Police, district coordinators plan for the annual Genocide week

The National Police yesterday met with district coordinators of community policing in order to plan for security measures during the upcoming 18th commemoration of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. The week-long commemoration, which takes place between April 7 and 14, has in the past been characterised by cases of trauma, and in some parts of the country, intimidation of genocide survivors. Speaking at the meeting, ACP Emmanuel Butera, urged the police officers to be disciplined as they go about their daily tasks. “When you do that, Rwandans will be able to trust you enough to share information that can help prevent crimes,” Butera said. It was agreed in the meeting that during the Commemoration Week, police officers would be involved in activities like cleaning of memorial centres and constructing houses for survivors. The Acting Director for Community Policing, Lynder Nkuranga, said there had been a tremendous reduction of crime because of the collaboration of the citizenry. “We have sensitised the youth, especially students, about the dangers of drugs and the need to refrain from them,” Nkuranga said. She urged participants to always act professionally in their respective units in order to ensure that Rwandans live in a peaceful and secure country.