Arbitrary Arrests Threaten Legal Rights In Rwanda
Editorials on Voice of America
06/09/2014
Some individuals were held for over a month without charge and were
unable to communicate with lawyers or their families.
A disturbing pattern of arrests continues in Rwanda, where dozens of
people have been detained by authorities for alleged state security
offenses. Many were held without formal charges.
Arbitrary Arrests Threaten Legal Rights In Rwanda
The Rwandan government has been cited frequently for persecuting its
opponents. Its reach has sometimes crossed borders. In March, South
Africa expelled three Rwandan envoys it believes were linked to the
killing of Rwanda's former chief of intelligence and an attack against
Rwanda's former chief of defense staff. Both men had fallen out with
the regime.
Faced with an organized movement of anti-regime former government
officials and a rebel movement operating in neighboring Democratic
Republic of the Congo, Rwandan government officials have defended
their actions. They say they must take action against people they
believe want to use violence against their people or the government.
The United States is deeply concerned by the dozens of arrests that
have taken place in the past two months. Some individuals were held
for over a month without charge and were unable to communicate with
lawyers or their families.
The United States supports all lawful efforts to identify individuals
who seek to use violence against the Rwandan people and government.
But in a democratic society, individuals may not be arrested or
detained without recourse to due process of law to certain minimum
guarantees. That includes the right to challenge in a court the
charges and witnesses against them.
In a democratic society, all are equal before the law, prosecutors and
the defendant. It is for a judge to determine guilt, not the
government, no matter how well-intentioned it believes its motives.
The United States calls on the Rwandan government to account for
individuals arrested over the past two months in relation to these
cases and currently in custody. It also must respect the rights under
Rwandan law and international human rights law of the individuals
detained and arrested. We also call on authorities there to fully
respect freedom of expression, including for members of the press so
that they may investigate, report and facilitate discussion on issues
of public concern.
http://m.editorials.voa.gov/a/arbitrary-arrests-threaten-legal-rights-in-rwanda/1933142.html
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SIBOMANA Jean Bosco
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