Rwanda wants media barred from interviewing genocide convicts

Rwanda is demanding a total ban on all people convicted of genocide crimes from being interviewed by journalists.

This, it says, is a way of preventing them from revising the history of the Rwandan genocide.

Rwandan Justice Minister Johnston Busingye told a gathering at the closure of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) that the media should be barred from accessing convicts because it reopens wounds of the genocide.

In an emotional speech, Mr Busingye criticised the UN tribunal for allowing media interviews to those jailed despite promising not to do so.

"All nations and institutions who want to genuinely stand up and be counted against the ideology of genocide need to take extra caution before granting media access to genocide convicts; because they (convicts) cannot prevent themselves from marketing their genocidal views."

"The first time, we were promised that it would not happen again. The second time we received deferring responses from the ICTR and the MICT (Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals). We all seem to agree, however, that it is wrong, unethical and contrary to policy," he told a gathering at ICTR headquatres in Arusha.

The Tribunal, which is winding up this month, was formed by the UN Security Council in 1994 to bring to justice alleged perpetrators of the Rwandan genocide where at least 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus were killed by the Hutu militia groups.

Some of those targeted for trial included a leader of the government and several top government and military officials. It has convicted 61 people out of the initial 93 indictees.

The Rwandan government which has often been sensitive to any media reports trying to revise the history of that genocide argues allowing convicts to say their side of the story is insulting and dangerous.

"We understand a thin line between hate speech and freedom of speech. We believe however, that the media cases already handled by this tribunal and other courts should remind us sufficiently that media can be a lethal tool in propagating hate speech which is a precursor to genocide.

"When genocide convicts are granted media access, it is not only wrong and unethical; it is also callous towards the victims of that genocide," he said.

Despite convicting 61 people most of who were senior government ministers; the ICTR often enjoyed a lukewarm relationship with the Rwandan government under President Paul Kagame.

In Arusha, Mr Busingye acknowledged the differences but argued its existence had provided valuable lessons to Rwandans.

Rwanda itself opposed its creation because it did not provide for death penalty to those found guilty and because it had wanted it to be established in Rwanda as opposed to Arusha where it operated since. In fact, Rwanda criticised the ICTR because it had no provisions for ordering convicts to recompense victims.

"Over the years, there were disagreements in our relationship over the issues and methods. Today we have every right to call it a successful story," he said.

Despite its conviction rate, nine of those accused and indicted by the ICTR for their participation in the genocide are still at large.

Rwanda has the first obligation to track them down but the after-ICTR programme called the Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals will remain in charge of looking for Augustine Bizimana, Felicien Kabuga and Protais Mpiranya, thought to have been influential during the genocide.

However, Mr Busingye said those already acquitted or convicted but finished their jail terms are free to resettle in Rwanda.