COMMUNIQUE
(Summary, Original in Kinyarwanda)
The Office of the President has today issued a communiqué relating to
various categories of persons in detention who run the risk of being
imprisoned for periods longer than the penalty provided for by the law. These
include persons who have confessed of crimes of genocide and who are not in
the first category, minors who were between 14 and 18 years old at the time
they committed acts of genocide, and other persons accused of ordinary
crimes.
His Excellency the President has instructed the relevant judicial institutions to
examine, within one month and in accordance with the procedures stipulated
by law, the cases of the above mentioned detainees, and to grant provisional
liberty to all detainees who run the risk of being detained for periods longer
than the period of imprisonment set by law. The release of these detainees is
without prejudice to the continuation of criminal proceedings against them.
The President has also reiterated that the decision of the government relating
to the release of the elderly and very sick detainees continue to be
implemented.
He has also given instructions to relevant authorities to examine the cases of
persons accused of genocide, who confessed before the law establishing
Gacaca courts came into effect with a view to affording them the
advantages available to those confess under the law establishing Gacaca
courts.
Furthermore, His Excellency the President has instructed the relevant
authorities to examine the cases of persons accused of infiltration so that
they receive treatment comparable to that extended to those who have
recently returned from the DRC.
His Excellency the President has expressed thanks to all those who are
involved in the Gacaca courts process and calls upon all Rwandans to
continue to participate actively in the smooth functioning of the Gacaca
courts.
