When the ‘learned fraternity’ become criminals’ godfathers

Activities by a group of defence lawyers working with the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR), who have taken it upon themselves to advocate, outside the court rooms, for fugitives of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, must be roundly denounced. During an upcoming conference organised by these lawyers, they intend to shamelessly give a platform, as speakers, some of the most wanted suspects for their role in the Genocide. As lawyers, who are supposed to be the custodians of the law, they are the least expected to be offering intellectual cover to the genocidaires. Providing a forum to fugitives, such as Eugene Rwamucyo, whose role in the Genocide is well-documented, is simply unacceptable and should be condemned. Having defended suspects of the Genocide, at the UN-backed tribunal in Arusha, should not warrant these lawyers the right to help the fugitives escape justice. It turns out that the very professionals who started out as defence attorneys for the Genocide criminals, have themselves been converted to the very ideology that led to the deaths of over One Million Rwandans. Genocide is a crime that was not only committed against Rwandans, but the entire international community, and it would naturally be expected for these lawyers to know better. This, however, is not the case, because they have openly denied the Genocide, even after the UN court categorically pronounced itself on the matter, that a Genocide was committed against the Tutsi. Ends

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When the ‘learned fraternity’ become criminals’ godfathers