district on the same day, reportedly told local leaders who were rallying residents to go for discussions about the Genocide that he would go for the discussion after "I am done with drinking the blood (read beer) of the Tutsi.”Police said investigations were still ongoing and more arrests could be made.If convicted, the suspects face sentences of between 20 to 25 years and a fine ranging from two to five million Rwanda francs, according to a special law enacted on 18/2008 regarding propagation of genocide ideology. Police Spokesperson, Superintendent, Theos Badege urged Rwandans to help in identifying people still harbouring genocide ideology to ensure the atrocities that befell the country never happen again. "This is a difficult moment, especially to the Genocide survivors. It is, therefore, necessary that we protect them from anything that may take them back to the dark days,” he said.According to Police statistics, there have been fewer cases of genocide ideology incidents compared to last year, when over 200 cases were recorded.