(New York) - Human Rights Watch today renewed its call on the government of South Africa to bring deposed Ethiopian dictator Mengistu Haile Mariam to justice for massive killings and torture during his rule. Mengistu, who has lived in Zimbabwe since 1991, arrived in South Africa in November for medical treatment.
Last week, South African Justice Minister Penuell Maduna announced that, after receiving information from Human Rights Watch, he had asked the National Director of Public Prosecutions, Bulelani Ngcuka, to investigate the possibility of charging Mengistu Haile Mariam in a South African court for crimes against humanity.
"South Africa has a moral duty as well as a legal obligation to bring this criminal to justice," said Peter Takirumbudde, executive director of the Africa Division of Human Rights Watch. "South Africa has a well-earned reputation for its attachment to human rights. It would be unfortunate if the government just let this mass murderer walk away."
The group welcomed the fact that on Tuesday December 7, several South African organizations, including the Human Rights Committee, the Centre for Applied Legal Studies (University of the Witwatersrand), and the Centre for Human Rights (University of Pretoria), will be presenting dossiers of evidence against Mengistu to the Director of Public Prosecutions and the official South Africa Human Rights Commission, and calling for his prosecution. The effort is being coordinated by Jonathan Klaaren, University of the Witwatersrand and Venitia Govender, Human Rights Committee.
