International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda

Newton met us at the gate of the Arusha Convention Center, where the United Nations has been conducting the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (http://www.unictr.org/).  We walked through the metal detectors wearing our very best clothes then crossed a large courtyard with flagpoles on our left and palms on the right.  We entered the main building, ascended the stairs and meekly shuffled passed the soldier with an automatic rifle strapped formally across his chest. After signing in, we quietly filed into Courtroom 2.

There were two long rows of chairs facing the courtroom with plexiglass in between. The defense was on the left with translators stacked behind them.  The prosecution and the audio-visual technicians mirrored them on the opposite sides. In between the two sides, a panel of three judges in black and red robes faced us and the witness was hidden behind a curtain. We put on headsets that allowed us to hear the proceedings in our chosen language. The witness was protected. When any testimony might give any hint of who he is, the lights in the viewing room went black and the session was considered closed until the revealing testimony was finished.  This happened three times during our visit.

We were watching the trial of Augustin Ngiraabatware. He is among the 92 senior ministers, media leaders (press and musicians), religious leaders and businessmen who have been accused of orchestrating and inciting the Rwanda Genocide which killed nearly a million people in 100 days.  Many of these people in power would have been untouchable by the law in the past by claiming national sovereignty. That is why the ICTR was formed.  The genocide was not just a crime against Rwandese, but a crime against humanity.  Therefore it is the responsibility of humanity to make sure justice is served. The people of Rwanda can see the people in power, the demigods, held accountable for their crimes.  They are allowed to testify and speak their truth.  Others who might abuse their power in other countries can see that the international community will not turn a blind eye to the plight of their people. The healing can begin.