MPs intervene in Gacaca petitions

The lower chamber’s standing committee on national unity, rights and fight against Genocide, yesterday, visited the headquarters of the National Service of Gacaca Jurisdictions, in Kigali, in a bid to get to the bottom of grievances from the public about the semi-traditional courts.The chairperson of the committee, Francois Byabarumwanzi, told The New Times that his team was particularly following up four cases involving complaints over property as well as fairness in related trials. The MPs were briefed about the cases of Amin Ntabwoba, alias Cyuma, of Nyarugenge District, Celestin Nzaramba, of Shyorongi District, and two others in in Nyamagabe and Karongi districts respectively.“Gacaca officials told us how these disputes were addressed and how court proceedings were carried out. People often come and only tell us their part of the story. We have to investigate further, but more often than not, we realise that there was no injustice in cases,” Byabarumwanzi noted.He however said that they would go ahead with the probe.“We will conduct other field visits, especially to these places where the trials were conducted and get to talk to people down there, including local authorities,” he said. “Whenever necessary, we even advise the people concerned. For example, when we finally realise that the cases were conducted fairly, we need to advise the petitioners to stop wasting time and money appealing against court decisions yet there was no injustice.”The House’s bureau usually assigns complaints from the general public to respective standing committees for investigation.