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Kinyarwanda
Five people were arrested on April 16, in Gacurabwenge Sector of Kamonyi District after they were found destroying a gazetted forest.
The forest is located in Ryabimata village, Gahinga cell in Gacurabwenge Sector.
Those arrested are Berchimas Kayitare, 45, Michel Sindambiwe, 37; Monica Nyirabahire, 32; Anathalie Nyirabarera, 64; and Consolata Nyambuga, 68.
Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Sylvestre Twajamahoro, the Police spokesperson for the Southern region, said that Police in Kamonyi had information that human activities were affecting the forest.
"There was information that people sneak into the protected forest and cut trees for charcoal burning, trees for sell and firewood," said CIP Twajamahoro.
He added: "Operations were organized to arrest those involved in these environmental crimes. In the evening of Thursday at about 6:30 pm, Police responded to information that there are people who were felling trees in the same forest. The five people were arrested in the forest where they were indeed cutting trees."
He explained that the suspects had destroyed a big part of the forest.
CIP Twajamahoro warned against such illegal human actions, which pose ill-effects on forests and the environment in general.
The law on environment in its article 44, partly, prohibits burning and cutting protected forests and national parks.
In article 59, anyone convicted of such unlawful environmental actions face between three and five years and a fine of between Rwf1 million and Rwf3 million.
CIP Twajamahoro further reminded that such illegal activities in this period can be a source of spreading Coronavirus.
"This was an unlawful act and violation of government directives which requires everyone to take positive actions in this period; to leave your home only when you are going for essential services, and report anyone who put lives of people at risk."
