Nothing justifies Rwanda police brutality against the Nyamasheke victims.
The people of Nyamasheke are still grieving for their loved ones who were shot by the Rwandan police because they resisted demolishing their houses.
The problem is not about whether the victims of this brutality resisted the police, the problem is why the police used excessive force like Interahamwe they fought during genocide.
Why do the police which are responsible for protecting the people and their property is the one instead killing them? These are innocent people who are defending their property? Unfortunately, these are not isolated cases, it has become the way of life in Rwanda when the Police are handling even vendors on the Kigali streets, they are shot on the daily basis, and these are disturbing cases after almost Two decades after genocide.
It’s very disturbing to see someone dying because of selling vegetables or cigarettes illegally, on the Rwandan City street or shot because he /she is resisting demolishing his/her house—a state notorious police that is failing the Rwandan people by killing them instead of protecting them, and the justification from this notorious police is: He/she resisted an arrest!
The Great Lakes Human Rights Link will offer the victims of this Police Brutality all the necessary legal assistance to bring these criminals in the National Uniform to Justice. Accordingly we are preparing a dossier to the ICC for the Rwandan police and their Police Chief who has either ordered these killings or has failed to bring these police officers under his command to account.
Noble Marara
Executive Secretary
Great Lakes Human Rights Link.