BY LILLIAN NAKAYIMA WESTERN PROVINCE KARONGI: Bwishyura Sector in Western Province held a three-hour meeting Wednesday in a bid to strengthen its and Karongi District security. Bwishyura sector executive Safari Bagina chaired meeting attended by local defense and sector leaders. The local defense force had been accused of failing to protect citizens. Lt John Bosco Kabagambe who is in charge of the district security and the head of police Major Alex Vuningoma also attended. The security meet followed threats to some witnesses who give evidence in Gacaca courts and other crimes on the increase in the sector. Bwishyura is the heart of Karongi district and Western Province, which makes it a strategic commercial area. Nyakagwa Island, given to Butare National University for research, is infamous for prostitution, violent behavior and drug dealers. Bagina has urged the local defense to respect their uniforms and to strictly use them while at work. It has been a common practice for the local defense to go in bars and do their other private work while in uniform. The force has been accused of dressing up as the military police, which misleads the community on their role. Lt. Kabagambe ordered them to handover the uniforms back to police. The local defense has been tasked to ensure security of Genocide survivors who provide evidence in Gacaca courts. There have been reports of property loss and death threats, prompting some witnesses to flee their homes.
