Kagame administration on the spot over illegal detentions

[jMali]

Global rights watchdog Human Rights Watch (HRW) has accused the Rwandan authorities of arbitrary arrests and unlawfully holding the country's vulnerable people in an "unofficial" detention centre in Kigali, commonly known as KwaKabuga located in Gikondo.

In the report titled ‘Why not call this a prison' released on Thursday, the New York-based group says detainees most of whom include street vendors, sex workers, beggars, homeless people and suspected petty criminals, detained between 2011 and 2015 at the centre are ill-treated and held in "deplorable" conditions.

"This reflects an unofficial policy of keeping people the authorities consider ‘undesirable', away from the public eye" the report reads in part.

"Kigali is often praised for its cleanliness and tidiness, but its poorest residents have been paying the price for this positive image.

"The contrast between the immaculate streets of central Kigali and the filthy conditions in Gikondo couldn't be starker," said Daniel Bekele, African director at Human Rights Watch.

However, the Kigali government has dismissed the report and accused the global rights watchdog Human Rights Watch (HRW) of running a consistent campaign against the government through biased negative reports and denying the country the right of reply.

"There are no unofficial detention centres in Rwanda and it is unfortunate because HRW and the Ministry of Justice have a memorandum of understanding by which human rights concerns they have should be specifically responded to by the ministry before they publish reports," Rwanda's minister for Justice Mr Johnston Busingye told The EastAfrican.

REHABILITATION

Mr Busingye argued that while HRW insists that government should charge drug addicts and juvenile delinquents with crimes in order to hold them, his government is focusing on rehabilitation and reintegration in order to give them another chance at a useful life.

"Each person is assessed and supported to reunite with family or go for drug rehabilitation and learn a trade," Mr Busingye, who doubles as the Attorney-General, said, pointing out that over 7000 young people have completed the transition and are in carpentry, masonry, welding, tailoring and bee keeping.

However, the report shows that investigations by HRW found that the city's poor are harassed, rounded up by the police, and sent to Gikondo with no regard for due process.

"They are held in deplorable conditions for periods ranging from a few days to several months, without charge, in violation of Rwandan and international law and Rwanda's regional and international obligations" reads the report.

The report is based on extensive research in Rwanda and interviews with 57 former detainees, as well as detainees' relatives and other sources.

"Everyone here in Kigali can be arrested and taken to KwaKabuga," a former detainee told Human Rights Watch. "When you spend a day without being arrested, you say God has been good."

FREQUENTLY BEATEN

The report further says, detainees are beaten at the centre, where police or other detainees known as "counsellors," acting on the orders or with the compliance of the police, routinely beat detainees for humiliation, extortion, or punishment for trivial actions such as talking too loudly or not forming an orderly line for the toilets.

Women detained with their infants or babies are particularly vulnerable, as they are frequently beaten when their children defecate on the floor.

"This happened to me twice. You just hand your child to a friend and you lie down. Then the ‘counsellor' hits you," the report reads in part.

The report indicates that living conditions in Gikondo are harsh, where up to 400 people could be held in one room, with many forced to sleep on the floor, coupled with poor sanitation.

According to the report, police corruption is common, because of absence of a judicial process governing arrests or detention at the centre, the easiest way to leave is to pay the police.

Several former detainees told Human Rights Watch that there were opportunities for bribing their way out from the moment they were arrested.


Rwanda on the spot over illegal detentions - News

cc:MOTOCHINI Smatta GreatSealnIconoclastes

 

[mchambawima1]

cc:MOTOCHINI Smatta GreatSeal
Iconoclastes



Global rights watchdog Human Rights Watch (HRW) has accused the Rwandan authorities of arbitrary arrests and unlawfully holding the country’s vulnerable people in an “unofficial” detention centre in Kigali, commonly known as KwaKabuga located in Gikondo.

In the report titled ‘Why not call this a prison’ released on Thursday, the New York-based group says detainees most of whom include street vendors, sex workers, beggars, homeless people and suspected petty criminals, detained between 2011 and 2015 at the centre are ill-treated and held in “deplorable” conditions.

“This reflects an unofficial policy of keeping people the authorities consider ‘undesirable’, away from the public eye” the report reads in part.

“Kigali is often praised for its cleanliness and tidiness, but its poorest residents have been paying the price for this positive image.

