People that were affected by the terror attacks perpetrated by the FLN militia in Nyabimata sector, Nyaruguru district in 2018 are seeking at least Rwf69 million worth of compensations. On Thursday, May 20, the High Court Chamber for International Crimes sitting in Kigali started hearing from victims of the attacks and their lawyers, as they narrated their ordeal at the hands of FLN assailants when they attacked their villages in 2018. The attacks in Nyabimata sector took place in mid-2018 where armed assailants belonging to FLN assaulted civilians, killing two people instantly and injuring many others. The attackers also destroyed a lot of property, including vehicles that were burnt, citizens’ farms that were damaged, in addition to looting of businesses and households. According to their lawyers, there are up to 34 people affected by the attacks in different ways who are demanding for compensations. These include some that were seeking reparations from loss of loved ones. The compensation being demanded for by the parties does not include medical bills, since the district authorities took care of that. They also do not include legal fees, which are being met by Legal Aid Forum, a local non-government organisation. Dominic Rugerinyange lost a 25-year-old son during an attack by FLN fighters on a bar he owned in Nyabimata. The assailants also looted the bar, robbed clients and also beat them up. Rugerinyange is demanding for Rwf17 million in compensation from the perpetrators of the attack that claimed his son’s life. Venuste Bapfakurera, a commercial motorcyclist who was in Habarurema’s bar during the night of the attack demands for over Rwf5 million in compensations for his motorbike which the attackers burnt, in addition to stealing his money, and committing horrible things before his eyes, including killing the bar owner – while he (Bapfakurera) was watching. In the same attack, Viateur Habimana another client sustained head injuries for which he spent two months on medication. He demands for Rwf5.2 million in compensation for the trauma he went through and time lost without earning. A number of other affected people whose claims were presented on Thursday asked for compensation due to various reasons including kidnap of loved ones, physical torture, looting of foodstuffs and other household property, among others. The lawyers told court that compensation is being sought collectively from all the 21 suspects. “They are one group, and each of them had a role to play in the attacks. While some attacked, others were in offices fundraising for the militia group, others organized the attack and those that were just part of the terror group,” one of the three lawyers representing the affected people said. Lawyer Yusuf Ndutiye, a survivor of the Nyungwe attacks, which were also perpetrated by the FLN asked for compensation worth Rwf8 million for his car that was burnt, in addition to Rwf2 million for the psychological torture he suffered during the attacks. He also asked that the perpetrators will pay him Rwf 20,000 every day that the trial takes place. This is meant to take care of the transport costs he incurs to come for the hearings.
