Threats to Survivors diminishing - Police

KIGALI - As the commemoration month ends, Information from police indicates that there were no serious cases of insecurities and other forms of threats directed towards genocide survivors, compared to the previous years.

Monday, May 03, 2010
COMMEMORATION; mourners placing flowers on a Genocide monument last month. The month recorded minimal insecurities than previously (File Photo)

KIGALI - As the commemoration month ends, Information from police indicates that there were no serious cases of insecurities and other forms of threats directed towards genocide survivors, compared to the previous years.

Eric Kayiranga, the Police spokesperson, revealed that unlike the previous commemorations when survivors were intimidated, threatened and sometimes killed, this year’s commemoration was generally free of such cases.

"This year’s commemoration period was generally peaceful, apart from a few isolated cases of people throwing stones on genocide survivor’s houses, there were no cases of intimidation, deaths or threats directed towards survivors, everything went well,” he observed

He pointed out that there were a few cases of genocide denial like one in Ruhango where a person uttered statements related to genocide denial but nothing more threatening.

"The cases of trauma have also reduced and this is partially due to reduced cases of survivor harassment in this year’s commemoration period,” Kayiranga said.

He attributed the improved treatment of survivors to the decentralization of the commemoration activities. Kayiranga said that extending commemoration activities to the local levels around the country made everyone get actively involved right from the village level.

When asked about the general security stand around the country during the commemoration month, the police spokesperson revealed that apart from grenade attacks that happened earlier, the country has been secure.

"The country’s security organs have been doing their best and they will continue to keep security at its best, business is going on normally, and we thank the people for collaborating in keeping security under control,” he noted.

Ends