Rwanda Conflict Comes to Emory University
The Emory Development Institute Hosts ICTR Lawyer
Experts agree that one of the greatest challenges in the world today is how to promote and maintain a lasting peace in countries and societies emerging from an armed conflict. This issue can affect the national security of the United States and international relations just as much as it can affect the countries and societies directly involved in the conflict. In this spirit, Georgia´s Emory University has been working to help with the process of post-conflict development in Rwanda.
Emory Gets Involved
On September 4, 2008; Dr. Sam Cherribi and the Emory Development Institute hosted a lecture by Michelyn St Laurent; a Canadian criminal lawyer who is currently working as a defense attorney at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) in Arusha, Tanzania. The ICTR was formed under the authority of the United Nations Security Council in order to bring to trial those accused of crimes against humanity and genocide during the 1994 civil conflict between the Hutu and Tutsi communities in Rwanda.
Her client is Dr. Casimir Bizimungu who held several positions in the government of Rwanda during the late 1980s and early 1990s; more notably those of Foreign Minister and Minister of Health. He is accused of being one of the high officials who are thought to be the authors of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi population of Rwanda.
Dr. Cherribi met attorney St Laurent during a special visit by Dr. Cherribi and Rev. Jesse Jackson to the ICTR this summer. The pair visited the tribunal as part of a Carter Center supported project. Usually, the tribunal does not allow visitors or persons to address the court. It should be noted that Rev. Jackson received a rare permission to address the court.
Attorney Presents Her Case
In a presentation that focused on her perspective as a defense attorney, Michelyn St Laurent presented the Hutu (her client´s) version of the conflict during which she discussed events that involved Tutsi aggressions along with internal and international factors that may be used to explain the Hutu actions of 1994.
Her attention also turned to what she sees as a Rwandan Tutsi lack of cooperation with the tribunal and expressed great concern over the fact that only Hutu leaders are being put on trial, raising the concern that only one party to the conflict is being prosecuted and singled out. She explains that many Tutsi were also involved in criminal and genocidal activities. It is of great importance to her because it limits the possibility of finding an impartial justice and reconciliation.
A spirited debate followed her presentation and the opposing Tutsi version of the conflict was discussed and compared with the one presented by attorney St Laurent. The conclusion of the debate was that in the presence of opposing perspectives and versions of history; somewhere in the middle we will find the truth.
The Ultimate Goal
The work of both the ICTR and Emory University is representative of the words of Maya Angelou when she expressed the idea that: “We cannot change the past, but we can change our attitude toward it. Uproot guilt and plant forgiveness. Tear out arrogance and seed humility. Exchange love for hate…thereby, making the present comfortable and the future promising”.
French Soldier Secures Airport Fence
|
What do you think about this article?
More in Politics & Society
Latest Articles