25.06.08 - RWANDA/GACACA - 1994 GENOCIDE: GACACA COURTS WILL START TRYING RAPE CASES NEXT MONTH

26 June 2008 By

Kigali, 25 June 2008 (FH) – The semi-traditional Rwandan Gacaca courts will start trying next month the alleged authors of rapes committed during the 1994 genocide under an amended law. Before the newly approved law last month, the Gacaca courts had jurisdiction to cover crimes related to the 1994 genocide, except for persons accused of rape and alleged planners and supervisors of the genocide, reported Wednesday the tri-weekly Izuba (The Sun) newspaper.

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The number of the alleged authors of rapes are estimated to be some 6, 808 persons, including some who do not live in Rwanda, according to Izuba, quoting the Executive Secretary of the National Service of the Gacaca Courts (SNJG), Mrs. Domitilla Mukantaganzwa.

“Their trials will proceed in closed session in order to protect the victims”, said Mrs Mukantaganzwa.

The new act envisages sanctions ranging from one to three years in prison, for whoever will violate the secrecy of a closed session hearing.
The Gacacas are not presided by professional judges but by people elected within the community with high integrity.

Mrs. Mukantaganzwa disclosed that those who would try the rape cases would be selected form among the best gacaca judges. They will also attend training.
Perpetrated by Hutu extremists, the 1994 genocide resulted, according to Kigali, in nearly a million killed, primarily ethnic Tutsis and moderate Hutus although the UN estimates the death toll to be about 800,000.
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