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.
SRE/ER/MM/SC
