In Rwanda, during the 1994 genocide, Hutus killed more than 800,000 Tutsis and also killed many politically moderate Hutus. The Genocide may have ended, but there are still many disturbances that continue: literally thousands of people are being arrested and more and more of them still keep coming into prison, and although the numbers are not on as such a large scale, there are still many Tutsi’s being killed.
Today, in Rwanda, there are still many people being arrested for crimes committed in the 1994 genocide. According to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), there are at least 110,000 genocide suspects who are being pushed into crowded prisons and makeshift cells all over Rwanda (Tunbridge, par. 4). An amazing number of 18 prisons are full. Some of these prisons are even 4 times the official capacity. In the town of Butare, there is a facility made to hold 1,200 people, but at one time after the genocide it held 17,537. There are also thousands of prisoners held in more than 150 makeshift cells in rural villages. Many are arrested daily, and it has been estimated that 5,000 are arrested every month. About 1,100 people out of 100,000 are put in jail. If compared to the US, we only have 602 per 100,000 that are put in jail (Tunbridge, par. 18).
It has been said that Rwanda has the “worst prisons in the world” (Tunbridge, par. 17). But isn’t that what these people deserve? Hacking and slashing their neighbors as well as murdering many pregnant mothers and cutting out their fetal babies are not exactly something that can easily be forgiven of. Did they show these people any mercy? No. So why should we? Well it’s hard to say. Many people want to forgive but there’s also a matter of crime and punishment.
Aid workers describe conditions there as “inhuman,” “shocking,” and “worse than a nightmare.” In many cases, these inmates are not fed unless a family member brings them food. In many of these makeshift jail cells there are no drinking water, washing facilities, and even medical care. For some of these people they have only been in jail for 6 months and already have turned into skin and bone. Men and women are placed together, as well as with some children. There have been many violent outbreaks, so it’s hard to say how many prisoners die on average, but some estimate dozens die every month (Tunbridge, par. 8).
Little progress is being made on the trial of the prisoners. It’s amazing to hear that only around 30 of them have so far been convicted and sentenced to either death or life in prison. It has been predicted that it will take as many has 500 years to try those in detention (Tunbridge, par. 17). This is way too long. Though, with only 500 years left, it seems as if they are already getting life in prison as it is.
Many of those who are arrested are the ones who have fled the country and have recently come back. Fearing the new Tutsi government, they sought refuge in Zaire. They were forced back into Rwanda by many Tutsi rebels who broke up their refugee camps. Since the return of many Hutu refugees who have fled after the genocide, there has been a growing violence. Coming from Zaire and Tanzania, many of the tens of thousands of returning refugees are Hutu militiamen and civilian killers. They have brought fear to many surviving Tutsi and moderate Hutus who are too afraid to go back to their homes. As a result, many of them now gather around commercial centers and military posts for protection (Zarembo, par. 12).
Although the genocide is over, there are many people that are still in great danger of being killed. Those who have seen the atrocities committed by certain people are asked to testify in court against them. Unfortunately, many of the witnesses are killed soon after, and even before their confessions could be made. Just last year, according to the UN, 200 Rwandan genocide survivors were killed before they could give their testimonials in court (Zarembo, par. 12).
Many witnesses are not given the proper protection that they need. Tribunal investigators say that the Rwandan government is not doing enough to ensure the safety of genocide witnesses. One tribunal official spoke saying, “We’re rolling dice with their lives” (Zarembo, par. 7). With the recent start of the genocide trials, many say that the killings will escalate. Even though witnesses are given code names such as, “Witness K” and “Witness C,” many still know their real identity. People worry most when cases build up against the former government ministers, politicians, and top military officials accused for planning the genocide. Tribunal officials say that many witnesses wish to be relocated in exchange for their testimony in court.
Today, 45 percent of Rwandans have been born since the genocide. This could be a chance to start fresh. However, even with a new generation, the events of the past are still not forgotten. Yvonne Kayiteshonga, who runs the health department at the health ministry, mentioned how the genocide has affected many youth. She said, “Children as young as 8 cannot follow their studies…the trauma of the parents are being passed on to their children. We see it every day” (Whitelaw par, 24). She also said that the toughest time for the youth and all people is in April, during the annual commemoration of the genocide. Fortunately, relief groups have been formed to help those in times of need such as these. Marguerite Mukasine, a woman from southern Rwanda, belongs to a group called Jyambere Rubyimko (Lift Up Youth). She and 29 others raise money to help these kinds of afflicted people.
Although the Rwandan genocide has been “declared” over, peace at times seems yet so far out of reach. Thousands of guilty people still wait for their trials in court; however, the process is extremely slow. Witnesses and their families are being killed so as to not testify against them. It has been calculated that at this rate, the trials won’t be completed until 500 years from now. Meanwhile, they wait in cells that some call “inhuman,” and “shocking.” For many, forgiveness may seem out of the question for someone who has mercilessly killed loved ones.
Marguerite Mukasine has lost two brothers and one sister during the 1994 genocide. However, the killer came to ask for forgiveness to Mukasine's parents, which they granted. She says that no one has a happy story to tell from that time in 1994. Though the present looks grim, she has hope for the future. She said, “It will not happen again…we are stopping the mistakes of our parents " (Whitelaw par. 25).
Tunbridge, Louise. "Waiting 500 years for trial: Life in Rwanda's jails." (n.d.). TOPICsearch. EBSCO. Harold B. Lee Library, Provo, UT. 3 Apr. 2008 <http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?vid=1&hid=8&sid=a7389c59-fd89-479d-b5b1-
b76311e67afc%40sessionmgr2>.
Zarembo, Alan. "Rwanda's genocide witnesses are killed as wheels of..." (n.d.). TOPICsearch. EBSCO. Harold B. Lee Library, Provo, UT . 3 Apr. 2008 <http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?vid=1&hid=8&sid=1e6b572a-8f1a-4dbb-88a6-
17ef9e7af89b%40sessionmgr2>.
Whitelaw, Kevin. "Rwanda Reborn." SIRS Researcher. U.S. News & World Report Vol. 142, No.14. Harold B. Lee Library, Provo, UT. 13 April 2008 <http://sks.sirs.com/cgi-bin/hst-article-display?id=SUT0566-0-9510&artno=0000262840&type=
ART&shfilter=U&key=&title=Rwanda%20Reborn&res=Y&ren=Y&gov=Y&lnk=N&ic=N>.