Justice arrives late in Rwanda
If you peel away the headlines, sometimes the most important stories can be seen, hidden in lowly read articles. In a little lauded piece, it was announced today that Callixte Kalimanzira, then acting Interior Minister, was sentenced to 30 years for his part in the massacre of the Tutsis in the Rwanda Genocide. For those who for some reason need reminding, the massacre of Tutsis (and some Huti political moderates) took place in 1994. The genocide was undertaken by members of the Hutu majority under the Hutu Power ideology. In a period of around 100 days, from the assassination of Juvénal Habyarimana on 6 April through mid-July, at least 500,000 people were killed. While the actual number of deaths may never be known, estimates indicate a death toll between 800,000 and 1,000,000,which could be as high as 20% of the total population. Together with the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia, also now belatedly being brought to trial, the Rwanda Genocide is one of the defining memories of recent generations. While the conviction of Callixte Kalimanzira may be late, it is still welcomed by those who mourn the results of his actions.
A U.N. court trying alleged masterminds of Rwanda’s genocide sentenced a former interior minister to 30 years in prison Monday for tricking thousands of people to hide on a hill, only to watch them get slaughtered by militias.
The International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, which sits in Tanzania, convicted Callixte Kalimanzira, 56, of two counts of genocide and direct and public incitement to commit genocide.
“He encouraged Tutsi refugees to gather at Kabuye Hill, where he knew they will be killed in the thousands. He abused the public’s trust that he … would protect them,” said the presiding judge, Dennis Byron.
