We need to be very honest with ourselves @IGKimaiyo There is a need to approach the fight against terror with due regard to the Constitution. Wholesale victimization will not work. NAIROBI, KENYA: Members of the civil society have condemned the Government’s shoot-to-kill order issued to combat the new wave of terrorism. Following the Likoni church attack where terrorists sprayed bullets on worshippers, killing six of them, Mombasa County Commissioner Nelson Marwa on Tuesday instructed police to execute terror suspects. But through their working group on counter-terrorism and human rights, Tetea, the activists termed as illegal and an affront to the legitimate efforts to combat attacks. “It is unacceptable in the modern society for the commissioner to seek to impose on regular policemen and security agents the responsibility and authority of the judge and the executioner, under the guise of fighting terrorism,” they said in a statement. Speaking on the sidelines of the devolution forum at Nairobi’s Safari Park Hotel, Tetea co-convener Ali-Amin Kimathi urged President Uhuru Kenyatta, Internal Security Cabinet Secretary Joseph ole Lenku and police boss David Kimaiyo to overrule the State official and instruct security agencies to disregard the order. See Also: Doctors weigh tough options on Baby Satrin “We further call on the commissioner to resign or alternatively be relieved of his duties immediately and prosecuted for inciting the killing of innocent Kenyans,” they said. They argued the right to life was a fundamental human right enshrined in the Constitution with emphasis on the presumption of innocence until one is proven guilty. “The entire judicial process is meant to ensure that no Kenyan can be deprived of rights on the basis of mere suspicion and any attempt to circumvent the process makes the country more insecure,” Kimathi said. WHOLESALE VICTIMISATION He said terrorism posed a threat to everyone but urged that efforts to fight the heinous acts of terror must be undertaken with due regard to the Constitution as opposed to wholesale victimisation. The group claimed that most suspects were being arrested on mere suspicion of terrorism-related offences without clear proof from security agents as witnessed in recent operations where suspects rounded up in Mombasa have been acquitted by the court for lack of evidence. Civil Society Congress President Morris Odhiambo asked the security agencies to tighten surveillance at the porous borders to combat terrorism and embark on a long-term engagement with the communities to address the root cause of marginalisation and radicalisation. standardmedia.co.ke/mobile/?articleID=2000107960&story_title=activists-condemn-shoot-to-kill-order
Posted on: Thu, 27 Mar 2014 08:21:30 +0000
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