Human Rights Watch calls for probe into death of Rwandan journalist

By Godfrey Olukya

KAMPALA, Uganda (AA) - The International human rights organization Human Rights Watch (HRW) has called for a thorough, independent investigation into the mysterious death of John Williams Ntwali, one of the few journalists in Rwanda who has published stories critical of the government.

Ntwali was the sole fatality in a road accident last Wednesday in the capital Kigali, according to the police.

Human Rights Watch said Ntwali joins a long list of people who have challenged the government and died in suspicious circumstances.

"John Williams Ntwali was a lifeline for many victims of human rights violations and often the only journalist who dared (to) report on issues of political persecution and repression," said Lewis Mudge, Central Africa director at Human Rights Watch.

He said there are many reasons to question the theory of a road accident, and a prompt investigation drawing on international expertise is essential to determine whether he was murdered.

Human Rights Watch said in a statement titled Rwanda: Suspicious Death of Investigative Journalist that Rwandan authorities should allow an effective, independent and transparent investigation into the suspicious death of Ntwali, who was a leading investigative journalist and editor of the newspaper The Chronicles.

Rwandan authorities have denied allegations that they killed Ntwali. In a media interview, Rwandan police spokesman John Bosco Kabera said Ntwali was killed in a motorbike accident in Kigali. He said the accident file is being processed for transmission to the prosecution.

Kabera said the driver of the vehicle which struck the motorbike on which Ntwali was traveling has been arrested and is in police custody.