Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 20 Sep 1995

Vol. 455 No. 8

Written Answers. - Genocide in Rwanda.

Alan Shatter

Question:

25 Mr. Shatter asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the initiatives, if any, this State is taking within the United Nations or at European Union level to ensure whatever steps are necessary are taken to bring to justice those responsible for the genocide that occurred in Rwanda and to restore to that country an independent judicial system. [13116/95]

The Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Spring)

The Government has strongly supported the establishment of an International Tribunal for Rwanda which was set up under UN Security Council Resolution 955 of 8 November 1994 to prosecute persons responsible for genocide and other serious violations of international humanitarian law in Rwanda. The process of investigation into such violations has begun and is dealing with approximately 400 identified suspects. The Tribunal opened its first Plenary Session in The Hague on 26 June and will bring cases to trial in the near future.

The Government considers the work of the International Tribunal essential to the process of national reconciliation in Rwanda. Ireland was one of the first countries to contribute financially to the UN Trust Fund for the Tribunal and we encouraged the commencement of its work at the earliest possible date.

The common position on Rwanda adopted by the EU Council of Ministers on 18 October 1994 stressed the importance of bringing to justice those responsible for the grave violations of humanitarian law, including genocide. In this respect the EU considered the establishment of an international Tribunal as an essential element to stop a tradition of impunity and to prevent future violations of human rights.

The restoration of a functioning and independent judiciary is necessary for the Rwandan Government to bring to trial those accused of taking part in the genocide, and is central to the country's long term stability. We understand that together with the UN, the Government of Rwanda is completing a plan of action for its prison and judicial system. We have joined with our EU partners in confirming our preparedness to assist the rehabilitation of the Rwandan judicial system and have asked the Rwandan Government to inform us of their needs. The EU Ministerial troika that visited Rwanda on 16 September was to have raised this matter with the Rwandan Government, and we await its report of those discussions with interest.

Bilaterally, Ireland has contributed over £500,000 to the human rights and justice sector in Rwanda. This includes: £100,000 to the Ministry of Justice for the restoration of the country's legal archive; £100,000 for the International Tribunal; £150,000 for UN Human Rights Field Operation in Rwanda (HRFOR); £175,000 for the International Committee of the Red Cross, to help relieve the humanitarian crisis in the prisons.

In addition, a further £50,000 has been approved for a study unit on genocide and the response to it, in which the Rwandan President's office and human rights monitors are participating; and £75,000 has been approved for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to support a technical co-operation unit in the Ministry of Justice.

The EU has provided a contingent of human rights monitors for the UN field operation. The Government regard the work of the human rights monitors as very valuable both in helping to create a climate of confidence in the country and in regard to the investigation of genocide and other major violations of human rights and humanitarian law. Three of the EU team, including its coordinator, are Irish.