RWANDA - PRISONS, JUSTICE SECTOR REFORMS

C O N F I D E N T I A L KIGALI 000759

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/22/2017
TAGS: PGOV PHUM RW
SUBJECT: RWANDA - PRISONS, JUSTICE SECTOR REFORMS

REF: KIGALI 599

Classified By: Ambassador Michael R. Arietti, reason 1.4 (B/D)


1. (C) Embassy and visiting DRL officers met with
International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Head of
Office Pierre Wattach (protect) on July 10 to discuss prison
conditions in Rwanda. Wattach gave a generally positive
report, despite identifying some lingering problem areas.
The serious overcrowding monitors have described previously
(reftel) is still straining Rwanda's prisons, but recent
developments are encouraging. Wattach noted the ICRC has
been granted access with or without providing advance notice
to authorities and with an ease "unlike anywhere else." The
flow of prisoners into the system has steadied, and the
organization no longer provides food aid - the GOR has taken
over the responsibility of feeding its prisoners. The death
rate of prisoners is now equal to that of the general
population, and national HIV programs are present in the
system.


2. (C) Wattach said there is little or no ill-treatment in
the nation's prisons and that torture "is not tolerated."
Beatings do take place in a declining number of police
stations. However, police authorities have adopted
comprehensive policies against abuse, and "they mean it."
There is "excellent listening" on the part of the GOR to the
ICRC's approaches and the will to address the problems was
quite evident. Wattach stated that very low numbers of
detainees are held in military intelligence detention centers
for short periods, and there have been no reports of abuses
or disappearances for several years. The treatment there was
"correct" and detainees were quickly transferred to regular
military prisons where conditions were "quite satisfactory."


3. (C) In a separate meeting, LIPRODOHR Executive Secretary
Jean Baptiste Ntibagororwa (protect) concurred with the
ICRC's assessment, saying that the GOR had "abandoned poor
treatment of prisoners." On rare occasions where abuses
occur, actions were taken against those police officials
involved. He also pointed to the meager resources of the
GOR's prisons, which, combined with the large number of
people in the system, have resulted in some extended
detentions of suspects and poor conditions for prisoners and
for those in Travaux d'Intrt Gnral (TIG) camps. (FYI:
TIG camps are newly established sites where those convicted
under gacaca perform community service. End FYI.)
Ntibagororwa said LIPRODOHR staff is granted almost automatic
access to most prisons, but they are not allowed to visit
without first receiving authorization. They have been
refused access to three of 16 prisons despite having
authorization, and have had difficulty visiting TIG camps.

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JUDICIAL REFORM
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4. (SBU) The Ambassador and DRL officer met with Minister of
Justice Tharcisse Karugarama on July 10 to discuss judicial
reform. Karugarama began by reporting on the successful
progress of a law abolishing the death penalty in Rwanda's
Parliament. (FYI: The law has since been passed. End FYI.)
He then outlined measures to strengthen the judiciary that
are under consideration. These include increased salaries,
and housing and transportation support to help combat
corruption. While there are not enough qualified judges and
lawyers in Rwanda, Karugarama said their numbers are growing.
He also mentioned the possibility of contracting judges to
help lessen the burden on the system. Karugarama predicted
increased stability and retention of legal professionals in
the coming years.


5. (U) Septel covers discussions on civil society and human
rights.
ARIETTI