“The contrast between the immaculate streets of central Kigali and the filthy conditions in Gikondo couldn’t be starker,” said Daniel Bekele, African director at Human Rights Watch.

However, the Kigali government has dismissed the report and accused the global rights watchdog Human Rights Watch (HRW) of running a consistent campaign against the government through biased negative reports and denying the country the right of reply.

“There are no unofficial detention centres in Rwanda and it is unfortunate because HRW and the Ministry of Justice have a memorandum of understanding by which human rights concerns they have should be specifically responded to by the ministry before they publish reports,” Rwanda's minister for Justice Mr Johnston Busingye told The EastAfrican.

REHABILITATION

Mr Busingye argued that while HRW insists that government should charge drug addicts and juvenile delinquents with crimes in order to hold them, his government is focusing on rehabilitation and reintegration in order to give them another chance at a useful life.

“Each person is assessed and supported to reunite with family or go for drug rehabilitation and learn a trade,” Mr Busingye, who doubles as the Attorney-General, said, pointing out that over 7000 young people have completed the transition and are in carpentry, masonry, welding, tailoring and bee keeping.

However, the report shows that investigations by HRW found that the city’s poor are harassed, rounded up by the police, and sent to Gikondo with no regard for due process.

“They are held in deplorable conditions for periods ranging from a few days to several months, without charge, in violation of Rwandan and international law and Rwanda’s regional and international obligations” reads the report.

The report is based on extensive research in Rwanda and interviews with 57 former detainees, as well as detainees’ relatives and other sources.

“Everyone here in Kigali can be arrested and taken to KwaKabuga,” a former detainee told Human Rights Watch. “When you spend a day without being arrested, you say God has been good.”

FREQUENTLY BEATEN

The report further says, detainees are beaten at the centre, where police or other detainees known as “counsellors,” acting on the orders or with the compliance of the police, routinely beat detainees for humiliation, extortion, or punishment for trivial actions such as talking too loudly or not forming an orderly line for the toilets.

Women detained with their infants or babies are particularly vulnerable, as they are frequently beaten when their children defecate on the floor.

“This happened to me twice. You just hand your child to a friend and you lie down. Then the ‘counsellor’ hits you,” the report reads in part.

The report indicates that living conditions in Gikondo are harsh, where up to 400 people could be held in one room, with many forced to sleep on the floor, coupled with poor sanitation.

According to the report, police corruption is common, because of absence of a judicial process governing arrests or detention at the centre, the easiest way to leave is to pay the police.

Several former detainees told Human Rights Watch that there were opportunities for bribing their way out from the moment they were arrested.

source: The east african. Rwanda on the spot over illegal detentions - News

The Government of Rwanda would like to affirm that there are no unofficial detention centres in the country. This comes after Human Rights Watch (HRW) falsely names Gikondo Transit Centre in Kigali as a detention centre. The transit centre has and continues to play an important role in the rehabilitation of those who find themselves on the wrong side of the law.Commenting on the report, Rwanda's Minister of Justice, Johnston Busingye, emphasised that all detention facilities in Rwanda are properly legislated and run in accordance with United Nations standards, and national laws that affirm those principles.Minister Busingye further reiterated that the country’s recent history has involved a lot of trauma and family conflict: “Victims of such situations, even if they end up in crime or delinquency, are better off when offered another chance in life. The Government of Rwanda stands by its policy of rehabilitation rather than incarceration. This policy has worked in the past and will continue to do so into the future.”While HRW insists that Rwanda should charge drug addicts and other criminals with serious crimes that carry jail terms, the country has instead chosen to focus on rehabilitating and reintegrating them to offer the chance for a better life. This policy of rehabilitation over incarceration is one example of how Rwanda has found unique solutions to the challenges the country faces. “Gikondo is not a detention centre. It is a transit centre and people are held there for a short period before longer term remedial or corrective measures are taken. The later consists of rehabilitating and reintegrating former drug addicts and city dwellers – through drug rehabilitation and learning a trade to prevent repetition – and supporting them to reunite with their families,” Minister Busingye said.Over 7,000 Rwandans have completed the transition programme and are now working in carpentry, masonry, welding, tailoring, and bee-keeping cooperatives – improving their wellbeing for a brighter future. The Government of Rwanda takes all allegations of human rights abuses seriously, however speculative they may be. Any information related to possible abuses is welcome and will be thoroughly investigated and appropriate action taken. To facilitate this, the National Police has a toll free hotline which can be used anytime to report any abuses. The office of the Ombudsman and the National Commission for Human Rights also welcome any information on human rights violations so that they can be fully investigated.It is unfortunate that Human Rights Watch has again chosen to deliberately mislead people with false statements that serve only to undermine Rwanda's efforts to provide a better life for its citizens. HRW has a Memorandum of Understanding with Rwanda’s Ministry of Justice through which human rights concerns can be raised and addressed by the institutions responsible. The Government of Rwanda encourages HRW to use this MoU to address any concerns it has in a constructive manner. However, it has become increasingly clear that HRW refuses to engage through the mechanisms established under the MoU and instead seeks to spread falsehood and speculation. The Government of Rwanda invites Human Rights Watch to provide information on the alleged cases – according to its report – and any others so that they may be investigated and due process undertaken.

