Despite press reports that UNHCR may be following up the case of the 7 rwandese refugees picked by the tanzanian police at Ngara on August 23, 1996 and handed over to RPF on 26^th August 1996, in total violations of all international instruments pertaining to the protection of refugees worldwide, RDR is still extremely concerned about their fate.

After being led in a trap by local authorities who had called them for a meeting, they were arrested and briefly held at the KABANGA prison, before being handed over to the very RPF they had fled from.

Some sources have alleged that there has developed a trend of trading refugees between local officials in the KAGERA region , and RPF authorities, who are said to be paying handsomely, depending on the social status of a refugee, or his education.

Here it should be reminded that most of the people recently extradited back to Rwanda are survivors of the RPF atrocities in the Byumba prefecture, where it started its devastating war in October 1990.

RDR would like to request the tanzanian central government which has so far been understanding to the plight of refugees, to examine thoroughly the activities of some local authorities alleged to be working closely with the RPF government without taking into account the international obligations of the government as per the Geneva convention pertaining to the protection of refugees.

The tanzanian government is particularly requested to stop the traumatizing practice of deporting rwandese refugees back to Rwanda. In case of any genuine reason for being unwanted immigrant, the refugee should be handed over to UNHCR for an alternative asylum country.

It would be a pity if such officials tarnished the international image of Tanzania by exploiting some loopholes in the tanzanian law, which conflict with international conventions.