Rwanda defends its stance on hosting refugees

KIGALI, May 4 (Xinhua) -- The refugee ministry of Rwanda on Friday said Rwandan authorities do not need to carry the burden of refugees who espouse lawlessness, after the death of a refugee following a clash with the police in western Rwanda.

A refugee from Kiziba Refugee Camp hosting refugees of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo) on Wednesday succumbed to injuries he got when, together with other refugees, he was trying to interfere with police patrols on Tuesday.

Troublesome elements in the Kiziba Refugee Camp have been stirring trouble, including attacking law enforcement officers, in the hope of being resettled in Western countries of their choice, said Ministry of Disaster Management and Refugee Affairs in a statement.

"Rwandan authorities cannot decide for other asylum countries, nor do we need to carry the burden of refugees who espouse lawlessness. For those refugees who wish to return to their country of origin, they are free to do so," said the statement.

The statement said the government of Rwanda in collaboration with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and other relevant agencies, remains willing to host peaceful refugees and provide them the usual support and benefits on condition that they respect the rule of law.

The government of Rwanda in the statement also said it deplores the death of the refugee. Enditem