Amnesty: Rwanda abusing 'genocide' law

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 Saturday 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.