Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 30 May 1996

Vol. 466 No. 3

Written Answers. - Genocide in Rwanda.

Liz O'Donnell

Question:

14 Ms O'Donnell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the progress, if any, made to date in bringing to justice persons (details supplied) who are alleged to have been involved in genocide in Rwanda; if he will give details of this progress; the resolution he hopes to see in this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11270/96]

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Spring)

The Government fully shares the view that it is necessary to prosecute persons responsible for genocide and other serious violations of international humanitarian law in Rwanda and strongly supported the establishment of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda. Bringing to justice those responsible for genocide in Rwanda is also essential for building confidence for the voluntary return of the 1.9 million Rwandan refugees in the Great Lakes Region and to the advancement of national reconciliation and reconstruction in both Rwanda and neighbouring Burundi.

Investigations by the Tribunal have been focused on approximately 400 identified suspects. The Tribunal Prosecutor, Justice Richard J. Goldstone, has indicated that trials of those responsible for the genocide will begin in early July. The first group of accused persons has already been transferred for detention in the Tribunal headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania, where they have been allocated defence lawyers in preparation for preliminary hearings which begin today. While the Government has been concerned about delays in the commencement of hearings by the Tribunal, we are hopeful that they will now proceed and that this in turn will give renewed impetus to the process of national reconciliation in Rwanda. The co-operation of the international community will continue to be necessary as the identities and whereabouts of those suspected of genocide become known.

In seeking to help deal with the legacy of genocide in the longer term, the Government joined the United States in sponsoring the International Conference on Genocide, Impunity and Accountability organised by the Government of Rwanda in Kigali last November. The conference was attended by Ministers of the Rwandan Government as well as international experts on large-scale human rights abuses from Chile, Argentina, Germany, Israel and Ethiopia. We also provided a follow-up grant of £82,000 for the establishment of a small secretariat which is implementing the findings of the conference. The Government of Rwanda has officially acknowledged the fact that the conference has significantly assisted it in its legislative approach to the organisation of prosecutions for genocide.

The restoration of a functioning and independent system of justice within Rwanda remains a key aspect of a long-term response to the genocide in Rwanda. It is also an important means of relieving the appalling and inhumane overcrowding of its prisons. The UN Secretary General has reported that the implementation of programmes designed to rehabilitate the justice system are under way. The Government of Rwanda is making efforts to reform the judicial and penal systems with the support of the International Red Cross, UNDP and international donors. In seeking to improve prison conditions, it has opened additional detention facilities which have resulted in the transfer of 12,000 prisoners from overcrowded prisons. It is co-operating with the UNDP in the implementation of a joint project to rehabilitate the justice system. The plan provides for the establishment of special courts to deal with genocide cases and for improved remuneration for over 1,000 judicial personnel in order to attract properly qualified staff. The establishment of special courts was one of the recommendations made by the international conference on genocide which we sponsored with the US Government.

In all, the Government has disbursed over £8.15 million for emergency relief and rehabilitation efforts in the Great Lakes Region since 1994. In my reply to the House on 7 March, I gave details of spending on the justice sector and in support of human rights initiatives in Rwanda which have been key sectors for Government support. This funding has been allocated to a broad range of entities, which have central responsibilities for ensuring that those responsible for the genocide are brought to trial and that mechanisms exist to ensure full accountability for human rights violations. Since March, a further grant of £125,000 has been disbursed to the international committee of the Red Cross to improve prison conditions and a grant of £130,000 has been given to Concern for a programme which is assisting prisoners and their families by setting up income generation projects. This brings to over £1.77 million the amount spent by the Government on justice and human rights initiatives since 1995.

I assure the Deputy that the Government will continue to focus on the issues of justice, human rights and accountability for genocide in its approach to the problems of national reconciliation and reconstruction in Rwanda.