Rwandan genocide trials proceed at snail's pace

One of thousands of Rwandan prisoners

At this rate, they'd stretch over 400 years

February 7, 1998
Web posted at: 4:50 p.m. EST (2150 GMT)

GISENYI, Rwanda (CNN) -- As ethnic violence and banditry claim victims almost daily in Rwanda, the government has been struggling to try tens of thousands of Hutu extremists suspected of taking part in the 1994 genocide of more than half a million Tutsis and moderate Hutus.

Last year, the courts only tried 300 suspects. If the legal proceedings go on at that rate, it will take Rwanda's judicial authorities about 400 years to hear the 120,000 or more cases.

Rwandan Prisoners

The prospect of living and dying in jail has many prisoners clearly worried.

"We're capable of putting up a defense," said one middle-age detainee. "If I committed genocide, it should be demonstrated and I'll be punished. If I didn't, then I should be free to work like other Rwandans."

But with the government burdened by the high cost of imprisonment, ministers are now reconsidering ways to speed up the trials.

"The system should be reformed to enable to deal more expeditiously with all these people awaiting trial," Deputy Justice Minister Gerald Gahima said.

Rwanda is trying to find a speedier way to try prisoners

Authorities are considering sentencing some prisoners to community service, while trying others communally in traditional courts. They also may move to swiftly execute the prisoners on death row.

"We are committed to carrying out some death sentences of the category-1 people, the category of people who were planners or who had a role of supervising the implementation of the genocide," Gahima told CNN.

Rwandan officials said human rights groups were concerned that radical reforms to speed up the trials might be implemented at the cost of defendants' rights.

More modest measures may therefore be implemented first -- such as reducing the number of judges present at each trial.

To date, about one-third of the suspects tried have received the death penalty. Another third have been sentenced to life in prison. That means whatever reforms are implemented, Rwanda's prisons are likely to remain full for some time.

Correspondent Catherine Bond contributed to this report.

Related stories:

• Observers: Abuses by Rwandan military often unpunished - February 2, 1998
• U.N. tribunal seizes Rwandans on genocide charges - July 18, 1997
• Rwanda opens genocide trial - January 14, 1997
• New genocide trials open in Rwanda - December 30, 1996

Related sites:

Note: Pages will open in a new browser window

• Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1997 - U.S. Department of State
  • 1997 Human Rights Report: Rwanda
• Rwanda Page - African Studies at University of Pennsylvania
• The World Factbook page on Rwanda

External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.

---

 

---

Sound off on our message boards & chat

© 1998 Cable News Network, Inc.
A Time Warner Company
All Rights Reserved.

Terms under which this service is provided to you.
Read our privacy guidelines.