In Brief
Jun 26, 2008
Gacaca courts to try rape<br>Kigali<br>The semi-traditional Rwandan Gacaca courts will next month start trying rape suspects who committed the offences during the 1994 genocide.
Gacaca courts to try rape
Kigali
The semi-traditional Rwandan Gacaca courts will next month start trying rape suspects who committed the offences during the 1994 genocide. Before the law was amended last month, the Gacaca courts used not to try persons accused of rape and the alleged planners and supervisors of the genocide. At least 6,808 rape suspects, including those who do not live in Rwanda, will appear before the court.The Executive Secretary of the National Service of the Gacaca Courts, Domitilla Mukantaganzwa, said: “Their trials will proceed in closed session in order to protect the victims.†The new act envisages sanctions ranging from one to three years in prison for whoever violates the secrecy of a closed session hearing. The Gacacas are presided over by people with high integrity elected within the community and not proffessional judges.
Suspect signs guilty plea pact
Arusha
The former boss of Rwandan tea authority, Michel Baragaragaza, who was accused of genocide, has signed a guilty plea agreement over the 1994 killings with the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) . However, the details of the agreement remain confidential, reports Hirondelle Agency. Bagaragaraza, on 16 August 2005, surrendered to the Tribunal in Arusha and was charged with four counts of genocide and crimes against humanity. On 18 August 2005, the accused was transferred to the Special UN Detention Facility of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (following a request by the ICTR Prosecutor to grant the transfer for security reasons.
Mabira: MP warns govt
Kampala
Shadow environment minister Beatrice Anywar has asked the Government to explain reports that it wants to give away part of Mabira Forest to Mehta for sugarcane growing. Addressing journalists at Parliament yesterday, Anywar gave the Government three days to clarify the matter. “I have given three days to both the Government and Mehta to explain the Mabira status. If they fail, I will call the Save Mabira Crusade and other stakeholders to swing back into action.â€
Kigali
The semi-traditional Rwandan Gacaca courts will next month start trying rape suspects who committed the offences during the 1994 genocide. Before the law was amended last month, the Gacaca courts used not to try persons accused of rape and the alleged planners and supervisors of the genocide. At least 6,808 rape suspects, including those who do not live in Rwanda, will appear before the court.The Executive Secretary of the National Service of the Gacaca Courts, Domitilla Mukantaganzwa, said: “Their trials will proceed in closed session in order to protect the victims.†The new act envisages sanctions ranging from one to three years in prison for whoever violates the secrecy of a closed session hearing. The Gacacas are presided over by people with high integrity elected within the community and not proffessional judges.
Suspect signs guilty plea pact
Arusha
The former boss of Rwandan tea authority, Michel Baragaragaza, who was accused of genocide, has signed a guilty plea agreement over the 1994 killings with the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) . However, the details of the agreement remain confidential, reports Hirondelle Agency. Bagaragaraza, on 16 August 2005, surrendered to the Tribunal in Arusha and was charged with four counts of genocide and crimes against humanity. On 18 August 2005, the accused was transferred to the Special UN Detention Facility of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (following a request by the ICTR Prosecutor to grant the transfer for security reasons.
Mabira: MP warns govt
Kampala
Shadow environment minister Beatrice Anywar has asked the Government to explain reports that it wants to give away part of Mabira Forest to Mehta for sugarcane growing. Addressing journalists at Parliament yesterday, Anywar gave the Government three days to clarify the matter. “I have given three days to both the Government and Mehta to explain the Mabira status. If they fail, I will call the Save Mabira Crusade and other stakeholders to swing back into action.â€