Simbikangwa trial : February 7th, 2014

The fourth day is still devoted to witnesses context. Jacques Sémelin, a specialist of mass crimes, opens the day. We will have a lecture, accessible to all and admired by the Court President.

Addressing the jury: “A heavy responsibility rests on your shoulders. It is said that mass crimes are unthinkable ? Instead, they are too thinkable. We are often told not to try to understand! But to understand is not to excuse the perpetrators. Now we can not understand everything : everything must be done to understand, but there will always be something that will withstand our understanding.”

Jacques Sémelin then emphasized the vocabulary being used. Genocide is a crime on a defenseless population, but killing is not genocide. About mass crimes, we must identify a common approach: ” They are barbarians ! No, the massacre stems from a calculation of a decision of an organization. “In adding that” men who commit evil are not psychologically ill. They are ordinary, normal persons. ” Finally, mass murder is part of a mental process. It is a collective representation of another that wants to enslave, rape , destroy. The Nazis did not invent the Jews, they were given a degrading representation. The same happened in  Rwanda.

Several factors allow the establishment of a genocide : a crisis , an ideology that offers identity speeches (“Our country is in a serious situation, if we start by eliminating these people, it would be better”). The others arrived in the country after us, they are  too many, they grow as microbes, vermin , cockroaches… The others are like us, but are suspect, and represnet a traitor power .

Also important, words that kill. It is through language that one prepares mass crime. Including the international context that allows or encourages it. And quoting Tacitus : “Some wanted it , others did, all let it to happen. ”

Arises after the issue of the passage to the act and the role of decision makers. Policymakers do not kill, they are performers who do the dirty work and we try to involve everyone. Having discussed the role of RTLM first time a radio call Crime , Jacques Sémelin evokes the figure of the killer / rescuer who saves a Tutsi but can kill many others.

And finally remember that in Rwanda there was a genocide , that of the Tutsi minority and taking off balance all the proponents of the theory of double genocide , so prevalent in our country , even at the highest level .

It is then the turn of the Belgian investigating judge in the cases of Rwanda , Damien Vandermeersch to speak . He will share his experience about the investigations that had lead in the various lawsuits against Rwandan genocide suspects in Belgium. He will discuss in particular the value of the evidence , sometimes believable, sometimes contradictory. His presentation much reminds us of our own studies we have conducted to prepare complaints France .

Stéphane Audoin- is Rouzeau successor to the Belgian investigating judge . The new witness context is a historian , director of studies at EHESS and President of the International Research Centre of the Great War ( Peronne , Somme). He mentions three genocides of the 20th century ( Armenian, Jewish and Tutsis) and recalls that the Tutsi genocide has its roots in the original European racism and racial vision of the settler society , an attitude that has caused resentment among Hutu against the Tutsi. It then outlines the framework in which the three genocides happen : war and the agony of defeat, the presence of a central state with its armed arm, print and broadcast propaganda. He also mentioned the violence in neighboring genocide called “proximity” . It is not a spontaneous revolt. He concludes that Rwanda “History repeated itself and that genocide concerns us all. ”

During the ensuing discussion , the speaker , in response to a question from the Chair , will have the opportunity to say that the theory of the double genocide is an ” insult to the victims .” Yet this theory one of the defense lawyers will resume . Interrogated Simbikangwa reveals that once Mayotte through internet, it will realize that there was a genocide in Rwanda . The book Ruzibiza was a revelation for him. No luck, Ruzibiza was the main informant Judge Bruguiere whose order has been completely discredited by the partial conclusions of the judge Trévidic who succeeded him . Simbikangwa has not seen corpses in his neighborhood Kiyovu . Or elsewhere. Only four people in his hometown Rambura , including ” two priests.” However, these are the three Tutsi priests of the parish who were killed ( by order of the sister of President Habyarimana for president on April 7 , Godelieve sister , who has obtained a refugee status in France according to some sources). Besides three young Belgian cooperation that nobody talks about . He repeated that he recognizes the genocide of Tutsis but there has also been the genocide of Hutus.

Finally, the day will conclude with the presentation of Helen Dumas, who wrote a history thesis on the Gacaca participatory justice which brings together victims and perpetrators , under the responsibility of “wise men” in the absence of magistrates and lawyers. This instance has been treated, some eight years, more than 1.9 million business and condemn approximately 1.7 million people.