The Government shares the concern expressed by Deputy Durkan about the executions of 22 persons convicted of genocide in Rwanda which took place on 24 April. Our views were expressed directly to the Rwandan Ambassador to Ireland on 22 April when he made an official visit to Dublin. He was asked to convey these concerns to his Government. In addition, on the same day the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs had an opportunity to express its views to the Rwandan Ambassador. The day before the executions, my colleague, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Andrews, issued a statement urging the Government of Rwanda to exercise the utmost restraint as regards the imposition of the death penalty, with a view to its abolition. He expressed concern that the carrying out in public of these executions would not help the process of restoring peace.
In addition to these bilateral efforts, the British Presidency in Kigali made demarches along similar lines on behalf of the European Union to the authorities in Rwanda on 4 April and again on 23 April, the day before the executions. The European Union also encouraged the Government of Rwanda to comply fully with its obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and to observe other international safeguards. When the executions went ahead the following day, the EU Presidency issued an immediate statement recalling the Union's appeal for a stay of execution and expressing its dismay.
I assure the House that the Government will continue to seek every appropriate opportunity, at bilateral and multilateral levels, to minimise the use of capital punishment in response to genocide in the Great Lakes region. Indeed, one of the avenues which can be followed was discussed this morning during consideration of the Bill on the International Criminal Tribunals. The International Criminal Tribunal on Rwanda, based in Arusha, does not impose the death penalty and the Government will continue to support efforts to improve its effectiveness as a means to deal with those accused of genocide.
However, only 35 people have been indicted by the International Tribunal so far and four trials are ongoing. In contrast, approximately 120,000 people accused of being involved in the genocide are held in extremely poor and inhumane conditions in prisons and communal lockups throughout Rwanda. Deputies will recall that between 500,000 and 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus were killed in 1994 in a genocide orchestrated by the authorities then in power.
This was the latest tragedy in a cycle of violence which witnessed massacres and massive displacement of people since the late 1950s. In parallel with this cycle of violence, a cycle of impunity and a culture of fear developed in which the guilty went unpunished. The Arusha tribunal and the Government of Rwanda, through its national system of justice, are trying to break this cycle. It is acknowledged by all who take an interest in the future of the Rwandan people that this is one of the key issues which has to be addressed if national reconciliation is ever to be achieved.
In the immediate aftermath of the genocide, up to two million Hutus, including many members of the army and militia groups, fled to neighbouring countries and lived in camps along the border. Deputies will recall the massive return of refugees in 1996 when the camps were attacked during the war in Zaire and over one million people crossed back into Rwanda. The Rwandan Government is faced with the reintegration of these returned refugees into devastated communities which witnessed and survived genocide. In addition, security, particularly in the north west, is worsening because of extremist attacks. Continuous heavy rains since last October have led to a serious food shortage and outbreaks of malaria and waterborne diseases, thus exacerbating all the existing problems.
In this context should we and our partners in the European Union provide direct aid to Rwanda in the wake of the executions? The humanitarian needs of the people of Rwanda still exist. The provision of basic needs such as shelter, water and sanitation and basic health care remains a major challenge. Even before the catastrophic events of the last few years Rwanda was one of the poorest countries in Africa and could not survive without massive international assistance. We should continue to provide humanitarian and rehabilitation assistance to the Rwandan people. We cannot abandon them now.
The overall objective of Ireland's programme of support to Rwanda, which amounted to £2.3 million in 1997, is twofold, first, to respond effectively to the basic humanitarian needs of the people and, secondly, to provide rehabilitation and reconstruction assistance in a way that is inclusive and contributes towards reconciliation and the establishment of conditions which will lead to permanent peace and stability.
This assistance is channelled through Irish NGOs, such as Concern and TRÓCAIRE, to support programmes such as caring for unaccompanied children, trauma counselling for survivors of genocide, feeding prisoners and the provision of shelter, through international agencies such as the UN Development Programme and the International Committee of the Red Cross and a small proportion directly to the Government of Rwanda to assist it in institution building, in the training of health care workers and communal police. It should be noted that there has been a noticeable decrease in human rights abuses in those communes where police have received proper training.
Meeting the basic needs of genocide survivors, returned refugees and prisoners and their families is not enough. The very fabric of Rwandan society must be rebuilt in a way that breaks the cycle of violence and impunity, if real reconciliation and sustainable development is to be achieved. The rehabilitation of the justice sector, which was destroyed in the genocide and its aftermath of civil war, is crucial to the future of Rwanda. Ireland, in concert with other donor countries, such as Denmark, the Netherlands and the UK has supported, and will continue to support, efforts to rebuild and strengthen the administration of justice. This will help put in place the necessary infrastructure to ensure that due process is followed in all genocide cases. It will have a positive effect in the broader context. We are all too aware of the importance of a properly functioning system of justice, which has the confidence of all citizens, to the development of a democratic society. We also support the development of a strong civil society as a necessary counterbalancing force.
A recent monitoring visit by officials of my Department confirmed that the assistance provided so far is meeting its intended targets. It is the Government's intention to continue to contribute humanitarian and rehabilitation assistance to vulnerable people and communities and to work with other Governments and members of the international community to build a peaceful and stable society which offers hope for the future.
