Three men have been arrested in Ngoma District for allegedly destroying a house and other property belonging to a genocide survivor in Kanege Cell of Gashanda Sector.
The incident happened in the night of April 11 when the trio supposedly hurled stones on the survivor’s house, vandalizing windows and other domestic equipment.
Inspector of Police (IP) Emmanuel Kayigi, Police spokesperson for the Eastern region, the suspects allegedly “connived and endangered the life of the innocent person.”
They are currently detained at Kibungo Police station as investigations continue.
“At about 8:00 pm, these three men are said to have thrown stones on the house of the victim which destroyed the window glasses and other things and also placed a rock weighting about 30 kilogrammes at the door,” IP Kayigi said.
“They also put a very big tree stump on the other door. They had blocked all doors to prevent anyone who was inside from getting out, probably to identify them. But after investigations, with the help of area residents, we zeroed on the three people, but investigations are still underway,” he added.
IP Kayigi observed: “The laws are very clear against such genocide related crimes and anyone caught in such crimes against humanity, will definitely face the law.”
Article 2 of the law N°18/2008 of July 23, 2008, relating to the punishment of the crime of genocide ideology, defines genocide ideology as; an aggregate of thoughts characterized by conduct, speeches, documents and other acts aiming at exterminating or inciting others to exterminate people basing on ethnic group, origin, nationality, region, color, physical appearance, sex, language, religion or political opinion, committed in normal periods or during war.
Under law No 84/2013 of 11/09/2013 on the crime of genocide ideology and other related offences, in its article 5, negation of genocide is any deliberate act, committed in public aiming at; stating or explaining that genocide is not genocide; deliberately misconstruing the facts about genocide for the purpose of misleading the public; supporting a double genocide theory for Rwanda; stating or explaining that genocide committed against the Tutsi was not planned.
Under article 4, Incitement to commit genocide is any act committed in public with the intent to encourage, influence, induce or coerce another person to commit genocide.
Article 6 defines Minimization of genocide any deliberate act, committed in public, aiming at downplaying the gravity or consequences of genocide; downplaying the methods through which genocide was committed.
In its article article 7, Justifying genocide is any deliberate act, committed in public, aiming at glorifying genocide, supporting genocide and legitimizing genocide.
Under article 135 of the penal code, “any person who commits the crime of genocide ideology and other related offences shall be liable to a term of imprisonment of more than five to nine years and a fine of one hundred thousand (100,000) to one million (1,000, 000) Rwandan francs.
Leave a Reply