Government justifies civil society probe

Rwanda's government has dismissed a recent report by the European Union (EU) criticising it for backing a move to investigate and prosecute civil society organisations and individuals for allegedly having genocidal ideologies.

"We cannot maintain silence on serious issues like genocide," Protais Mitali, the minister for regional cooperation, told IRIN on Tuesday. "We know what genocide did to this country and how the preparations were carried out as organisations like the European Union just watched."

In mid-September, the government ordered the country's chief prosecutor to investigate groups and individuals for allegedly promoting ethnic divisions. The League for the Promotion and Defence of Human Rights (LIPRODOR), which has been critical of the government, was among four other local institutions named in a parliamentary committee report for having a "genocide ideology".

In August, the parliamentary report recommended banning the institutions. At the time, six LIPRODOR officials fled the country saying they feared arrest.

In a statement issued last week, the EU expressed concern over the issue.

"The EU regrets that the government of Rwanda has not unequivocally stated that those mentioned in the parliamentary report are presumed innocent until the contrary is proven," the EU said.

"Individuals have been publicly accused on the basis of information that is insufficiently substantiated - the parliamentary report shows many hurdles remain on the way to unity and genuine reconciliation," the EU added.

Mitali said the EU's statement was "a sort of intimidation" that was "unacceptable".

He said: "The country's laws are clear on matters concerning those who promote ethnic divisionism and the law will have to take its course."

Critics of the government accuse it of using the laws to suppress freedom of expression. In 2003, the main opposition party was banned ahead of presidential and parliamentary elections following a recommendation by another parliamentary commission.