by GASHEGU MURAMIRA
The acquittal of former ministers in a government that oversaw the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi has been met with dismay, with officials describing it as revisionism and negating the Genocide.
Justin Mugenzi was Minister of Trade during the 1994 Genocide, while Prosper Mugiraneza was Public Service minister.
A Trial Chamber by the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda had on September 30, 2011, found both men guilty of conspiracy to commit Genocide and direct and public incitement to commit Genocide and sentenced them to 30 years in jail.
But the tribunal’s Appeals Chamber presided by American judge Theodor Meron, yesterday, overturned the conviction and ordered their release, leaving Genocide survivors and Rwandans in general in shock.
Dr Jean Pierre Dusingizemungu, the president of Ibuka, an umbrella body of Genocide survivors, expressed surprise at the tribunal’s stand saying that acquitting a man like Mugenzi is itself an act of denying the planning process of the Genocide.
He said that much as the tribunal has a time limit of closing shop next year, it shouldn’t rush to make judgments that leave victims of the Genocide even more psychologically tortured and disrespected.
“Even a child can judge that from 30 years to being acquitted shows conspiracy on the part of the tribunal. All the crimes Mugenzi committed in Butare (Huye) were in broad day light and prosecution had provided the necessary evidence to that effect. It is terrible!” Dusingizemungu said.
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