Rwandan lawyers protest bill
2006-03-15 14:59
Kigali - Rwandan lawyers protested against a government legal reform bill on Wednesday and said they would "violate international principles" for the right of defence.
According to the head of the association of Rwandan lawyers, Jean Haguma, the bill "infringes notably on the liberal nature of the profession, professional secrecy and the immunity of counsel".
He said the proposed reforms risked weakening the legal profession in the tiny central African nation.
The bill, by the justice ministry was presented to parliament on Monday in a session attended by dozens of lawyers who took the ministry's secretary, Johnston Busingye, to task over the reforms.
But Busingye downplayed the lawyers' concerns.
"There is no need for drama," he said. "There are only six sections of the bill that seem to cause problems. We will certainly come to an agreement."
If approved, the reforms will bring the first changes since 1997 to Rwandan laws governing the bar.
- SAPA