Twelve members of the opposition party National Congress for Freedom (CNL) of Kiremba commune are detained in Ngozi province chief town. They were arrested after the assassination of Joseph Ntirandekura, a leader of the ruling party CNDD-FDD in Gahororo locality on Saturday 11 April.
Jonas Nahimana: “We expect independent investigations and justice.”
CNL members denounce politically motivated arrests. “Our comrades are not involved in this assassination,” say the Inyankamugayo (CNL youths) from Kiremba commune. A dozen of CNL members as well as the chief of Gahororo locality in Kiremba commune, also member of the ruling CNDD-FDD, are imprisoned in Ngozi judicial police cell.
Gahororo sources indicate that Joseph Ntirandekura was killed with a stick. “He got a blow on the head. He died on the spot. His body was discovered in the afternoon of Saturday 12 April at around 3 p.m.”
Arrests for political reasons
Residents of Gahororo locality believe that this assassination is related to witchcraft. The Inyankamugayo of Kiremba commune are convinced that the 12 people were targeted because of their political affiliation.
CNL communal representatives, however, say they continue to appease their members’ conscience by asking them to preserve peace and security, especially during this pre-electoral period.
“We are surprised by our members’ arrests”, regrets Jonas Nahimana, CNL representative in Ngozi province adding that he is closely following this issue.
“We don’t want to interfere in the police and justice affairs. Our party promotes justice. We expect independent investigations and justice. ”
The police say investigations are underway. Iwacu tried to reach the administrator of Kiremba commune but to no avail.
Written by Longin Hasabamagara and translated by Lorraine Josiane Manishatse
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