US report says rights record remains poor

A US State Department report has stated that the Rwandan government’s human rights record remained poor in 1999, and that “the government continued to be responsible for numerous, serious abuses”. It accused the Rwandan Patriotic Army (RPA) of extrajudicial killings and human rights abuses - though fewer than in 1998. Prison conditions were “harsh and life threatening” for an estimated 130,000 prisoners, the report said. It also expressed concern at occasional government influence on the judiciary, the imprisonment of minors, the reported detention of civilians at closed military detention facilities and forced conscription - particularly since Rwanda entered the conflict in neighbouring DRC. The report however acknowledged the government’s attempt to speed up the application of justice through group trials and the planned introduction of traditional ‘gacaca’ courts.