KIGALI, Rwanda – After the brutal beating and arrest of The New Times’s photographer, George Baryamwisaki (Barya) and staff colleague Ignatius Ssuuna, on Tuesday evening, other journalists have come forward with their accounts of assaults by the hands of Rwandan police.

While covering a story on hawkers being chased off the streets, a policeman turned his gun on Barya because he allegedly took his picture without his permission. Barya and Ssuuna were handcuffed and ordered to follow the officer to the police station. Along the way, the policeman allegedly punched and kicked Barya. The two journalists were detained for hours before being released. Upon release, Barya was admitted to the hospital.

The following day, the Commissioner General of Police, Andrew Rwigamba promised to investigate the allegations.

However many journalists are not hopeful the investigation will quell the tension between reporters and police officers. Three other reporters from The New Times and other newspapers came forward with similar stories of abuse.

In one incident, Daniel Sabiiti, reporter for The New Times, and Jean-Pierre Twizeyeyezu, reporter for Contact FM were arrested while covering a Garaca trial. According the reporters, the police officers tried to confiscate their identifications. When they refused, they were detained. When they were released, the reporters were forced to sign a paper stating that they had not been harassed or embarrassed. The reporters were then dropped off in the middle of the country “in the dead of night.”

Police spokesman, Inspector Willy Higiro, claims the reporters’ claims are “exaggerated” and that “[j]ournalists often believe they are above the law.”

For more information please see:

AllAfrica .com – Rwanda: Policemen used to beating Journalist – 10 December 2007

AllAfrica.com – Rwanda: Police Investigate Officer for Assaulting Journalist – 7 December 2007