Commission of inquiry to study BBC compliance

Rwandans are grieved by the documentary done by the BBC's Jane Corbin

A commission of inquiry has been tasked with studying whether the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) complied with the agreements that the broadcaster signed with various government institutions. This was announced yesterday by the Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Authority (RURA) in a statement.

Rwandans are grieved by the documentary done by the BBC’s Jane Corbin

Former Prosecutor General Martin Ngoga will head the commission of inquiry. He is joined by the Dean of the Faculty of Journalism, Catholic Institute of Kabgayi, Christophe Mfizi, Dr. Christopher Kayumba, Senior Lecturer, School of Journalism and Communication, Rosine Urujeni, Rwanda Country Director, Indego Africa and Evode Uwizeyimana, Vice Chairman of Rwanda Law Reform Commission

The move comes following RURA’s decision to suspend the transmission of BBC Kinyarwanda on 24, October after receiving public complaints accusing the BBC of promoting divisionism and genocide ideology, “a prima facie violations of those agreements (signed between the BBC and the government)”.

BBC2 aired a documentary on 1 October titled ‘Rwanda’s Untold Story’ that outraged Genocide survivor groups, and led a coalition of academics, scientists and journalists to write to the BBC Director General accusing the broadcaster of being “recklessly irresponsible” in promoting “genocide denial”.

The New Times

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NIZEYIMAMA JEAN