RWANDA. SENATORS DISCUSS DEATH PENALTY ABOLITION

July 2, 2007: the Rwandan Minister of Justice, Tharicisse Karugarama, tabled the death penalty abolition bill in the Senate. Two weeks ago, the Chamber of Deputies overwhelmingly approved the draft law. Karugarama told Senators that the government wants to abolish the death penalty because it has no deterrent effect on criminals. "The death penalty is a stumbling block in the path of unity and reconciliation and contradictory to the norms of democracy," Karugarama said.
He further explained that Rwanda has gone through difficult times and therefore human life should be held in high esteem. He told Senators that there is an impending international moratorium of abolishing death penalty. 198 countries have abolished capital punishment, he said, adding that this has also compelled the Rwandan government.
Senator Seth Kamanzi asked the minister whether former Rwandan Patriotic Army (RPA) convicts on death row would benefit from the bill. Karugarama replied that if the bill turns into a law, the former RPA soldiers would also benefit. (Sources: AllAfrica.com, 03/07/2007)