International standards in international prisons

Recently at a media fraternity meeting in Butare, a popular FM radio presenter stated, “Rwandans will run to Arusha and declare themselves as genocidaires”. The unnamed journalist said the Rwandans would do this to escape poverty in Rwanda. The journalist was concerned because the detainees at the Arusha based UN detention facility were “living as kings while Rwandans are languishing in poverty.” The assertion that Rwandans are willing to commit genocide or go to Arusha and declare themselves genocidaires so as to be treated like royalty was patronising. The discussion was started off by senior international journalist John Honderich who was concerned by the recent decision of the ICTR to allow its detainees to meet their wives, concubines and girlfriends for sex, legally known as conjugal rights. The subject of conjugal rights has awakened a huge frenzy in the Tanzanian media. Matters of the body are a favourite pastime of many Tanzanians. Dar Salaam is known in the country as the ‘East African city of sex’. Renowned Canadian newspaper mogul Honderich was bewildered that jailed newspaper investor, Conrad Black, who is serving time for mismanaging his business empire. Horlinger Inc., is not allowed conjugal visits while genocide suspects are allowed such treats. With their cases being tried by the ICTR, genocide suspects are no longer considered Rwandans in the legal context. They also know it, and apart from the venues of their crimes which are constantly mentioned during trial proceedings, the suspects are more like the international lawyers and judges trying them. To them too, Rwanda is just a name on the world map. They are now part of the larger international community that operates with excess, even in prisons. That is why when the detainees are acquitted, they don’t return to Rwanda but the UN locates another country where they will adopt citizenship. The ICTR detainees are not your regular ‘guys in pink’, they are savvy and know that they have influential forces on their side. They have a large spy network around Arusha and Kigali to monitor events and advise their cohorts who are still being tracked by the ICTR. For a Rwandan first timer at the ICTR you can take them for being an alternative central government. Even before the issue of conjugal visits was put on paper, it is said that they don’t exactly live like catholic priests. The detainees are actually living large, they are driven around in impressive convoys and their vehicles have guaranteed comfort. Walking to work on Tuesday morning, I met Clare Roberts, a visiting intern at the ICTR from one of the leading universities in Europe. An anthropologist by training, Clare is also frustrated by the practices of the international community. “The developed countries are feeling a sense of guilt for doing nothing for Rwanda while the Genocide was taking place, instead of helping the country and its citizens seek justice now, they bring the court to Arusha so they can now feel good for helping Rwandans see justice, far away from the scenes of the crimes.” Clare was disappointed that there are also very few Rwandans at the ICTR; “Rwanda is a distant memory for many people here, they don’t want to talk about the country or simply, they don’t know.” The official granting of conjugal rights by the ICTR is a small treat to prisoners who are used to opulence and power. Recently, the ICTR interrupted internet connection to the cells after it was found that Hassan Ngeze was running a website from his cell. Ngeze, the notorious hustler journalist, is reported to have been funded by the the powerful ‘Akazu’ under the patronage of first lady Agathe Habyarimana to start the newspaper Kangura. This paper was responsible for primarily printing the famous ten commandments of the Hutu power. Ngeze after his arrest continued his journalism even in jail where he used his website to spread Kangura propaganda. When the ICTR learned about it, the site was closed but it is believed to have changed names and managers. Contact: donmuhinda@yahoo.com