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RWANDA
CASE No. RW/06 - LEONARD HITIMANA

Resolution unanimously by the IPU Governing Council at its 181st session
(Geneva, 10 October 2007)


The Governing Council of the Inter-Parliamentary Union,

Referring to the case of Mr. Léonard Hitimana, a member of the Transitional National Assembly of Rwanda dissolved on 22 August 2003, as outlined in the report of the Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians (CL/181/11(a)-R.1), and to the resolution adopted at its 180th session (May 2007),

Taking account of the information provided by the President of the Senate of Rwanda at the hearing held on the occasion of the 117th Assembly,

Recalling the following: Mr. Léonard Hitimana disappeared during the night of 7 to 8 April 2003, the day before he was to refute in parliament the accusations of fomenting ethnic division levelled by a parliamentary inquiry commission in a report against his party in which his name was mentioned,

Recalling that, while the sources believe that he was abducted by the Rwandan intelligence service, the authorities, for their part, have stated their belief that Mr. Hitimana fled to a neighbouring country and were very optimistic that he would soon be located, as had been the case with Brigadier General Emmanuel Habyarimana and Colonel Barthazar Ndengeyinka; considering that the President of the Senate, at the aforesaid hearing, reiterated this thesis while affirming it to be most unlikely that Mr. Hitimana's disappearance had anything to do with his imminent statement in parliament,

Recalling that in October 2005 the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies referred Mr. Hitimana's case to the National Human Rights Commission, which had already assumed jurisdiction on its own initiative; recalling also the letter from the Commission's President to the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies dated 20 April 2007, in which she provides an update of the state of the investigation, which still continues, and stresses that the national police has been working diligently and fulfilled their obligation, which is one of efforts, not results; considering that, according to the President of the Senate, the Parliament has been in regular contact with the Human Rights Commission, which continues to follow the matter closely, and that the investigations are continuing,

Recalling finally that witnesses, who have requested their identity to remain confidential for fear of reprisals, reportedly saw Mr. Hitimana in October 2004, handcuffed in a secret detention facility in Kigali held by the Rwandan intelligence service; considering that according to the President of the Senate no such secret detention facilities exist in Rwanda and that more precise information was required to pursue this lead,

  1. Thanks the President of the Senate for his cooperation and for the observations provided;

  2. Remains deeply concerned that four and a half years after Mr. Hitimana disappeared he has still not been located, and that the investigations have yet to produce leads as to his whereabouts; 

  3. Strongly believes that, were he living abroad, the fact would certainly have come to light in the significant time that has elapsed since he disappeared, as in the case of those who left Rwanda shortly before Mr. Hitimana's disappearance and whose whereabouts were soon established;

  4. Reaffirms that, so long as Mr. Hitimana has not been found, the suspicion remains of an enforced disappearance, which with the passage of time can only grow stronger; considers in this respect that the timing of his disappearance and the allegation regarding Mr. Hitimana's secret detention have to be taken into account since they suggest a possible explanation and motive;

  5. Calls on the authorities, particularly parliament, to take all necessary measures to ensure that the investigation into Mr. Hitimana's disappearance explores every possibility; would greatly appreciate receiving further information in this regard;

  6. Requests the Secretary General to convey this resolution to the authorities and the sources;

  7. Requests the Committee to continue examining this case and report to it at its next session, to be held on the occasion of the 118th Assembly of the IPU (Cape Town, April 2008).
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