The Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB) has issued a stark warning to the public concerning the concealment of information related to the victims of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi.
Under Article 8 of the law, which addresses the disposal or degradation of evidence or information about the genocide, severe consequences await those found guilty of such actions.
The law explicitly states that any individual who deliberately conceals, destroys, eliminates, or degrades evidence or information relating to genocide commits a criminal offence.
Upon conviction, offenders face imprisonment for a term of not less than seven (7) years and not more than nine (9) years, in addition to a fine ranging from five hundred thousand Rwandan francs (Rwf500,000) to one million Rwandan francs (Rwf1,000,000).
RIB officials have underscored the gravity of this offence, emphasizing that it undermines efforts to achieve justice for the victims of one of the darkest chapters in Rwanda’s history. It also impedes efforts of reconciliation and unity.
Some of the crimes covered in the law punishing the crime of genocide ideology and related crimes include the crime of genocide ideology such as denial of genocide, minimization of genocide, justification of genocide, disposing of or degrading evidence or information relating to genocide, stealing or destroying bodies of the victims of genocide, demolishing, damaging or desecrating a memorial site or a place where bodies of the victims of genocide are laid to rest and violence against a survivor of genocide.
In recent developments, RIB reported the arrest of several suspects implicated in concealing vital information regarding the genocide.
The Bureau says that between early 2023 and today, has handled about 100 cases related to the above crimes.
Jean Claude Ntirenganya, an investigator in the Crime Research and Prevention Division, speaking on state television, RBA, yesterday, encourages everyone with any information or evidence relating to the genocide against the Tutsi to come forward and reveal it.
“There are no punishments or charges against anyone who comes forward and reveals vital information; on the contrary, it is punishable to conceal,” Ntirenganya emphasized.
He noted that revealing any information helps those keeping it to heal and live with peace. It also aids survivors in their healing process and ultimately contributes to restoring unity among Rwandans.
Umukozi mu Ishami rishinzwe gukumira ibyaha n'ubushakashatsi muri @RIB_Rw , Ntirenganya Jean Claude, yagaragaje ibihano bitegereje abanga gutanga amakuru ku hantu hajugunywe imibiri y'abazize Jenoside yakorewe Abatutsi.#Kwibuka30#RBAAmakuru pic.twitter.com/FLnVB5suon
— Rwanda Television (@RwandaTV) April 15, 2024
Dr. Thierry Murangira, RIB spokesperson, reiterated the organization’s commitment to pursuing justice and holding perpetrators of genocide-related crimes accountable. “We will spare no effort in bringing to justice those who attempt to obstruct the truth and conceal the atrocities committed during the genocide against the Tutsi,” Thierry stated.
Moreover, RIB has issued a public call to individuals who have not yet committed the crime to refrain from engaging in any activities that obstruct justice or impede ongoing efforts to unearth the truth about the genocide. The bureau urges the public to fully cooperate with law enforcement authorities and report any information pertinent to genocide-related crimes.
Dr. Murangira told Taarifa that Crimes of Genocide Ideology and Related Crimes have dramatically reduced. He acknowledged a decline in such crimes but highlighted that recent arrests and charge sheets still demonstrate their existence.
“Reconciliation and unity are among the country’s key pillars to stability and unity,” Murangira emphasized, urging the general public to refrain from engaging in acts that constitute crimes related to genocide and genocide ideology.
The warning from RIB comes as Rwanda continues to grapple with the legacy of the 1994 genocide, during which over one million Tutsis were brutally massacred in just 100 days. Efforts to bring perpetrators to justice and provide closure to survivors and victims’ families remain ongoing, with the government and various organizations working tirelessly to ensure that those responsible are held accountable for their actions.
As the nation commemorates the 30th anniversary of the genocide against the Tutsi, the message from RIB serves as a reminder of the importance of confronting the past, preserving the memory of the victims, and upholding the principles of truth and justice in the pursuit of reconciliation and healing.
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