In what one would describe as a
“shocking situation” Tanzania has been named as one of the leading top ten
countries in the world for civilian killings by the police force.
Reacting to the Sunday killings
of Channel Ten Journalist Daudi Mwangosi by police force in Nyololo village in Mufindi South,
Director of Legal and Human Rights Centre (LHRC) Dr. Hellen Kijo Bisimba said
that according to Universal periodic review (UPR) released in April 2011 in
Geneva, Tanzania was one of the top ten countries where police force led in the
killings of its civilians.
She said that the
Universal Periodic Review (UPR) is a unique process which involves a review of
the human rights records of all 192 UN Member States once every four
years.
“The UPR is a
significant innovation of the Human Rights Council which is based on equal
treatment for all countries, other stakeholders and Non government organizations
are also invited to shed light on human rights issues” she
said.
It provides an
opportunity for all States to declare what actions they have taken to improve
the human rights situations in their countries and to overcome challenges to the
enjoyment of human rights.
The UPR also includes
a sharing of best human rights practices around the globe. Currently, no other
mechanism of this kind exists.
Dr. Bisimba said that
the brutal killings of a journalist while implementing his regular routine of
informing the general public cannot be accepted by civilized
Tanzanians.
“We condemn the
killings in all strong terms. We have been issuing statements on the killings of
civilians but no action taken, the Parliament too, as been condemning the
killings of civilians but no action taken, we are now tired, we are planning to
take the matter to high level, probably to seek legal assistance from the
international community” she stressed.
For her part, LHRC’s
coordinator, human rights and monitoring unit, Advocate Laeticia Petro, said
that according to clause 18 (2) of the constitution of the united republic of
Tanzania, the general public has the right to be informed, so, killing the
journalists was not only inhuman but also denying peoples rights of getting the
information.
“It has now become a
culture, that every week a civilian is killed by police force, where are we
going” she said.
The UPR was
established when the Human Rights Council was created on 15 March 2006 by the UN
General Assembly in resolution 60/251.
It mandates the
Council to undertake a universal periodic review, based on objective and
reliable information, of the fulfillment by each State of its human rights
obligations and commitments in a manner which ensures universality of coverage
and equal treatment with respect to all States.
Ends.
Source by Mirror Digest Reporter
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