Tanzania
03.08.00
Urgent Interventions
'Tanzania: 3 refugees summarily executed by policemen
Case TZA 030800
The International Secretariat of OMCT requests your URGENT intervention in the following situation in Tanzania.
Brief description of the situation
The International Secretariat of OMCT is gravely concerned by reports from a reliable source regarding the situation of refugees in Tanzania.
In particular, the OMCT has been informed by a reliable source that on 2nd July 2000, 3 refugees were summarily executed by policemen.
According to the information received, the three victims were Congolese refugees from Lufugu who went to Kigoma to find products to sell. The met with policemen in Mwandiga, a suburb 2km from Kigoma, who demanded the goods they were carrying. Having refused to satisfy the policemen, two of the refugees were shot on the spot. The third, a women, was shot as she tried to escape. Only the next day at 5pm were the bodies buried by the military and the local population.
According to the source, these types of executions are frequent in Tanzania, particularly in the region of Kigoma. If the victims are refugees is reportedly very likely that no investigation will be carried out.
Action requested
Please write to the authorities in Tanzania urging them to:
i. guarantee an immediate investigation into the circumstances of these events, identify those responsible, bring them before a civil competent and impartial tribunal and apply the penal, civil and/or administrative sanctions provided by law;
ii. take all necessary measures to guarantee the physical and psychological integrity of all refugees in Tanzania;
iii. guarantee the respect of human rights and the fundamental freedoms throughout the country in accordance with national laws and international human rights standards.
Addresses
President B.W. Mkapa, Office of the President, State House, Magogoni Road, P.O.Box 9120, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Tel: 116898/116900-5 Fax: 113425
Tanzania High Commission, 43 Hertford Street, London W1Y 8DB, United Kingdom. Tel: 0044 171 4998951, Fax: 0044 171 491 9321.
Geneva, August 3, 2000
Kindly inform us of any action undertaken quoting the code of this appeal in your reply.
The International Secretariat of OMCT requests your URGENT intervention in the following situation in Tanzania.
Brief description of the situation
The International Secretariat of OMCT is gravely concerned by reports from a reliable source regarding the situation of refugees in Tanzania.
In particular, the OMCT has been informed by a reliable source that on 2nd July 2000, 3 refugees were summarily executed by policemen.
According to the information received, the three victims were Congolese refugees from Lufugu who went to Kigoma to find products to sell. The met with policemen in Mwandiga, a suburb 2km from Kigoma, who demanded the goods they were carrying. Having refused to satisfy the policemen, two of the refugees were shot on the spot. The third, a women, was shot as she tried to escape. Only the next day at 5pm were the bodies buried by the military and the local population.
According to the source, these types of executions are frequent in Tanzania, particularly in the region of Kigoma. If the victims are refugees is reportedly very likely that no investigation will be carried out.
Action requested
Please write to the authorities in Tanzania urging them to:
i. guarantee an immediate investigation into the circumstances of these events, identify those responsible, bring them before a civil competent and impartial tribunal and apply the penal, civil and/or administrative sanctions provided by law;
ii. take all necessary measures to guarantee the physical and psychological integrity of all refugees in Tanzania;
iii. guarantee the respect of human rights and the fundamental freedoms throughout the country in accordance with national laws and international human rights standards.
Addresses
President B.W. Mkapa, Office of the President, State House, Magogoni Road, P.O.Box 9120, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Tel: 116898/116900-5 Fax: 113425
Tanzania High Commission, 43 Hertford Street, London W1Y 8DB, United Kingdom. Tel: 0044 171 4998951, Fax: 0044 171 491 9321.
Geneva, August 3, 2000
Kindly inform us of any action undertaken quoting the code of this appeal in your reply.