Rwanda: Justice and Forgiveness |
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January 10th, 2007 - 04:30PM |
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Tom Brokaw speaks with a survivor of the Rwandan genocide. Photo: Emily Holland/The IRC International Rescue Committee communications officer Emily Holland is blogging from Rwanda this week. Twenty Rwandan citizens gathered in the western province of Kibuye today to discuss the genocide that happened more than twelve years ago. Among those participating were imprisoned perpetrators of the genocide and genocide survivors -- many of whom knew each other when the horrors occurred but had not met again until now. Gacaca courts, or “community justice,” are Rwanda’s way of dealing with and prosecuting genocide crimes, humanely. Here, Tom Brokaw, Co-Chairman of the IRC Overseers, discusses the effectiveness of gacaca courts and the intense emotions of the day with some of the perpetrators and survivors in attendance. Mukagatira, 43, genocide perpetrator and mother of three. She has been in prison for 12 years. TOM BROKAW: Do you know these survivors personally? MUKAGATIRA: Yes, we were neighbors. We knew each other. TOM BROKAW: What do you want to say to them? MUKAGATIRA: I hope that they have an understanding and an enduring attitude. What happened happened, but this should not be the end of life. TOM BROKAW: What specific crimes were you charged with? MUKAGATIRA: Genocide crimes. TOM BROKAW: What do you think would be justice for your crimes? MUKAGATIRA: I feel I'm not guilty. I think I should receive justice for my crimes. TOM BROKAW: Do you understand that survivors and their families might have a different understanding of justice than you have? MUKAGATIRA: Yes, I think so. TOM BROKAW: Have you ever said to a survivor, ‘I’m sorry for what happened to you?’ MUKAGATIRA: This is my first opportunity to meet with survivors. If I have an opportunity to meet with them before -- or if the time comes when I get out of prison and I get to meet with them -- I will ask for their forgiveness and also express how sorry I am. TOM BROKAW: Some people worry that genocide could happen again. Do you believe that’s possible? MUKAGATIRA: Given what happened, I hope it never does. Uwamahora, 38, genocide survivor and mother of 4. Uwamahora met with genocide perpetrators for the first time today. TOM BROKAW: Have you met with genocidaires before? UWAMAHORA: This is my first time. TOM BROKAW: And what do they say to you when you meet with them? UWAMAHORA: They have not really talked to us much, but I look forward to talking with them more. TOM BROKAW: What do you want them to say to you? UWAMAHORA: I hope that they feel sorry and confess to what they did. TOM BROKAW: Tell me what happened to your family. UWAMAHORA: I am the only survivor in my family. 92 people in my family were killed. TOM BROKAW: Did you recognize some of the prisoners who are here today? UWAMAHORA: Yes, I know some of them. TOM BROKAW: Was it hard for you to be with them? UWAMAHORA: I try to adapt and be peaceful in my heart, so that if any of the prisoners come to me and say ‘I’m sorry,’ I will definitely forgive them. TOM BROKAW: Do you worry that genocide could happen again in Rwanda? UWAMAHORA: Yes, I worry about that sometimes. TOM BROKAW: Do you think that this country can move forward as one Rwanda without the rivalries that caused the genocide and the days of darkness? UWAMAHORA: Yes, I think that can happen. Jean Baptiste, 45, former primary schoolteacher and father of 3 who has been in prison for 12 years. Jean Baptiste’s family was forced to move to another area following the genocide. TOM BROKAW: What are you prepared to say to the survivors? JEAN BAPTISTE: I look forward to expressing my apology and for them to accept my it. I don’t want them to worry every time we see each other. TOM BROKAW: And you are willing to acknowledge your guilt? JEAN BAPTISTE: I have already confessed to my crimes. I look forward to sensitizing others who have not confessed to theirs. TOM BROKAW: You’ve been in prison for twelve years. You’ve had a great deal of time to think about what has happened. Have you been able to explain your actions to yourself? JEAN BAPTISTE: As prisoners, we take certain moments to convene and try to view what we did as a way of confessing and also see how this should never happen again. TOM BROKAW: Are you prepared to accept the judgment of the tribunals in Rwanda? JEAN BAPTISTE: Yes, I am prepared to accept the verdict that will be given to me. TOM BROKAW: Even if you have to spend more years in prison? JEAN BAPTISTE: Yes, but I would also ask for forgiveness. Even if I am not forgiven, when the time comes for me to get out of prison, I will be a proponent of reconciliation. TOM BROKAW: Do you think Rwanda can move forward as one country without the divisions that brought on the days of darkness? JEAN BAPTISTE: Yes, I believe that is possible so long as people come together. Rwanda is in a position to go forward. TOM BROKAW: Some people worry that there will be reprisals as a result of gacaca -- that when survivors come forward there will be vengeance visited upon them and they will become targets again. JEAN BAPTISTE: So far, there have not been reprisals. TOM BROKAW: When you arrived here today, did you recognize some of the survivors? Were they former neighbors and friends that you knew before? JEAN BAPTISTE: Yes, I knew some of them before. TOM BROKAW: And what did you say to them? JEAN BAPTISTE: We talked and expressed to the survivors how sorry we are for what we did to them. The survivors said that they want to see that we are genuinely sorry for what we did. Earlier: Q&A with Tom Brokaw Posted By: Emily Holland | Africa, Rebuilding Communities Permalink |
