Letter to the Rwandan Minister of Internal Security
His Excellence Mr. Sheikh Mussa Fazil HARERIMANA April 20, 2009
Minister of Internal Security Nº:008/HJ/PK/2009
P.O. BOX 446 Kigali-Rwanda
His Excellency,
I am writing on behalf of the Organization for Peace, Justice and Development in
Rwanda (OPJDR), Inc. to express concern about the arrests and lack of
due process regarding the following people: Augustin Buzizi, Protais Dusabimana, and Lucien Nyangwabona.
Augustin Buzizi, 63 years old and a retired teacher was arrested on April 12, 2009 for
harboring genocide ideology accusations. On the eve of the commemoration of the
genocide, a number of Rwandan citizens residing in the cell of Gatsilima of the sector of
Kiyombe, district of Nyagatare, Northern Province were arrested for unspecified charges.
Buzizi wrote a letter to Rwandan authorities including Domitille Mukantaganzwa, the
Executive Secretary of Gacaca Courts to inform them of the abuses committed by local
authorities against these citizens.
On April 12, 2009 the authorities of the sector of Kiyombe held a public meeting in the
cell of Gitenga where Buzizi lives to commemorate the genocide. The meeting was also
attended by the representatives of the Rwanda Defense Forces (RDF). Local authorities
invited Buzizi to give his own testimony regarding the genocide. In his testimony, Buzizi
stated that ethnic groups in Rwanda and their peaceful coexistence are historical realities.
He added that European colonization introduced ethnic divisions and that those ethnic
divisions still exist today. He remarked that the different political regimes including the
post genocide government did not do much to minimize or abolish ethnic divisions. He
concluded that if French troops had not intervened in Rwanda, Tutsis would have wiped
out Hutus.
After this meeting Buzizi was immediately arrested by local authorities and taken to the
prison of Rukomo.The director of the High School of Cyondo who was present at the meeting spoke to
defend Buzizi’s views. He was also arrested.
Protais Dusabimana, son of Tatien Bwabuhe, was arrested in Umutara about two years
ago. Since then, he has been in the prison of Ntsinda without charges.
Lucien Nyangwabona, son of Rwamulinda was arrested two years ago. Nyangwabona is
from Rushaki, Northern Province and worked for the Rwandan customs in Kibungo until
OPJDR is non-profit and apolitical. Its mission is to promote the respect of human rights and
Cultural, educational, and economic development in the Great Lakes Region of Africa.
his arrest. Sources close to him suggest that his supervisor ordered him to sign documents
he was unauthorized to sign so he could get rid of him and replace him with a Tutsi. The
next day after signing those documents, he was arrested and his job was given to a Tutsi.
He has spent over two years in jail at the prison of Rwamagana.
Our organization recommends that you conduct an independent investigation into the
three cases mentioned above. Credible reports gathered by our organization indicate that
recently a score of people have been arbitrary arrested in the cell of Gatsilima and their
whereabouts remain unknown. We call on you to investigate those cases as well and
make public your findings to ensure that their rights are respected.
Sincerely,
Pascal Kalinganire
Coordinator General
Copies:
Honorable Mr. Kenneth Roth
Executive Director of Human Rights Watch
350 Fifth Avenue, 34th Floor
New York, NY 10118-3299
USA
Tel: 1-(212) 290-4700
Fax: +1-212-736-1300
Email: hrwnyc@hrw.org
Honorable Mrs. Irene Khan
Secretary General of Amnesty International
1 Easton Street
London, United Kingdom
WC1X0DW, UK
Tel.: +44-20-74135500
Fax : +44-20-79561157
Honorable Mr. Gareth Evans
President and Chief Executive
International Crisis Group
149 Avenue Louise
Level 24
B-1050 Brussels
Tel: +32-2-502 90 38
Fax: +32-2-502 50 38
His Excellence Mr. Sheikh Mussa Fazil HARERIMANA April 20, 2009
Minister of Internal Security Nº:008/HJ/PK/2009
P.O. BOX 446 Kigali-Rwanda
His Excellency,
I am writing on behalf of the Organization for Peace, Justice and Development in
Rwanda (OPJDR), Inc. to express concern about the arrests and lack of
due process regarding the following people: Augustin Buzizi, Protais Dusabimana, and Lucien Nyangwabona.
Augustin Buzizi, 63 years old and a retired teacher was arrested on April 12, 2009 for
harboring genocide ideology accusations. On the eve of the commemoration of the
genocide, a number of Rwandan citizens residing in the cell of Gatsilima of the sector of
Kiyombe, district of Nyagatare, Northern Province were arrested for unspecified charges.
Buzizi wrote a letter to Rwandan authorities including Domitille Mukantaganzwa, the
Executive Secretary of Gacaca Courts to inform them of the abuses committed by local
authorities against these citizens.
On April 12, 2009 the authorities of the sector of Kiyombe held a public meeting in the
cell of Gitenga where Buzizi lives to commemorate the genocide. The meeting was also
attended by the representatives of the Rwanda Defense Forces (RDF). Local authorities
invited Buzizi to give his own testimony regarding the genocide. In his testimony, Buzizi
stated that ethnic groups in Rwanda and their peaceful coexistence are historical realities.
He added that European colonization introduced ethnic divisions and that those ethnic
divisions still exist today. He remarked that the different political regimes including the
post genocide government did not do much to minimize or abolish ethnic divisions. He
concluded that if French troops had not intervened in Rwanda, Tutsis would have wiped
out Hutus.
After this meeting Buzizi was immediately arrested by local authorities and taken to the
prison of Rukomo.The director of the High School of Cyondo who was present at the meeting spoke to
defend Buzizi’s views. He was also arrested.
Protais Dusabimana, son of Tatien Bwabuhe, was arrested in Umutara about two years
ago. Since then, he has been in the prison of Ntsinda without charges.
Lucien Nyangwabona, son of Rwamulinda was arrested two years ago. Nyangwabona is
from Rushaki, Northern Province and worked for the Rwandan customs in Kibungo until
OPJDR is non-profit and apolitical. Its mission is to promote the respect of human rights and
Cultural, educational, and economic development in the Great Lakes Region of Africa.
his arrest. Sources close to him suggest that his supervisor ordered him to sign documents
he was unauthorized to sign so he could get rid of him and replace him with a Tutsi. The
next day after signing those documents, he was arrested and his job was given to a Tutsi.
He has spent over two years in jail at the prison of Rwamagana.
Our organization recommends that you conduct an independent investigation into the
three cases mentioned above. Credible reports gathered by our organization indicate that
recently a score of people have been arbitrary arrested in the cell of Gatsilima and their
whereabouts remain unknown. We call on you to investigate those cases as well and
make public your findings to ensure that their rights are respected.
Sincerely,
Pascal Kalinganire
Coordinator General
Copies:
Honorable Mr. Kenneth Roth
Executive Director of Human Rights Watch
350 Fifth Avenue, 34th Floor
New York, NY 10118-3299
USA
Tel: 1-(212) 290-4700
Fax: +1-212-736-1300
Email: hrwnyc@hrw.org
Honorable Mrs. Irene Khan
Secretary General of Amnesty International
1 Easton Street
London, United Kingdom
WC1X0DW, UK
Tel.: +44-20-74135500
Fax : +44-20-79561157
Honorable Mr. Gareth Evans
President and Chief Executive
International Crisis Group
149 Avenue Louise
Level 24
B-1050 Brussels
Tel: +32-2-502 90 38
Fax: +32-2-502 50 38
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