Catholic bishops concerned over popular tribunals

Catholic bishops in Rwanda have expressed concern over the proposed establishment of popular tribunals, known as "gacaca". During a meeting with Prime Minister Pierre-Celestin Rwigema recently, they said that while they appreciated this move by the Rwandan government to speed up genocide trials, they were concerned the tribunals "might become an instrument of injustice, especially if they were not well prepared". Their comments were reported by 'Kinyamateka', the mouthpiece of the Rwandan Catholic church. According to the same publication, Rwanda's prison population had decreased from 130,000 to 122,000. The Rwandan authorities recently announced they would promulgate an organic law establishing the "gacaca" which would operate at four levels - cellule, secteur, commune and prefecture - and try accused people in the second and third categories of Rwanda's genocide law. Defendants will have the right of appeal to a superior court. The law defines four categories of genocide crimes, with first category defendants accused of planning and executing the genocide.