iloubnan - Roumieh's deaths and injuries need independent investigation, says Human Rights Watch - April 10, 2011

Lebanon's government should order an independent investigation into the deaths of two inmates and injuries to about 45 others on April 6, 2011, in Lebanon's main prison, Human Rights Watch said in a communiqué issued last week. The two died during a raid at Roumieh prison by the Internal Security Forces (ISF) and an elite unit of the Lebanese Army to end a four-day riot by inmates demanding better conditions and shorter waits for their trials.

After the raid, Interior Minister Ziad Baroud asked the ISF chief, Maj. Gen. Ashraf Rifi, to open an inquiry into the two inmates' deaths, saying, "There will be a detailed probe and drastic measures." An earlier internal investigation into ill-treatment and corruption at Roumieh prison, in late 2008, was never made public by the Interior Ministry and it is unclear whether anyone was charged. Human Rights Watch urged the government to adopt measures promptly to address Lebanon's entrenched prison problems.

"An internal inquiry into the Roumieh prison deaths will not be sufficient," said Nadim Houry, Beirut director at Human Rights Watch. "Lebanon has a habit of promising investigations that we never hear about again. For this investigation to be credible, it needs to be independent and transparent and report publicly on its findings."