 

[mchambawima1]

"Everyone here in Kigali can be arrested and taken to KwaKabuga," a former detainee told Human Rights Watch. "When you spend a day without being arrested, you say God has been good."
lol lol lol... thie line above made my day...

 

[jMali]

"Everyone here in Kigali can be arrested and taken to KwaKabuga," a former detainee told Human Rights Watch. "When you spend a day without being arrested, you say God has been good."
lol lol lol... thie line above made my day...

It's only funny kwa sababu wewe unakaa TZ na hata ungekaa Kigali nadhani wewe sio maskini wa "kuchafua image" ya Kigali. For the poor Rwandans hii ndio reality yao huko.

 

[Pdidy]

Waachen wafuwazike wafuwao

 

[mchambawima1]

It's only funny kwa sababu wewe unakaa TZ na hata ungekaa Kigali nadhani wewe sio maskini wa "kuchafua image" ya Kigali. For the poor Rwandans hii ndio reality yao huko.

ooh ooh jMali stop pls… tatizo sio umaskini wewe! Masikinitumejazana kibao na hatupati usumbufu wowote, tatizo ni vijana kukaa kihasara-hasara… na ndio maana tunawapeleka kuwapa ujuzi utakaowasaidia hukombeleni kuishi mjini, hatutaki kufuga mijambazi Jmali

 

[jMali]

ooh ooh jMali stop pls… tatizo sio umaskini wewe! Masikinitumejazana kibao na hatupati usumbufu wowote, tatizo ni vijana kukaa kihasara-hasara… na ndio maana tunawapeleka kuwapa ujuzi utakaowasaidia hukombeleni kuishi mjini, hatutaki kufuga mijambazi Jmali

hahaha, maskini wapo, lakini hawatakiwi kukatiza kigali wazungu wakawaona! Hata ukienda London, Paris, New york, Tokyo na nchi zote tajiri kuna homeless people and beggars, lakini Rwanda yenye kupokea misaada kwa nchi kama hizo hakuna hata mmoja KIGALI? Haya bwana....

 

[Dj-kobo]

Hii report ni kweli kabisa maana mara ya mwisho nilikua Nyabugogo nikaona akina Mama na vijana wanakimbizana tena mwingine nilikua nimemlipa hela ya juice ya Inyange ya Apple akaondoka nayo na sikumwona tena kuja kuuliza eti wanakamatwa hawatakiwi wakati new York yenyewe machinga kibao iweje nchi kama Rwanda isiyokua hata na Rasilimali za kutosha

 

[Dj-kobo]

Rwanda ilikua inasaidiwa uchimi na wizi wa Rasilimali za Congo na ndio sababu toka M23 wafurushwe hata wanyarwanda wenyewe wanakwambia maisha yamekua magumu sana na hiyo ndio sababu kubwa ya PK kumchukia JK

 

[Dj-kobo]

Na wanaofurushwa wengi wao ni Race ya Hutu kumbuka ndio wanafanya shughuli zisizo rasmi kama za machinga wengi wao pale Rwanda na hapa watakanusha kama kawaida yao

 

[jMali]

