"Remaking Rwanda": essential contribution to the study of transitional justice and post-conflict recovery May 9, 2011 by Alana Tiemessen Leave a Comment "Remaking Rwanda: State Building and Human Rights After Mass Violence," an edited volume by Scott Straus and Lars Waldorf, has recently been published by the University of Wisconsin Press. The book is dedicated to the memory of Alison des Forges, the former senior advisor to Human Rights Watch's Africa Division and renowned Rwanda expert. The editors set out to accomplish three objectives: fill the gap on scholarly literature on post-genocide Rwanda challenge the prevailing positive reviews of Rwanda's recovery (emanating primarily from donors and media) highlight Rwanda's importance for post-conflict recovery (in the theoretical framework of James Scott's "Seeking Like a State.") In their introductory chapter, the editors state that "in challenging what has been the prevailing view of post-genocide Rwanda and complicating existing theories of post-conflict reconstruction, this volume intends to contribute – in whatever way outsiders can – to a robust social and political system that will avoid the terrible violence of Rwanda's past." The volume includes contributions from notable veteran and new scholars whose research on Rwanda is nuanced, provocative, and above reproach. Not surprisingly, the book and its authors have come under attack by proxy spokespersons of the Government of Rwanda. But the hyperbolic response of the RPF regime merely underscores the credibility of the authors' claims. Namely, the claims that that the RPF has used the created a veneer with the internationally lauded benchmarks of democracy, macro economic progress, and rule of law to entrench and centralize its power through "deft authoritarianism" – and thus paradoxically suppressing dissent, deepening inequality, and furthering a culture of impunity. Some have challenged that "only Rwandans can remake Rwanda." No one denies that Rwandans, from elites to peasants, should have agency in their country's political discourse. But as Straus remarks to the Chronicle of Higher Ed, "it is left to outsiders to make critical comments if the domestic political space is largely closed." There are several chapters in the volume that address transitional justice and reconciliation issues – ranging from crimes committed in the Congo, Gacaca, ICTR, memorials, ingando, and the laws on "genocide ideology." I'll provide a thorough review of these chapters in a future post, but for now here are the authors and titles: Lars Waldorf. "Instrumentalizing Genocide: The RPF's Campaign against 'Genocide Ideology." Jason Stearns and Federico Borello. "Bad Karma: Accountability for Rwandan Crimes in the Congo." Victor Peskin. "Victor's Justice Revisited: Rwandan Patriotic Front Crimes and the Prosecutorial Endgame at the ICTR." Don Webster. "The Uneasy Relationship between the ICTR and Gacaca." Max Rettig. "The Sovu Trials: The Impact of Genocide Justice on One Community." Carina Tertsakian. "'All Rwandans Are Afraid of Being Arrested One Day': Prisoners Past, Present, and Future." Jens Meierhenrich. "Topographies of Remembering and Forgetting: The Transformation of Lieux de Memoire in Rwanda." Susan Thomson. "Reeducation for Reconciliation: Participant Observations on Ingando." (http://globaltj.wordpress.com/2011/05/09/remaking-rwanda-essential-contribution-to-the-study-of-transitional-justice-and-post-conflict-recovery/) __._,_.___

UN mapping report on Congo: Rep. Ann Marie Buerkle Hopes for a Hearing

UN mapping report on Congo: Rep. Ann Marie Buerkle Hopes for a Hearing

 

Posted March 3rd, 2011

On March 2, 2001, on Capitol Hill,  in the House of the Representatives, the African Great Lakes Advocacy Coalition (Africa Faith and Justice Network, Friends of the Congo, Foreign Policy in Focus, African Great Lakes Action Network,Foundation for Freedom and Democracy in Rwanda, Congo Global Action Coalition, International Humanitarian Law Institute of St. Paul, Mobilization for Peace and Justice in Congo) held a congressional briefing for Members of the Senate and House and their staffs in order to raise the profile of the UN Mapping Report exercise released on October 1, 2010.   

