The court ordered their immediate release after finding no evidence pinning them. The prosecution is allowed to have appealed against the release in no more than 30 days.
The duo was arrested two weeks ago over alleged embezzling of public funds as per the National Public Prosecution Authority (NPPA).
Information from the prosecution indicated that the duo was being interrogated for alleged complicity in the misuse of funds worth Rwf 249 million in One Laptop Per Child Project that is under REB.
John Rutayisire was the first director of REB when the institution was created in 2011, out of merger of different institutions under the education sector including Rwanda National Examinations Council (RNEC), Teacher’s Service Commission (TSC), The National Curriculum Development Centre (NCDC) and Student Financing Agency for Rwanda (SFAR).
He served until 2015 when he handed over to Gasana who served until 2017.
Gasana was replaced in February 2017 by Dr. Irenée Ndayambaje who is still in service.
The ceremony that coincided with the beginning of commemoration week took place in the multipurpose room of Shenyang Crown Plaza Hotel.
It was characterized by talks on genocide history and observing a moment of silence in honor of over 1 million victims killed in 100 days and lighting the flame of hope.
The youth were tasked to consolidate Rwanda’s achievements and put more efforts in learning genocide history to draw lessons leading to re-building the nation.
Participants also watched a documentary depicting the resilience process, unity and reconciliation among Rwandans over the past 25 years.
The president of Rwanda’s diaspora in Shenyang, Medard Mwongereza highlighted that the reconciliation process of Rwandans made Rwanda a role model across the World.
He urged Rwandans to uphold values of forgiveness wherever they are.
“Our parents passed on a good legacy to us. We must always learn to forgive. What we have learned today is the life they passed through. They endured suffering but looked forward to the future of the country and ours. Our daily lives must
be characterized by such great values,” said Mwongereza.
Artistes were part of the cohort of people who were involved in the preparation and execution of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi which Rwanda is commemorating for the 25th time.
One of them is Simon Bikindi who released different songs mobilizing Hutus to kill Tutsi.
Talking to IGIHE, Dominic Ashimwe said that artistes have the power to change people’s mindsets but their message can be destructive if wrongly used.
“The power of an artiste to fans negatively impacts the community if wrongly used and contributes to building the nation if the talent is used well,” he said.
Ashimwe requested fellow artistes to focus on works of arts conveying messages building peace among world population.
“Artistes’ work requires vigilance through their work of arts (music, poems, drawings, and plays among others). The message conveyed should bear good fruits to Rwandan society and the rest of the world and strive to become the right channel enhancing harmony among people,” he advised.
The ceremony took place in the former Camp Kigali where the 10 Belgian soldiers who guarded the then Prime Minister Agathe Uwiringiyimana were killed. It was organized by the Kingdom of Belgium.
The ceremony was attended by the Belgian Prime Minister, Right Honourable Charles Michel, who was accompanied by a large delegation of around 130 persons from Belgium (including family members of the 10 Belgian peacekeepers who were killed in Rwanda) and the Right Honourable Prime Minister, Dr. Ngirente Edouard.
During the ceremony held yesterday, Michel said that by the end of April 2019 Belgium will have voted for passing a law against denial of the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi.
Michel said that there was evidence that genocide was being prepared at the time through his country and the international community never acted against it.
“As we pay homage to our soldiers, we reassure that it won’t happen again. We want to show that the memory of our heroic women and men is kept alive,” he said.
“Denial and trivialization of crimes against humanity in Rwanda must desist. I would like to inform that the Belgium parliament will pass a law against the denial of the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi before the end of this month,” he said.
Rwanda’s Premier Dr. Edouard Ngirente said that Rwandans will always remember the bravery of Belgium soldiers who sacrificed their lives standing against the evil and hailed Belgium contribution to Rwanda in the resilience process. He noted that the relations between both countries are the right honor these soldiers deserve.
“This will always be the memory to honor Belgium soldiers killed during the genocide. However, the great honor we should respect is good relationships between both countries’ citizens,” he highlighted.
Belgium courts in 2007 handed 20 years sentence to Major Bernard Ntuyahaga, senior officer of the former government was in 2007 for being behind killings of Belgium soldiers.
Belgium also remembered 12 citizens who were killed in Rwanda during the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi.
Different reports indicate that France was aware of the plan of the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi, supplied arms to the government which planned and executed genocide, declined to rescue Bisesero residents and provided passage for fleeing genocide perpetrators among others.