Hii report ni kweli kabisa maana mara ya mwisho nilikua Nyabugogo nikaona akina Mama na vijana wanakimbizana tena mwingine nilikua nimemlipa hela ya juice ya Inyange ya Apple akaondoka nayo na sikumwona tena kuja kuuliza eti wanakamatwa hawatakiwi wakati new York yenyewe machinga kibao iweje nchi kama Rwanda isiyokua hata na Rasilimali za kutosha

cc: mchambawima1 njoo ubishane na mtu anayepajua kwenu

 

[mchambawima1]

cc: mchambawima1 njoo ubishane na mtu anayepajua kwenu

jMali acha kabisa, yaani unanishusha hadhi kabisa nakunifanya wakujibizana na Dj-kobo? huyu mbabaishaji ni mpumbavu mwenzako na wala hana lolote... kwani huko Nyabugogo hakuona maduka ya juice za Inyange? hivi bidhaa za mitaani zingemdhuru angemlaumu/kumshitaki nani? miafrica ndio maana hatuendelei, yaani mtu alipie ushuru duka alafu akose wateja kwa sababu akina mama fulani wanauzia karibu na duka lake? not in Rwanda my friend! nani kamuambia Newyork biashara za magendo zinakubalika? kushindwa kuwadhibiti sio kusema wamehararisha... mfano wa karibu ni kule kwa mabasha wenu ufaransa, wamachinga wamejaa lakini ushawaona barabarani au karibu na maduka ya watu? wao utawakuta sehemu za kitalii tu kama vile Eiffel tower lakini na yenyewe haimaanishi eti wameruhusiwa, nchi zote zilizo endelea kama unataka kuuza bidhaa zako za magendo basi we subili siku ya soko tena mara moja kwa wiki na sio kuzagaa zagaa mitaani.
huyu Dj-kobo atakuwa ni mfuasi wenu tu kwani naona anarudia ileile mistari yenu interahamwe! mara ooh DRC/M23, sijui wamachinga wote ni wahutu, aliwaomba ID akakuta zimeandikwa hivyo vitu? we bana acha tu
BTW ni kitu gani kinachokufanya unikimbie na kujifanya hutaki kujibu post zangu au dozi zinakuwa zimekuingia na kuamuwa kutimua? kwa taarifa yako hakijabadilika kitu hadi nihakikishe ujinga unaokufanya uwe mkimbizi bila sababu unakutoka, tatizo ni kwamba ukianza kukolea unakimbia...

 

[Dj-kobo]

Umepanic sana wakati hali halisi ya Raisi wenu dikteta ndivo ilivo na usijichanganye Rwanda naijua hadi chumba cha dikteta wenu kile cha underground.

 

[Dj-kobo]

Kati ya wale akina Mama na Kagame mwizi wa dhahabu ya DRC nani anafaa kuitwa mfanyabiashara za Magendo? Halafu mnajifanya Malaika hamkosei mnavopenda sifa za kijinga wakati kwenu maisha magumu sana , Mkoa wa Rwanda unanichekesha sana kijimkoa cha hovyo sijawahi kuona watu wanaokataa watu wao wenyewe kisa ni maskini

 

[mchambawima1]

hahaha, maskini wapo, lakini hawatakiwi kukatiza kigali wazungu wakawaona! Hata ukienda London, Paris, New york, Tokyo na nchi zote tajiri kuna homeless people and beggars, lakini Rwanda yenye kupokea misaada kwa nchi kama hizo hakuna hata mmoja KIGALI? Haya bwana....

so, no beggars in Kigali? hizo nchi zote unazosema jMali kwa kifupi hazitakiwi hata ziwe na ombaomba kwani wananchi wao hata wasio na kazi wanamishahara, labda useme wenye drugs addiction ambao hata pesa wanazopewa bure wanashindwa kuzimanage lakini vilevile wako na programs kama za Rwanda za kuwa rehabilitate na kuwarudisha kwenye mstari labda awe amepitiliza tu... danganya wengine lakini beggars wa hizo nchi sio raia wao ndio maana hawawajali, kwanza hawana hata vitambulisho kwa hiyo hawajuwi pa kuwapeleka... hizo kamba uwe unawapiga wafuasi wako kama kina Dj-kobo wasiojuwa kinachoendelea

 

[mchambawima1]

It's only funny kwa sababu wewe unakaa TZ na hata ungekaa Kigali nadhani wewe sio maskini wa "kuchafua image" ya Kigali. For the poor Rwandans hii ndio reality yao huko.

