Closing of TPIR: why should the international community not fund the trials in France?

After  the closing of the international criminal court for Rwanda, why should the international community  not  fund the trials in France ?

 

The spokesman of the international court for Rwanda has announced that the criminal court will stop its activities in September 30 , 2015. It’s not the first time that this closing has been delayed .However, we may think that it’s the right date now. 61 sentences , among them , 7 are on appeal (Pauline Nyiramasuhuko and Co)

14 have been discharged and  $ 2 billion have been spent ( $ 1.644.759.300 in December31, 2011 ) in order to judge less than 100 people, suspected of having taken part in the Tutsi genocide. A  regular Mecanism will continue to deal with cases given to national jurisdictions. Two of them are in the hands of the French justice : Wenceslas Munyesshyaka , a priest from the “sainte famille” in Kigali ,in 1994 , living now  in Gisors,  Normandy , and Laurent BUCYIBARUTA ,  the former  prefect of Gikongora , living near Troyes , in the Champagne-Ardennes area. We are told that the investigation of those two court cases should come to an end : it is high time !

 

For us , it is the occasion to turn to the thorny problem of the funding of the court trials which are going to take place in France. A first trial sentenced Pascal SIMBIKANGWA to 25 years ’imprisonment for crimes of complicity against Humanity.  Unfortunately , he appealed !

2 other persons , suspected of taking part in the Tutsi genocide are waiting to appear in front of the Paris criminal court after the recent decision of the court of cassation : Octavien NGENZI and Tito BARAHIRA  (known as BARAHIRWA) , they will have to answer for their actions in front of a jury. 2 others are waiting for their investigation  by the judges : Dr TWARIGA who worked at the hospital in ROUEN  for several years  and preached at the Adventist church , and Claude MUHAYMANA , a militiaman , coming from Kibuye in RWANDA  ( as Mr Twariga ) , and living in the Rouen area ,as well .. Not to mention other cases which seem to have been shelved : Agathe  KARIZIGA  HABYARIMANA  is the perfect example !  One of the oldest complaint is about Dr Sosthène MUNYEMANA , a doctor  working at the hospital of Villeneuve sur Lot. There’s also Eugene  RWAMUCYO , Laurent SERUBUGA, ex chief of staff in the Rwandan army. Nearly 30 complaints are in the investigation judges’ offices , who , together with policemen , often go to Rwanda in rogatory commission  since the section “ crime against Humanity” was created in the criminal court of justice of Paris , in 2012.

 

Then , we can ask a question , of critical importance , even essential , for associations of civil plaintiffs such as the CPCR : WHY DO WE HAVE TO PAY FOR THE TREMENDOUS COSTS OF CRIMINAL COURT TRIALS IN FRANCE ?  when the trials come , how can we pay our lawyers , lawyers who have been volunteers  for 15 years  .A SUGGESTION:      NOW THAT THE TPIR STOPS , WHY SHOULD THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY , THROUGH UNO OR THE SECURITY COUNCIL  NOT FUND THE COSTS WHICH ARE INVOLVED IN EACH CRIMINAL COURT TRIAL. We are not only responsible for the complaints , whereas the prosecutor’s office should have and ought to investigate about the people suspected of genocide, but we have also spent a lot of money to do the work , to collect evidences, through the support and solidarity of our friends , members or donators . This situation is most unfair , all the more that France has always refused the extradition of the people  Rwanda claimed. We have always condemned such unbearable decisions . Trials  in Rwanda would  have been far easier , near the areas where crimes had been committed , near victims, and for such a lower cost! Many procedures were made to the different ministers of justice. Al havel answered , even with  the famous “double talk” that we know too well. Mrs TAUBIRA is the only one who remained silent !

 

If some of you agree with this analysis about the funding of trials , or if you have any concrete way to contact officials of the international community, your advice will be welcomed. We can’t keep on asking for help our friends who always respond with much generosity , but it is not enough to meet the needs , of course!

 

A crime of genocide is a crime against Humanity. It should be the concern of Humanity , at large, and not only the concern of some civil plaintiffs , who have taken responsibility to complaint but can’t take all.