The Minster for Internal Security, Fazil Musa Harerimana, has assured detainees that court rulings will always be communicated in time. The minister, who was touring Nsinda Prison in Rwamagana District, yesterday, was reacting to detainees’ complaints that some of them remained in custody illegally. He was accompanied by top prison officials and Governor of the Eastern Province Odette Uwamariya. Some of the issues raised included 47 detainees who had appealed Gacaca courts’ rulings before the courts were closed, suspects tried in absentia (outside the country), 29 children who had wrongly received adult judgments and 11 genocide suspects who have never been tried. Harerimana said that all legal issues raised by the detainees and prison staff would be handled forthwith by the relevant authorities. He assured the detainees that efforts were underway to work on issues raised, noting that his visit was in line with addressing their plight. “We are working with all stakeholders in the legal frame work. We are trying to go electronic to be more efficient,” Harerimana said. “Some people may give you wrong information about the court ruling, but with time the electronic means will be used. We want every detainee to get justice,” he added. Harerimana, however, lamented that the prisoners general production was very low, adding that there should be quick change. The core values of the correction centres in the country are production, justice, skills and correction. He challenged the prison authorities and the prisoners to embrace modern farming like the rest of the country. “Milk production is very low, crop production per hectare is 1 tonne. This is a shame,” Harerimana said. Nsinda prison has a total number of 8,442 inmates.