Representative Ann Marie Buerkle of the 25th Congressional District of New York (pictured, second from left) came and briefly addressed the audience in these terms: "I am on three committees, but I am on Foreign Affairs and I am on the Subcommittee on Africa and Global health issues.  So, these issues are important to me.  I am a registered nurse.  I am very interested in health issues and global health.  So, I look forward to meeting with you. I gave you my contact information so that we can sit down, go over the issues and have a hearing and hopefully get some of the issues brushed out and see what we can do for you."

The goal was to rally U.S. support for justice for the crimes committed during the war against Congo from 1996 to 2003 by the Rwandan, Ugandan, and Burundian armies, their Congolese collaborators and others named in the report.  The briefing  offered some solid background witness and research that would help Congress take a  clear stance on this issue particularly to support the UN Mapping Report recommendation to set up an in-depth investigation to determine whether the targeted and massive killing of Congolese, Burundian, and Rwandan Hutu were a genocide. 

Over 70 people attended this event, including staffers from House offices, press, representatives of the embassies of Congo and Rwanda, Congolese Senator Nkoy Mafuta Bernadette who happened to be visiting the US, documentary producers, bloggers and many activists for peace in the Great Lakes Region on Africa.   

 The African Great Lakes Advocacy Coalition asks the US government to do the following:

1. Hold hearings on the UN Mapping Exercise Report.

2. Call on President Obama to instruct Ambassador Susan Rice to make the UN Mapping Exercise Report a priority and address its recommendations.

3. Investigate whether or not the Leahy Amendment is being violated in the Great Lakes Region. The Leahy Amendment, first introduced by Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT) as an amendment to the 1997 Foreign Operations Appropriations Act, prohibits U.S. security assistance to foreign military or security units "against whom exist credible allegations of gross violations of human rights."

4. Cease military support of Congo's neighbors implicated in the report of having committed mass atrocities, crimes against humanity, war crimes and possibly genocide. Public Law 109-456 Section 105 authorizes the Secretary of State to withhold aid from Congo's neighbors who have been destabilizing the country. We recommend that the Obama Administration fully implement PL 109-456.

5. Support efforts to establish an international tribunal as requested by over 200 Congolese Non-Government Organizations (NGOs).

                                                                   The panel

The coalition also reminded the audience that in support of the UN mapping report, 220 Congolese NGOs had the following recommendations:

1. Establish new general policies of justice that would build on the creation of several complementary mechanisms, judicial and non-judicial.

2. Establish accountability measures in public institutions that would result in the removal from its management people such as General John Bosco Tanganda and General Numbi accused of serious violations or attacks against human rights defenders so they could face prosecution.

3. Institute appropriate mechanisms to ensure justice and shed light on crimes and massive violations of human rights denounced in the report, including:

•     The creation of special courts or special chambers within the Congolese courts,

•     The creation of a new Truth and Reconciliation Commission,

•     The establishment of compensation programs for victims, and

•     The true and thorough reforms of the entire security sector (army, police and Justice).

4. A regional reconciliation mechanism of the peoples of the Great Lakes region, which will accelerate the free movement of people in the region, facilitate cross-border trade, strengthen judicial cooperation, and demilitarize public services at the borders.

5. Support a regional accountability and reconciliation mechanism to address issues of impunity

Africa Faith and Justice Network urges you to ask your Representatives and Senators to join Congresswoman Ann Marie Buerkle in calling for a hearing on this important issue.  Click here to learn how to contact your elected officials.

Listen to the briefing:  Part I (the volume for the first 4 minutes of this segment is very low, but afterward it is good.)  Part II (Questions and answers).   

Read the UN Mapping report and more here.  Want to know what President kagame  thinks about the report,  click here

Pictured below: Nita Evele, DRC Senator Nkoy Mafuta Bernadette, Fr. Rocco Puopolo

http://afjn.org/focus-campaigns/promote-peace-d-r-congo/71-policy-objectives/936-un-mapping-report-on-congo-rep-ann-marie-buerkle-hopes-for-a-hearing-.html