Thursday, September 6, 2007

Gacaca, genocide courts, Wednesdays in Butare

From the morning until afternoon, all business is suspended on Wednesdays in Butare for the local genocide courts. Gacaca, pronounced "gachacha", is a tradition inspired system of local community justice. The word, in Kinyerwanda translates to "justice on the grass. Its aim is to:
  • aid in the reconciliation of all Rwandans and promote the building of unity
  • speed up the legal preceedings by using all available courts
  • reconstruct what happened during the genocide, enabling survivors to be part of the justice process.
The slowing of the commerce during this time was impressive. I was eating lunch inside the restaurant so as not to advertise their being open during these hours. I am looking for more information on the progress of these courts, a system of regular reporting. We shall see what I can find.

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