ICTR urged to address relations with genocide survivors

African Rights has written to the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR), in Arusha, Tanzania, urging it to address the "deterioration" in its relations with Rwandan genocide survivors, the human rights organisation reported on Monday.

The letter, addressed to newly appointed ICTR Deputy Prosecutor Bongani Majola, expressed the hope of African Rights that Majola's appointment, and those of 11 judges, would "invest new energy in the ICTR, enabling it to surmount some of its past problems and ensure delivery of justice in a timely and efficient manner".

"African Rights is firmly committed to the promotion of human rights in Rwanda, and we view genocide prosecutions as a prerequisite for future peace. However, we are also conscious of the continuing need to build a shared understanding of the meaning of justice within Rwanda and to promote a culture of tolerance."

The organisation said the ICTR had gained ground in bringing leading genocide suspects to court, but listed issues that it should tackle in order to make a greater contribution to the justice process in Rwanda. These issues included: allegations that the ICTR had employed a number of defence investigators who were suspected of involvement in the 1994 genocide; the alleged poor treatment and protection of witnesses who travelled from Rwanda to Arusha to testify; the "disappointing" pace of trials; and the need for the tribunal's outreach programme in Kigali to address the needs of Rwandan citizens.

African Rights also urged genocide survivors’ organisations and the government of Rwanda to engage in dialogue with the ICTR in order to resolve the existing problems.

"The primary purpose of our letter to Deputy-Prosecutor Majola is to seek to clarify the criticisms made by genocide survivors, and to suggest appropriate measures.

"By setting out our insights into their criticisms of the ICTR and the implications of these in the letter, our intention is to improve understanding and to help defuse remaining tensions.

"We believe that all the proponents and practitioners of genocide justice must continue to work positively and collectively through the existing mechanisms for the realisation of the shared goals," African Rights said.