Great Lakes Human Rights Link is seriously concerned with recent discovery of a mass grave near the Kigali Main Prisons commonly known as 1930; the discovery comes at a time when many innocent Rwandans have continued to disappear, extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions.

Imirambo

In addition to persistent politically motivated killings, Great Lakes Human Rights Link remains concerned by killings carried out with the knowledge or direct participation and support of Rwandan authorities against so-called “undesirables” in Rwanda. Great Lakes Human Rights Link documented many of these killings in recent months, particularly on the dead bodies that were discovered in Lake Rweru in the neighboring Burundi.

In our September 2014 report “The dead human bodies found in Lake Rweru, clues lead to Rwanda”we detailed the involvement of Rwanda government officials and police officers with a “death squad” responsible for the extrajudicial killings of alleged political dissents. This death squad is committed to hire some poison operations, targeting independent journalists, perceived potential opposition politicians and businessmen. Indeed, particularly disturbing is the failure of the Rwandan government to seriously investigate the death squad, disappearances of innocent people and bring those responsible to justice.

Our findings of hundreds of extrajudicial killings and the discovery of the mass grave near Kigali main Prisons reflects broader problems of law enforcement and a dysfunctional criminal justice system in the Rwanda. The Mass grave mentioned above, for instance, is an offshoot of similar death and disappearances activity in the country. Past Great Lakes Human Rights Link research indicate the spread of these abusive “anti-crime” throughout the country.

Extrajudicial executions, including politically motivated killings, by state security forces have been a longstanding problem in Rwanda. Indeed, the number of killings has increased dramatically in recent years, they continue largely with impunity. There has been an uptick the past months in attacks on freedom of press, for example the closure of the BBC Fm in Rwanda and other potential activists. There is no doubt that many people who are perceived to be potential activists, politicians remain at risk.

We call upon the Rwandan government or independent human rights organizations to conduct an immediate investigation into the mass graves discovered near the Kigali Prison and other extrajudicial killings perpetrated by Rwanda Security forces. The independent investigation will expose and signal that the country’s culture of impunity for extrajudicial killings needs to come to an end.

We urge the Government of Rwanda to take all necessary steps to bring to an end and establish an independent commission of inquiry in the continued disappearance of innocent people and the extrajudicial killings and ensure that respect for international human rights and humanitarian law prevails in the country.

Noble Marara

Secretary Great Lakes Human Rights Link

http://www.greatlakeshumanrightslink.com/statement-on-mass-graves-near-kigali-prison-1930/