International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda-Day 1

So, I found free wireless at this little bar outside the ICTR and, after not being able to log into facebook for four days, am currently in a state of utter euphoria! It’s actually really neat…it’s a tiny bar that’s popular with a lot of the ex-pats and ICTR workers and is a nice little oasis in the middle of Arusha.

Today was another amazing day in Arusha. We grabbed breakfast this morning at the hotel restaurant and then walked across the city to the ICTR. The ICTR was established in November of 1994 by the United Nations Security Council in order to prosecute those responsible for the Rwandan genocide. Specifically, the tribunal has jurisdiction over genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes that occurred between January 1st and December 31st of1994.

We were greeted at the main gate by an ICTR intern and went up to Trial Chamber III to watch the trial of Dominique Ntawukulilyayo. Ntawukulilyayo, the former sous-prefet of the Butare province, is charged with three counts of genocide and direct and public incitement to commit genocide. Specifically, Ntawukulilyayo is accused of luring a group of Tutsi refugees to a hill where he had them massacred. From the gallery, we watched an alleged genocidaire testify against Ntawukulilyayo. During cross-examination, the defense council questioned the witness (whose identity was kept anonymous and was not visible from the gallery) about his own involvement in the genocide. I sat in utter shock as I heard the witness admit that he had rapped a young girl and had been involved in the murders of at least nine Tutsis at a roadblock in Kibuye. While I have read books about the genocide and watched numerous documentaries, I was not prepared to hear someone actually admit to these atrocities. There was something so ominous and deplorable about a man, sitting no less than ten feet from me, admit that he had participated in the genocide. What was perhaps even more shocking was the fact that his admissions did not faze the judges or lawyers in the slightest…testimony like this appeared to be the norm, not the exception. While it was certainly upsetting, there was also something truly beautiful in seeing Ntawukulilyayo in a courtroom. Throughout history, individuals like Ntawukulilyayo have been shrouded in a cloak of impunity and have not been held accountable for their actions. Now, through courts and tribunals like the ITCR, leaders from all over the world are beginning told that the international community will take action if an official abuses his or her power. I sincerely believe that such a message can and will prevent future atrocities.

After lunch, we headed back to the ICTR where we met with three of the court’s prosecutors. The three discussed their involvement and experiences with the court and the court’s pivotal role in the development of international law and justice. They stressed that the ICTR and the ICTY, its sister tribunal that is charged with prosecuting those accused of war crimes in Yugoslavia, is creating invaluable precedent that would forever alter international law. What struck me most about these three lawyers was that they were making such a tangible difference in the world…they seemed to be so dedicated and committed to international justice. It’s people like these lawyers that make me confident that we can and will find a better way forward in this troubled world…I guess I was just really inspired by the whole thing.

Okay, well I’m out for the night.
-Luke