Once again grenade attacks in Kigali on 3rd January 2012 have left 20 innocent Rwandans wounded and an unspecified number dead. The Rwanda National Congress condemns the perpetrators of this cowardly act. Many innocent Rwandan lives have been lost or wounded from these repeated grenade attacks since last year. None of these have been investigated and perpetrators brought to justice. Either the government is implicated in these periodic grenade attacks, so as to find pretext to crack down on the political opposition at a time of dwindling internal and foreign support, or the regime has lost the ability to protect its citizens. Either way this continuing loss of life is a matter of grave concern and Rwandans must unite, mobilise and organise to end it as soon as possible through peaceful and democratic means. We also call upon the international community to demand from Kigali a full and expeditious investigation to bring to justice the perpetrators of this and previous grenade attacks.

On behalf of the leadership and members of the Rwanda National Congress, we express our with sincere and heartfelt sympathies and condolences to the wounded and deceased Rwandans. In this time of grief and sorrow, we pray that the victims’ families will sermon the strength to remain united and strong in the hope that these dangerous times will come to pass. These grenade attacks, like other state-inspired and organised crimes against innocent citizens, are acts of terror whose main aim is to instill fear, and prolong dictatorship. Rwandans must reject to be intimidated into fear and inaction.

Theogene Rudasingwa

Co-ordinator

Rwanda National Congress

Washington D, C

USA

3/1/2012

.