Seven held over unlawful protest

SEVEN people including a 15-year old student are being held at Mukamira Police Station for participating in what police refer to as unlawful protest. According to the police, the group blocked traffic on Kigali-Rubavu road and participated in an unlawful protest on Wednesday. They were protesting against the Military High Court’s life imprisonment sentence handed to Cpl. Venant Gahamanyi who was found guilty on October 20 of the murder of six people as well as attempted murder, during a shooting incident. Police was forced to fire into the air to disperse the protesting crowd. “We shall charge them with unlawful protest against a court’s verdict,” Police publicist, Chief Superintendent Eric Kayiranga told The New Times on Thursday. “They pelted vehicles with stones and injured some people, protesting without permission and stubbornly drawing in students who had nothing to do with the ruling,” the area Police said. The suspects were identified as Mukashyaka Benitha, Dativa Kabyeyi, Alline Nizane (student), Vestine Mukamana, Jacqueline Umurisa, Evareste Nzayikunda, and Beatrice Muhorakeye According to the penal code article 220, Vol 2, if convicted the suspects would be sentenced to two years in prison.Cpl Gahamanyi shot and killed six people and seriously wounded 13 others on October 8 after a quarrel with a bar proprietor over payment of beer bills. Ends