A session devoted to the extradition procedure of the four men, who are wanted by their country, began on 24 September in London; it must continue next Monday.
"The United Kingdom should try four Rwandans accused of participation in the genocide instead of transferring them to Rwanda for judgment", indicates a text published Thursday in London and received Friday by the Hirondelle agency.
"The Rwandan legal system has undergone important reforms, such as the abolition of the death penalty last July. But there are not yet sufficient insurances that the courts are independent ", HRW estimates.
"In several significant trials, we noticed political interference leading to verdicts not based on evidence", continues the official statement.
The organization affirms that there are "documented cases where the authorities intimidated and even held witnesses to influence their testimonies".
HRW, finally, invites the United Kingdom to amend its laws in order to make it possible for its courts to try the four Rwandans.
Arrested on 28 December 2006 in the United Kingdom, Emmanuel Nteziryayo, former mayor of Mudasomwa (southern Rwanda), Vincent Bajinya, former alleged militia leader, Célestin Ugirashebuja, former mayor of Kigoma (southern Rwanda), and Charles Munyaneza, former mayor of Kinyamakara (southern Rwanda), deny any responsibility.
Bajinya, a doctor by training, had succeeded in obtaining British citizenship, under the name of Vincent Brown.
ER/PB/MM
© Hirondelle News Agency