Gitarama, July 28th, 2004 (FH)- All patrons at this little neighborhood bar in the central Rwanda hamlet of Gihinga seem to be absorbed in one conversation until the word ‘Gacaca’ is mentioned.

“I’m eagerly waiting for the first session”, says Sindikubwabo Alphonse.

“This is our only chance for lasting unity. We need to see justice”, he adds. A few of his mates listen while the rest turn away to continue their conversation about work on a nearby sugar cane plantation.

Three years ago, admitting that conventional justice had failed to solve Rwanda’s post-genocide backlog of cases, the Rwandan government established semi-traditional courts known as Gacaca. About 8,000 of these will be running when the whole system begins work.

When the work will begin has turned out to be a very flexible date. Many dates and periods set by the Department of Gacaca courts in the past have been postponed.

Currently, less than one tenth of the courts have held sessions. Even then, they have only completed pre-trial processes.

Late last month, President Paul Kagame officially launched the beginning of work in all Gacaca courts across the country.

To date, the courts have not yet held any sessions. The Gacaca department is currently training judges that will seat on these courts. The judges are elected on the basis of their integrity in their communities. Prior legal knowledge is not a requirement.

“We hope to have completed the training of the judges by mid August”, says Gacaca Department Spokesperson Charles Kayitana. “The courts will immediately begin their work”, he says.

Kayitana goes on to explain that only pre-trial level sessions will begin in mid August. The few courts that have completed their pre-trial phase will wait for another two months before they can commence with trials. “We need time to train judges at that level too”, says Kayitana.

Waning enthusiasm

For some Rwandans, the time has taken too long to come and interest has at best diminished or at worst turned into total indifference.

“We have had this many times before”, said Apollinaire Twagiramungu. “I’m beginning to doubt whether I will ever get to see the trials”, adds the 35-year-old farmer and one of the men at the bar in Gihinga that opted out of the conversation on Gacaca says.

Further up the road in this village, 25-year old Mungaruriye wouldn’t have cared less about the beginning of Gacaca. Laying in a tree shade with a little radio receiver, Mungaruriye doesn’t even care to switch off the radio when asked about Gacaca.

“Let us wait and see”, is all he says as he lazily rolls over his arm and faces away. His two friends laying besides him and a neighbour that just joined the group giggle in approval.

Rwandan authorities may have a tough job getting the masses they need when the ‘participatory’ justice system finally begins work.

GG/FH(GA’0728e)