Ibuka stages demo against ICTR

The umbrella body of genocide survivors and other organizations promoting interests of genocide survivors yesterday held a peaceful demonstration against what they described as “malpractices” by the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR).

Saturday, November 21, 2009
MAKING THE LONG WALK: Demonstrators making their way to the the ICTR Offices in Remera yesterday. (Photo J. Mbanda)

The umbrella body of genocide survivors and other organizations promoting interests of genocide survivors yesterday held a peaceful demonstration against what they described as "malpractices” by the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR).

The demonstration that stretched from the tribunal’s documentation centre in downtown Kigali to the court’s Rwanda liaison office based in Remera, was in protest of the recent acquittal of two suspects by the Tanzania-based court.

"We are all against ICTR’s decisions. Releasing genocide perpetrators is outright denial of genocide, releasing a person like (Protais) Zigiranyirazo,  (Emmanuel) Bagambiki, Andre Ntagerura, Ignace Bagirishema, Gen Gratien Kabirigi and others, proves injustice and we are against this, we are protesting this,” chanted a demonstrator from a loudspeaker.

The demos were sparked off by this week’s release of Zigiranyirazo, commonly known as” Mr. Z” and Catholic priest Hormisdas Nsengimana.

Theodore Simburudari, Ibuka president, urged the government of Rwanda to ask UN Security Council to investigate ICTR judges over their unfair rulings.

He said Ibuka was halting its cooperation with the Arusha based tribunal.

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