Rwanda 'misusing genocide law to curb dissent'

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Rwanda 'misusing genocide law to curb dissent'

By Str | AFP – 55 mins ago

Amnesty International on Saturday called on Rwanda to stop using a law aimed

preventing " genocide ideology " to stifle dissent and charge critics and

journalists.

The London-based watchdog said it was " concerned that despite Rwanda?s

recognition of the shortcomings of the genocide ideology law, the authorities

continue to use it to prosecute government critics, including journalists. "

" Abductions, enforced disappearances and incommunicado detention -- rare in

Rwanda in recent years -- increased in 2010 as the authorities investigated a

spate of grenade attacks, " the statement said.

Earlier this month Amnesty asked Kigali to revise laws on " genocide ideology "

and " divisionism " .

In response, Justice Minister Tharcisse Karugarama said the legislation was

aimed at avoiding a repetition of the 1994 genocide of the Tutsi, but that the

laws were " undergoing revision " .

Amnesty said on Saturday that it wanted Rwanda " to ensure that legislative

changes are accompanied by prompt reviews of past cases -- including of

opposition politicians and journalists convicted to lengthy prison sentences for

merely expressing their opinions without advocating violence.

" Rwanda could demonstrate this commitment by re-opening investigations into the

killing of journalist Jean-Leonard Rugambage on 24 June 2010, " it said.

The group also called on Rwanda to respond " promptly " to communications from

human rights organisations and family members regarding such cases.