Kigali: Rwanda's application to join the 53-member English-speaking block has been questioned over its alleged human rights record, according to a just released report by the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI).

Harsh laws banning "genocide ideology", harassment of independent journalists and military intervention in Democratic Republic of Congo make Rwanda's accession to the British Commonwealth "ill-advised", the non-governmental organization said in the report published on Sunday.

This comes just days after British PM Gordon Brown put his nod to Rwanda’s application - backed vigorously by Uganda and Kenya – both regional neighbours. President Kagame was in London. Rwanda’s bid will be considered at the Commonwealth summit in Trinidad and Tobago in November, the Guardian reported.

It is not clear if the report by this organization counts as much. In November 2007, Pakistan was suspended from the Commonwealth following a damning report by the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative.

The campaign organization however gives Rwanda some credit on health care spending and in education as well. The country also has the highest female representation in Parliament in the world. Corruption is low, and the work ethic of government officials puts neighbouring countries to shame.

But the Initiative, whose report was prepared by Professor Yash Pal Ghai, a Kenyan constitutional expert, said Rwanda's governance was wanting and its human rights record was "very poor".  

It said Rwandan troops had carried out abuses during three incursions into Congo, and that the Gacaca (community justice) courts established to try genocide suspects violated international norms.

Rwandan officials are yet to respond to the accusations.

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