April 2000 Volume 12, Number 1 (A)

RWANDA

THE SEARCH FOR SECURITY AND HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES

INTRODUCTION 2

RWANDAN GOVERNMENT DEMANDS SECURITY 2

THE INSURGENTS OR ABACENGEZI 3

THE "INGABO Z'UMWAMI" OR ARMY OF THE KING 4

DEPARTURE OF ASSEMBLY SPEAKER SEBARENZI 5

SILENCING THE PRESS 6

FORCED RETURN OF PERSONS IN FLIGHT 7

STOPPING THE FLIGHT ABROAD 9

ASSASSINATION OF ASSIEL KABERA AND MURDER OF ANTOINETTE KAGAJU 10

KILLINGS BY RPA SOLDIERS OR FORMER SOLDIERS 11

MILITARY JUSTICE SYSTEM 12

THE LOCAL DEFENSE FORCES 12

Accountability for Members of the Local Defense Force 14

ARBITRARY DETENTIONS, TORTURE AND ILL-TREATMENT 14

Persons Accused of Supporting Insurgents or the Congolese Government 14

Persons Accused of Supporting the King 17

Detention for Unspecified Reasons 19

ABUSE OF POWER 19

SOLIDARITY CAMPS 21

"CONTRIBUTIONS" IN SUPPORT OF THE MILITARY 22

WHERE IS THE INSECURITY? 23

INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE TO THE RWANDAN GOVERNMENT 23

RECOMMENDATIONS 24

To the Rwandan Government: 24

To the Donor Community: 24

INTRODUCTION

Rwandan authorities count security as their first priority. They must, they say, do whatever is necessary to avoid another genocide like that which preceded their coming to power. The Rwandan government has an army of over 50,000 troops, a national police force, thousands of communal police officers, additional thousands of Local Defense Force members, and citizen patrols that operate during the night in many communities.1 Many government employees, students, and other civilians have learned to shoot at "solidarity camps" and the authorities plan to have most of the population similarly trained. In the last three months, the government has called on Rwandans and some foreigners resident in Rwanda to make a special payment beyond ordinary taxes to help defray the high costs of "security." All of these forces, training programs, and financial contributions are meant to protect a small nation with a population of some seven million people.2

Yet with all this focus on security, ordinary citizens are attacked and killed and others "disappear" without explanation. In some cases, the security forces have failed to protect citizens; in others, they have perpetrated the very abuses which contribute to the current atmosphere of insecurity in the country. Rwandans who disagree with government policies are likely to be counted among the "negative forces" that threaten national security. Among those so labeled, one important Tutsi leader was assassinated. Others fearing for their lives have fled Rwanda. Scores of ordinary citizens have been jailed without regard for due process and sometimes held incommunicado for months. Such abuses, long perpetrated against Hutu, now increasingly trouble Tutsi, particularly Tutsi survivors of genocide who express opposition to the government or to the dominant party, the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF).