Genocide on Trial

The first phase of the project was the production of a documentary film, The Arusha Tapes, which focused on several trials that had been prosecuted at the International Tribunal for Rwanda. The film puts the process into context by also including footage from the 1994 genocide, and providing background information on genocide during World War II, the creation of the United Nations, and the 1995 establishment of the ICTR by the UN Security Council. The Arusha Tapes were screened throughout Rwanda. The documentary has been driven around Rwanda in a video-equipped van and screened for audiences assembled by civic organisations. And the film has been shown not only to survivors living in Rwandan towns and villages, but has also been screened in Rwandan prisons where approximately 120000 people accused of complicity in the murders await trial.

The Arusha Tapes presents footage from the trials of several high officials, including former prime minister Jean Kambanda, who pleaded guilty to charges of genocide and was sentenced to life imprisonment, George Rutaganda, former vice-president of the Hutu-dominated Interahamwe militia and Clement Kayishema, a former provincial governor, as well as several lower ranking Rwandans - two mayors, two businessmen, and a local militia leader. The film also provides some basic information on the scale of the genocide to people, including those who fled, went into hiding, or lived in areas less affected by the genocide, who may not have ever realised just how brutal the massacres of 1994 were.

During the second phase, a series of newsreels were produced which provide information on the efforts to bring the accused to justice, and also examine the reactions of Rwandans to these efforts. The bi-monthly newsreels aim to document various aspects of the justice process involving the 1994 genocide, to bring that information to the Rwandan public, and to stimulate further discussion. The newsreel series, call the 'Rwanda and Justice' series, focuses on various aspects of the justice process: some of the earliest trials under the Gacaca system, a community-based justice initiative, in Rwanda from the elections of community judges, the training of these judges, and the initial trials. It shows reactions of viewers who had seen The Arusha Tapes. When viewers have raised questions during one newsreel, the producers attempt to answer those questions in subsequent newsreels.

The third stage of the programme produced a documentary on the Gacaca process, which follows the implementation and actual trials of Gacaca during its first year. It highlights responses from Rwandans observing and participating in the process of achieving justice and healing the wounds of Rwanda's past. The film toured throughout the country in the same manner as the newsreels.

Conflict, Rights.

Genocide on Trial was developed to bring information to Rwandans on both the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) and their own justice system. By capturing and bringing the work of the ICTR to Rwanda, Genocide on Trial aims to lay the foundation for a genuine nation-wide dialogue on justice, at all levels of Rwandan society. The process seeks especially to give voice to those who feel excluded from current judicial proceedings.

Internews says that the act of witness, response and reaction is central to the project of Genocide on Trial, and the production team has documented unprecedented occasions, in which Rwandans have engaged both the events of the genocide and the international effort to prosecute those responsible for them. Audience feedback has been gathered at every screening, with videotaped interviews of audience members as well as written documentation of their comments.

The project aims to lay the foundation for an ongoing, nationwide dialogue on justice at the grass roots level. Two members of the documentary crew were genocide survivors. South African filmmaker Mandy Jacobsen directed the film.

The film was produced in Kinyarwanda, with versions also available in English. One of the primary goals of The Arusha Tapes is to give Rwandans a firsthand knowledge of the justice process at the UN court, which has been viewed with considerable scepticism by many Rwandans. A lack of news and information about events in Arusha has only increased that scepticism. Another aim of the film is to encourage debate on Rwanda's own justice system, including the community based Gacaca approach, which is being used to expedite the backlog of cases against those accused of involvement in the 1994 crimes.