During a press conference yesterday, President Paul Kagame revealed that he has talked enough on the role of foreign countries in genocide.
During the 20th commemoration of the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi, Kagame talked on the role of France, Belgium and Catholic Church in genocide and said “Les faits sont têtus.” A message he reproduced in English at the 25th commemoration on Sunday saying “The facts are stubborn.”
Speaking to the media yesterday, President Kagame said it is not necessary to repeat the same thing over time.
“Once you have stated the facts that live on as long as the problem lives on, does it makes sense that I have to keep repeating it? Because if I have said it more than once or twice, then you assume it was for the purpose of reminding people but you can’t just keep reminding people. Sometimes you give them room to think for themselves,” he noted.
Commenting on people who have asked whether what Rwanda needs from France or anybody else has been an apology, Kagame said it is not true.
“You can’t ask people to apologize or keep asking them to apologize or tell them how to apologize. That after all kills the whole meaning of an apology. For an apology to have meaning, it must come from somebody who is apologizing,” he said.
“You can’t ask the person who is offended whether he needs an apology or not. What would be the meaning of an apology extracted by somebody who deserves an apology? If you put all these things together you will realize that it is up to anyone. It is up to France, individuals to write the wrong they think they would agree they have inflicted on other people. This has been our approach,” added Kagame.
He, however, noted that it is not to deny the fact that the presence of Macron to the office because there has been very significant progress in terms of complicated environment of politics and all kinds of things.
“We still make progress from things that you know that happened including the way archives have been treated, being treated because they contain truth that people can make interpretation of. Thinking about bringing up the truth even making one step, next day two, all the steps required is good progress and we have seen that happening,” highlighted Kagame.
He also lauded the commission set up by Macron to investigate France role in the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi.
The ceremony which took place at Nyanza Genocide Memorial yesterday was attended by government officials, representatives of umbrella organizations of genocide survivors, representatives of international organizations and envoys to Rwanda.
The garden is one of parts making Nyanza memorial where over 11,000 genocide victims are laid to rest.
Nyanza is particularly known as the place where thousands of Tutsis were killed after they were abandoned by UN peacekeepers.
They had sought refuge at the former ETO-Kicukiro, (currently IPRC-Kigali), which was protected by UNAMIR peacekeepers, until the Belgian contingent decided to leave the country, leaving them in hands of Interahamwe militia.
Jeannette Kagame said the memorial was built to demonstrate a place where tragedies took place that “it is an unforgettable symbol reminding us that life went on.’
She laid a foundation stone to the garden in 2000 six years after the genocide was stopped.
“When we laid the foundation stone at this garden, it was few years after stopping the genocide which took lives of our beloved ones. It was too earlier that people didn’t think that life would be possible,” she noted.
“As years passed, the hope for life improved and the country progressed. Then we thought that the garden should be part of the memory and hope for life,” added Jeannette Kagame.
The memorial will portray truth on genocide, share testimonies of survivors and resilience with the aim of eliminating genocide ideology. It also reminds us of the task to preserve history, remembrance and promoting humanity.
“We need a place like this in a garden helping us to come together and keep the memory of those who departed,” said the First Lady. were killed for innate personality.
The architect Bruce Clarke, conceived the design of the garden after engaging with genocide survivors on creating other forms of keeping the memory and after visiting genocide memorials and historic sites.
He closely worked with IBUKA, umbrella of genocide survivors during the project.
Bruce Clarke said that the garden was sophisticatedly built and depicts hard times Tutsi passed through.
“Each symbol in this garden represents sorrow, loss of hope and rebuilding of hope. It is not an achievement of one person,” he said.
The president of IBUKA, Jean Pierre Dusingizemungu said that those visiting the garden will find the right place to reflect on what happened during the genocide. “We will be in conversations with ours in comfortable place having symbols of life. It will be a moment for everyone to understand that life exists and building hope for the future,” he observed.
The memorial garden is made of different sections including stones depicting victims killed during the genocide, how environment took part in rescuing hunted Tutsi, open holes representing where some genocide victims were thrown and rivers flowing through marshlands and the section of forest to remember among others.
The memorial garden built on around three hectares is expected to be completed within a year at Rwf 700 million.
He has made the revelation today in a press conference with local and international media covering the 25th commemoration of the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi.
Following the meeting with representatives of Ibuka-France on Friday last week, President Macron said that the committee of eight experts led by Prof. Vincent Duclert will assume the task of ‘Assessing writings kept in France related to genocides between 1990 and 1994 to analyze the role of France activities during that period and contributing to better understanding of Genocide against Tutsi.’
