03.04.07 - RWANDA/GENOCIDE - ONE TENTH OF THE RWANDAN POPULATION ACCUSED OF GENOCIDE

KIGALI, 3 April 2007 (FH) – Rwanda, which prepares itself to commemorate on Sunday the 13th anniversary of the genocide, counts 818,564 suspects of participation in massacres, one tenth of its population of ca. 8 millions of persons as we learned on Tuesday by an official source. Perpetrated by Hutu extremists, the genocide caused almost one million of victims, essentially members of the Tutsi community, according to Kigali. According to the National Service of Gacaca Courts (SNJG), 77,269 (9,4%) are suspects of the first category, 432,557 (52,8%) belong to the second category and 308,738 (37,7%) are from the third category. The suspects belonging to the second and third categories will be tried by the semi-traditional Gacaca courts (pronounced gachacha) whereas the others will be referred to the classical courts. With a total of 353,297 accused (43%), the South province counts the most important number of suspects. In last position is the North Province which counts 50,614 accused (6,2%). The FPR, which gained power by force of arms, first occupied the North of the country, which in part explains this disparity. Another explanation stems from the relatively weak representation of Tutsi in this region. In this province, the ideology of genocide, condemned by the Rwandan authorities considerably declined but has persisted in the South province according to its authorities which continue to condemn it. It is in the South that the highest number of threats against survivors of the genocide has been reported. The Rwandan government would like the trials before the Gacacas to end this year. These courts have tried 60,000 persons since their generalization in July 2006. Inspired from old village assemblies in villages during which the “wise men”, sat on the lawn (Gacaca, in Rwandan language) dealt with conflicts, the Gacaca courts are presided by non professional and voluntary judges. ER/PB/CV © Hirondelle News Agency