KIGALI, Oct. 19 (Xinhua) -- Rwandan Parliament Thursday condemned what it called false report by the U.S.-based Human Rights Watch (HRW), which it said is aimed at discrediting the country.
The HRW report published on July 13 said Rwandan security forces summarily executed at least 37 suspected petty offenders in Rwanda's Western Province between July 2016 and March 2017.
The HRW also said it documented enforced disappearances of suspected petty offenders in Rwanda and the incidents in which authorities encouraged local residents to kill suspected thieves, who were beaten to death.
"The Parliament of Rwanda condemns HRW for its ignominious acts and information contained in its report, including rumors of death of people who are still alive, in order to discredit the country, its leadership and security organs, humanity and Rwandan people in general," said a parliament resolution.
Rwandan National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR) last Friday disproved the report, saying "the entire report is built on fabricated information."
NCHR presented findings of its inquiry at a press conference, which indicated that people reported executed in the HRW report are either alive, or died from various accidents or shot by border patrols while using a pathway usually used by a Rwandan Hutu rebel group to infiltrate Rwanda following regular alerts by local authorities for security reasons.
"The Parliament of Rwanda is convinced that HRW did not use professionalism, skills, truth and independence, which should be the basis of its work in order to win credibility as an international human rights organization."
The parliament requested the Rwandan government to re-examine the memorandum of understanding between the government and HRW so that "ignominious acts tarnishing the image of Rwanda and Rwandan people could not continue."
