rwandan forces killing suspects without trial hrw
Last Updated : GMT 09:40:38
Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle
Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle
Last Updated : GMT 09:40:38
Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle

Rwandan forces killing suspects without trial: HRW

Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle

Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicleRwandan forces killing suspects without trial: HRW

President Paul Kagame
Nairobi - Muslimchronicle

 The soldiers came at dawn to Fulgence Rukundo's house in a village in western Rwanda, and accused him of stealing a cow.

They draped slabs of the dead cow's carcass around his shoulders and positioned the animal's head on his before marching him into a banana plantation and shooting him dead, according to witnesses cited in a Human Rights Watch (HRW) report on extrajudicial killings released Thursday.

An investigation by the rights group alleges that Rwandan security forces executed at least 37 suspected petty offenders, including Rukundo, instead of prosecuting them. Another four have allegedly disappeared.

The government refused AFP requests to comment on the report released a day before the start of election campaigning for August 4 elections in which incumbent President Paul Kagame is expected to handily win a third term.

According to HRW, the wave of documented extrajudicial killings took place between July 2016 and March 2017 in western Rwanda and appeared to be part of an official strategy to "spread fear, enforce order and deter any resistance to government orders or policies."

- 'New orders' -

"In most of the cases documented by Human Rights Watch, local military and civilian authorities told residents after the execution, often during public meetings, that they were following 'new orders' or a 'new law' stating that all thieves and other criminals in the region would be arrested and executed," the report says.

Despite occurring in front of multiple witnesses, the killings have not been discussed in Rwanda, where the media has been muzzled and local rights groups are afraid to speak out, according to HRW.

After being taken from his home, Rukundo was first marched to a public meeting, with hundreds of villagers following the grisly spectacle, where the mayor accused him of stealing the cow.

"All thieves must be killed," the mayor said, according to a witness at the meeting, before signing a piece of paper along with the soldiers who then took him away and shot him, the report says.

One resident from the Rubavu district told HRW that warnings were delivered in regular community meetings, an important part of village life in Rwanda.

"In 2016, the authorities started saying things in meetings like, 'We will kill people we catch stealing'," the report cited the witness as saying.

Others killed without a trial were accused of stealing bananas, sugar cane or a motorcycle.

According to the report, based on 119 interviews with family members, witnesses, officials and others, at least 11 men were killed for using illegal nets while fishing on Lake Kivu in Rubavu.

- Families silenced by fear -

HRW also documented the case of two men who were killed by civilians after being encouraged to do so by local authorities.

Family members were left terrified and warned to keep silent.

One widow, taken to the body of her husband after he was in the forest, said: "The soldiers told us not to be sad and not to cry. They said if we dared to cry, we would risk being shot."

Another witness to the killings told HRW: "We have no right to free expression. If we talk about this, we will end up in prison or disappear."

Rwanda has been held up as an African success story for advances in its economy, infrastructure and security since the 1994 genocide in which some 800,000 people, mostly Tutsis, were killed.

But alarm has risen in recent years over a crackdown on freedoms and opposition groups.

A report by Amnesty International last week warned that two decades of repression had created a "climate of fear" ahead of next month's presidential election.

source: AFP

themuslimchronicle
themuslimchronicle

Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

rwandan forces killing suspects without trial hrw rwandan forces killing suspects without trial hrw

 



Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle

GMT 17:35 2017 Wednesday ,27 December

Egyptian MP underlines Egypt’s ability

GMT 15:43 2011 Sunday ,15 May

US bid to save Louisiana cities

GMT 12:06 2012 Friday ,04 May

Is there a solution for Sudan?

GMT 07:43 2014 Tuesday ,12 August

Where is Assad on Gaza

GMT 07:44 2017 Tuesday ,07 February

Holding local elections requires dialogue

GMT 10:23 2016 Saturday ,16 January

Jazz parades and glittery parties

GMT 14:45 2017 Thursday ,07 September

NATO on guard ahead of major Russian war games

GMT 23:59 2011 Wednesday ,09 March

Exxon Scores Key Victory In Alaska

GMT 12:13 2011 Friday ,16 December

Beckham Style Icon for Over 50

GMT 13:53 2011 Tuesday ,28 June

De Gea confirms Manchester United offer

GMT 23:07 2012 Tuesday ,31 January

The Kardashian Sisters Topless

GMT 08:21 2011 Wednesday ,28 December

Modern rocking chair

GMT 00:52 2011 Friday ,25 November

Graffiti as art in order-conscious Singapore

GMT 04:01 2015 Tuesday ,17 February

Qatar national library to host event for children

GMT 10:18 2012 Sunday ,08 January

Mental illness 'rampant' in Somalia

GMT 07:17 2015 Monday ,02 March

Tintin set to go at Paris auctions

GMT 14:27 2017 Monday ,06 February

NATO starts anti-Daesh bomb training in Iraq

GMT 09:06 2016 Wednesday ,26 October

Canada parliament votes to take in Yazidi refugees

GMT 20:28 2017 Monday ,19 June

Deadly wildfires around the world

GMT 04:31 2017 Thursday ,16 February

Tunisian designers look to past for inspiration
Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle
Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle
 
 Themuslimchronicle Facebook,themuslimchronicle facebook  Themuslimchronicle Twitter,themuslimchronicle twitter Themuslimchronicle Rss,themuslimchronicle rss  Themuslimchronicle Youtube,themuslimchronicle youtube  Themuslimchronicle Youtube,themuslimchronicle youtube

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2023 ©

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2023 ©

muslimchronicle muslimchronicle muslimchronicle muslimchronicle
themuslimchronicle themuslimchronicle themuslimchronicle
themuslimchronicle
بناية النخيل - رأس النبع _ خلف السفارة الفرنسية _بيروت - لبنان
themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle