Survival International
1 April 2011
http://www.survivalinternational.org/news/7154
A Rwandan government programme to destroy all thatched roofs in the country is leaving thousands of Batwa ‘Pygmies’ homeless.
Hundreds of Batwa families have seen their homes destroyed in recent months, forcing them to live in the open during the rainy season.
The authorities plan to destroy all thatched roofs in the country by May this year. Under the destructive scheme, families with means are meant to build new houses at their own expense.
The very poor (which include almost all Batwa) are supposed to be provided with sheets to replace the thatch, and the sick and elderly should be given completely new homes. But many huts have been destroyed without new homes being provided.
Among the most affected are the Batwa, the most marginalized people in Rwandan society. Rwandan Batwa are subjected to deep-seeded racism and discrimination on a daily basis.
In Rwanda’s Southern Province, 30,000 thatched huts are said to have been destroyed in the last three months. Thousands of families have been left homeless.
The Governor of the Southern Province has justified the demolitions by saying ‘people were seemingly happy to stay in their thatched houses and showed no commitment to leave them.’ Survival has protested to the Rwandan authorities.
Stephen Corry, Survival’s director, said today, ‘Destroying Batwa’s homes, against their wishes, leaving them drenched by the rains, sounds like a sick joke, or the action of an enemy force. That their government is doing this ‘for their own good’ is deplorably arrogant. You don’t improve people’s housing by demolishing their existing homes and leaving them with nothing.’
02 April, 2011
01 April, 2011
ICTR Rules Not All MIL-1 Appeal Cases are Legally Linked, Medical Symptoms Prevent Defense Lawyer's Attendance.
International Humanitarian Law Institute [IHLI]
A non-profit, independent research and policy center:
St. Paul, MN USA 55105
News Advisory
March 31, 2011
Contact:
Asst. Dir. Christine Schoettler (fr)
cschoettler@comcast.net
Asst. Dir. Andrea M. Palumbo (eng)
andrea.m.palumbo@gmail.com
ARUSHA, TZ -- The Appeal Chamber of the UN Tribunal for Rwanda [ICTR]
confirmed top Rwandan military officers were not legally connected when it
legally-severed the ICTR Appeal of Major Aloys Ntabakuze from the cases of
Theoneste Bagosora and Anatole Nsengiyumva on Wednesday March 30. Ntabakuze
was originally indicted with General Gratien Kabiligi, who was acquitted of
all charges in the Military-1 Trial Judgement on 18 December 2008. *
The ICTR Appeal Chamber rejected a severance of Major Ntabakuze’s case in
late 2009, before it had all of the evidence. Medical conditions prevented
defense counsel Andre Tremblay, and Prof. Peter Erlinder, Director of the
IHLI, from attending the hearing. Major Ntabakuze waived the presence of
counsel and did not request a delay in the proceedings.
Prof. Erlinder is unable to attend proceedings because of ongoing treatment
for PTSD, the condition common among prisoners of war and hostages,
resulting from his detention by the Rwandan government and continuing
threats from Rwanda, because his of academic articles and research
conclusions. (See 3/30 ICTR filing [Available upon request-WNJ Editor]) Erlinder’s research has reached conclusions similar to those of the October 1, 2010 UNHCHR “mapping report,” that reported Rwanda war crimes, crimes against humanity and
genocide between 1993 and 2003.
A final Appeal Hearing in June or July will challenge Major Ntabakuze’s
conviction involving crimes committed by soldiers in four incidents, despite
the Trial Chamber finding that the Prosecutor had no direct evidence the
troops were under Ntabakuze’s command, or had received reports his troops
had committed crimes. Ntabakuze was acquitted of direct involvement in any
crimes; of giving troops orders to commit crimes; and, of conspiracy to
commit genocide or other crimes.
A non-profit, independent research and policy center:
St. Paul, MN USA 55105
News Advisory
March 31, 2011
Contact:
Asst. Dir. Christine Schoettler (fr)
cschoettler@comcast.net
Asst. Dir. Andrea M. Palumbo (eng)
andrea.m.palumbo@gmail.com
ARUSHA, TZ -- The Appeal Chamber of the UN Tribunal for Rwanda [ICTR]
confirmed top Rwandan military officers were not legally connected when it
legally-severed the ICTR Appeal of Major Aloys Ntabakuze from the cases of
Theoneste Bagosora and Anatole Nsengiyumva on Wednesday March 30. Ntabakuze
was originally indicted with General Gratien Kabiligi, who was acquitted of
all charges in the Military-1 Trial Judgement on 18 December 2008. *
The ICTR Appeal Chamber rejected a severance of Major Ntabakuze’s case in
late 2009, before it had all of the evidence. Medical conditions prevented
defense counsel Andre Tremblay, and Prof. Peter Erlinder, Director of the
IHLI, from attending the hearing. Major Ntabakuze waived the presence of
counsel and did not request a delay in the proceedings.
Prof. Erlinder is unable to attend proceedings because of ongoing treatment
for PTSD, the condition common among prisoners of war and hostages,
resulting from his detention by the Rwandan government and continuing
threats from Rwanda, because his of academic articles and research
conclusions. (See 3/30 ICTR filing [Available upon request-WNJ Editor]) Erlinder’s research has reached conclusions similar to those of the October 1, 2010 UNHCHR “mapping report,” that reported Rwanda war crimes, crimes against humanity and
genocide between 1993 and 2003.
A final Appeal Hearing in June or July will challenge Major Ntabakuze’s
conviction involving crimes committed by soldiers in four incidents, despite
the Trial Chamber finding that the Prosecutor had no direct evidence the
troops were under Ntabakuze’s command, or had received reports his troops
had committed crimes. Ntabakuze was acquitted of direct involvement in any
crimes; of giving troops orders to commit crimes; and, of conspiracy to
commit genocide or other crimes.
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