afrol News, 28 July - New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) has claimed today that the Kenyan government must account for dozens of people missing since a security onslaught on tribal militia in the west of the country. It called on Kenya to support probe into torture and war crimes committed by security forces, and urged donors to review military aid to the count.

Allegations are contained in 52-page report issued by HRW which details war crimes committed by security forces and militia group, Sabaot Land Defence Force (SLDF), in Mount Elgon, western Kenya.

"The 'successful' operation to tackle rebellion in Mount Elgon has come at a terrible cost," said HRW director for Africa, Georgette Gagnon. "Government should urgently produce those who have disappeared and ensure that those responsible for torture and other crimes, including commanders are held accountable," Ms Gagnon said in a statement.

HRW said its investigation, entitled "'All the Men have Gone': War Crimes in Kenya's Mt. Elgon district," found that since 2006, SLDF has killed more than 600 people, "and kidnapped, tortured and raped men and women who opposed them or their political supporters".

SLDF took up arms to resist a government resettlement scheme in Mount Elgon district, which displaced small Sabaot tribe from their ancestral lands.

HRW said that by early 2008, SLDF had controlled large swathes of Mount Elgon, effectively running a parallel administration whereby they collected taxes and looted property. "The group's signature abuse has been to cut off ears and sew up mouths of people who defy their demands," HRW said.

In security crackdown that followed in March, much of male populations in villages in Mount Elgon were reportedly rounded up for screening in military camps where suspects were routinely tortured on arrival. "At a minimum, evidence points to hundreds of people having been tortured and dozens killed," it said, adding that at least 37 people remain "disappeared" after being in custody.

HRW, during visits to region in March, April and July, also documented dozens of cases of torture by police, paramilitary and military units. "Victims described being beaten with sticks, chains and rifles, while local mortuary staff described bodies arriving with obvious signs of torture," human rights body said, adding that some of those who died were dumped in forest from helicopters.

Both Britain and the US provide millions of dollars of military assistance to Kenya every year, but that should be reviewed in light of the allegations, according to HRW.

The group has thus called for military aid to Kenya to be halted until an inquiry is held into a crackdown in west of country. "Washington and London are close partners of Kenyan military and they should suspend military assistance until there is an independent investigation of war crimes," Ms Gagnon said.

Security forces have since denied repeated complaints of wrongdoing in the area and have blamed any human rights violations on the militia. Government announced in June an internal police investigation into the charges.

By staff writer

© afrol News

Related pages and feature

Current afrol News Top Stories