Gacaca success puts detractors to shame

Editor, Allow me to add my voice about the Gacaca courts and what their success means to Rwanda and its critics. I think the courts’ integrity was beyond reproach. The Gacaca courts closed yesterday with over 1.9 million cases settled, and Rwandans back together as one people.

Monday, June 18, 2012
Gacaca judgesu2013 The courts have helped to unite Rwandans. The New Times/ File.

Editor,Allow me to add my voice about the Gacaca courts and what their success means to Rwanda and its critics. I think the courts’ integrity was beyond reproach. The Gacaca courts closed yesterday with over 1.9 million cases settled, and Rwandans back together as one people.When Gacaca courts started in 2002, so many people came out to criticize them vigorously, even as they did not provide any alternative that would help address the challenge of justice and reconciliation that Rwanda faced at the moment.Yet it would have taken the country at least 300 years to try Genocide cases under the classical court system. That was utterly unreasonable since Genocide victims, perpetrators and witnesses would not have lived to witness the trials.It should be noted that there is no justice system anywhere in the world that can be 100 per cent perfect. I have strong belief that Gacaca was the best way to deal with the judicial challenges left by the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. Gacaca Courts offer immense lessons to humanity.To its and Rwanda’s detractors, it’s a huge shame.Innocent RukundoKigali