Senate report castigates illegal detentions

THE Minister of Justice, Tharcisse Karugarama has raised concerns over cases of illegal detentions that continue to crop up.

Monday, October 22, 2007
Tharcisse Karugarama

THE Minister of Justice, Tharcisse Karugarama has raised concerns over cases of illegal detentions that continue to crop up.

This follows a report compiled by the Senate Commission in-charge of Foreign Affairs and Regional Cooperation outlining the justice conditions in the country and how human rights have been abused in various ways.

"This country is governed basing on laws that protect peoples’ rights; no one should infringe on someone’s rights to justice” Karugarama said, while addressing Senators on Thursday.

He called upon Rwandans who have their rights violated to report to line authorities for justice.

"The offices of the Ombudsman, Human Rights Commission, are in place to ensure that people’s rights are observed,” Karugarama said.

He said there is need for cooperation between the Justice Ministry, Parliament, and concerned parties to make a follow up on abuse of rights especially in forms of illegal detentions.

Senator Immaculée Kayumba Gahima said that there should be preventive mechanisms in the Ministry of Justice to reduce illegal detentions.

Antoine Mugesera called for the sensitization of the masses about their rights because some of the problems result from peoples’ ignorance about their rights.

Senator Joseph Karemera said that there is a need for the Ministry of Justice to continuously improve the conditions in prisons where illegal detentions are manifested.

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