HRW under Ken Roth ni kama RTLM na Kantana yeye kazi yake ni kuponda Rwanda, nafikiri hakuna kitu kinachoweza kumfurahisha zaidi ya kuona tukirudi kwenye vita au ile chinja-chinja yenu... mambo kama haya The Drug War And Mass Incarceration By The Numbers yanayofanyika huko alipo hayaoni! namshangaa anavyoumizwa na Rwanda kutoa huduma bora kwa wananchi wake, kwa taarifa yako kuna wazazi wanao omba watoto wao wapelekwe Iwawa Dj-kobo

 

[jMali]

jMali acha kabisa, yaani unanishusha hadhi kabisa nakunifanya wakujibizana na Dj-kobo? huyu mbabaishaji ni mpumbavu mwenzako na wala hana lolote... kwani huko Nyabugogo hakuona maduka ya juice za Inyange? hivi bidhaa za mitaani zingemdhuru angemlaumu/kumshitaki nani? miafrica ndio maana hatuendelei, yaani mtu alipie ushuru duka alafu akose wateja kwa sababu akina mama fulani wanauzia karibu na duka lake? not in Rwanda my friend! nani kamuambia Newyork biashara za magendo zinakubalika? kushindwa kuwadhibiti sio kusema wamehararisha... mfano wa karibu ni kule kwa mabasha wenu ufaransa, wamachinga wamejaa lakini ushawaona barabarani au karibu na maduka ya watu? wao utawakuta sehemu za kitalii tu kama vile Eiffel tower lakini na yenyewe haimaanishi eti wameruhusiwa, nchi zote zilizo endelea kama unataka kuuza bidhaa zako za magendo basi we subili siku ya soko tena mara moja kwa wiki na sio kuzagaa zagaa mitaani.
huyu Dj-kobo atakuwa ni mfuasi wenu tu kwani naona anarudia ileile mistari yenu interahamwe! mara ooh DRC/M23, sijui wamachinga wote ni wahutu, aliwaomba ID akakuta zimeandikwa hivyo vitu? we bana acha tu
BTW ni kitu gani kinachokufanya unikimbie na kujifanya hutaki kujibu post zangu au dozi zinakuwa zimekuingia na kuamuwa kutimua? kwa taarifa yako hakijabadilika kitu hadi nihakikishe ujinga unaokufanya uwe mkimbizi bila sababu unakutoka, tatizo ni kwamba ukianza kukolea unakimbia...

ooh kumbe ulikuwa unajiuliza kwa nini nimekutoa kwenye ban? simple, tuna cybercrime act siku hizi, nikiamua kukushitaki kwa matusi yako ya reja reja lazima nikupate. Ni hayo tu.

 

[jMali]

so, no beggars in Kigali? hizo nchi zote unazosema jMali kwa kifupi hazitakiwi hata ziwe na ombaomba kwani wananchi wao hata wasio na kazi wanamishahara, labda useme wenye drugs addiction ambao hata pesa wanazopewa bure wanashindwa kuzimanage lakini vilevile wako na programs kama za Rwanda za kuwa rehabilitate na kuwarudisha kwenye mstari labda awe amepitiliza tu... danganya wengine lakini beggars wa hizo nchi sio raia wao ndio maana hawawajali, kwanza hawana hata vitambulisho kwa hiyo hawajuwi pa kuwapeleka... hizo kamba uwe unawapiga wafuasi wako kama kina Dj-kobo wasiojuwa kinachoendelea

kwa hiyo nchi zinazoipatia misaada Rwanda inabidi ziombe kufundishwa na Rwanda ili waondokane na beggars mitaani kwao sio?

 

[mchambawima1]

kwa hiyo nchi zinazoipatia misaada Rwanda inabidi ziombe kufundishwa na Rwanda ili waondokane na beggars mitaani kwao sio?

exactly! ila sifikiri kama wanataka kujifunza kitu, hawajali kwani sio wao na vilevile watawapandisha ndege vipi wakati hawana hata ID?

 

[mchambawima1]

ebwana jMali hebu wacha tufatwilie hii live[h=1]2015 IRYD GLOBAL YOUTH CONVENTION Sept.26th PM session[/h] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dTAco9GokHQ&feature=youtu.be