President Kagame said that the commission is a good stride by France leadership in response to repeated questioning of the role of France in the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi.
“The commission set up by President Macron is a significant milestone in France leadership to address the issue because they do more solving problems of their concern. However, that is a milestone in matters concerning Rwanda,” he said.
“If they made that milestone, it is because they want more improvements. Let’s wait and see what will happen. But I think it emerged with new leadership, new moment and the right time that must characterize new cooperation different from the previous one. At this time the situation can even improve more,” added Kagame.
Since Macron became the President of France in May 2017, President Kagame said that he has ushered transformations in France’s international relations especially with Africa.
Apart from the establishment of a commission to probe France role in the genocide, President Macron also unveiled that a platform to explain the history of the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi and mobilizing people to engage in research projects on genocide with an emphasis on Tutsi genocide is set to be established.
He has revealed this Monday, during a press conference with local and international media covering the 25th commemoration of the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi.
The press conference follows commemoration of the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi held on Sunday 7th April 2019 at Gisozi memorial where Rwanda was joined by friends and the international community, diplomats, different heads of states and government to pay homage to genocide victims.
“We are not thinking of creating a war outside our borders. It is a warning to anyone who thinks about war and on our territory. If somebody has ideas that they want to bring war to Rwanda, they should also be aware of the danger they face if they do that,” said Kagame.
Attackers have at different times raided regions in the neighborhood of Nyungwe National Park but repelled by Rwanda’s soldiers.
Commenting on threats to Rwanda, President Kagame said that “In defense of the future children of Rwanda and our stability, we are prepared for that, as we fought many threats and challenges before, we are now better prepared for any threats that would come today.”
President Kagame, however, said that war should not be an emergent thing noting that people should be watchful using the word. He highlighted that war should neither be the first, nor the second nor the third choice considering its disastrous impact.
On the attacks in Nyungwe forest, President Kagame said that there are people behind it to provoke a war against Rwanda mistakenly pretending to benefit from it.
“Those who are behind it have in mind to provoke a war from which they mistakenly think they will benefit. They are trying to hide problems of their own and create a scenario where when war happens, you look the same. We refused this provocation,” he said.
President Kagame also assured everyone that Rwanda with its history of suffering has grown in all bounds including the strength, capacity to wage a war in defense of its stability and peace.
The song carries a message of hope for life encouraging genocide survivors to remember and create resilience despite scars left by the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi.
Artistes featured in the song also voice their concern calling everyone to stand against the evil to prevent re-occurrence of genocide which took lives of over 1 million innocent Tutsi.
The song was launched at Kigali Convention Center yesterday at the beginning of the 25th commemoration of the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi.
The 1994 Genocide against Tutsi took lives of over 1 million Tutsi in 100 days and left both physical and psychological wounds to survivors over passing through bitter life being hunt day and night.
“Rwandan Daughters” Pictures and interviews in the book were taken by two German journalists Antje Stahl and Andrea Jeska.
Many women were raped by Interahamwe and defeated militia during the 100 days of genocide.
Figures from AVEGA-Agahozo, the umbrella of widows of the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi indicates that it has 20,000 members of whom 1599 were contaminated with HIV/AIDS after rape and have 1122 children born of rape.
Part of witnesses from the book indicates that widowers used to hate own children in the very first days as it a reflection of hard times passed through but became strong overtime.
“If I hate my daughter; I would not be different from killers who wanted to kill us and destroy our country because of their hatred,” said one of the witnesses.
One of the children born of rape said he was hurt when the teacher his father’s names yet ‘I never knew him’.
‘I am the only one who survived in my family. I never married again. I live with my child and life goes on,” said another rape victim.
Heine said taking the pictures was difficult and would raise emotions as he heard tragedies these victims passed through. “I often met women bursting into tears but everyone tried to calm down emotions during that situation. I didn’t want to guide the way pictures had to be taken. I was careful of the behavior of the child and mother in front of the camera,” he said.
“Rwandan Daughters” Heine will be published by German book publisher, Hatje Cantz Verlag based in Stuttgart and Berlin cities.
Pictures featured in “Rwandan Daughters” shows mothers with their children at places where they were raped.
The project of taking the pictures was taken between 2016-2018 and funded by charitable organizations including Ora Kinderhilfe and Solace Ministries which takes care of genocide widows.
