Court of Remorse: Inside the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (Critical Human Rights)

Annotation When genocidal violence gripped Rwanda in 1994, the international community recoiled, hastily withdrawing its peacekeepers. Late that year, in an effort to redeem itself, the United Nations Security Council created the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda to seek accountability for some of the worst atrocities since World War II: the genocide suffered by the Tutsi and crimes against humanity suffered by the Hutu. But faced with competing claims, the prosecution focused exclusively on the crimes of Hutu extremists. No charges would be brought against the Tutsi-led Rwandan Patriotic Front, which ultimately won control of the country. The UN, as if racked by guilt for its past inaction, gave in to pressure by Rwandas new leadership. With the Hutu effectively silenced, and the RPF constantly reminding the international community of its failure to protect the Tutsi during the war, the Tribunal pursued an unusual form of one-sided justice, born out of contrition. Fascinated by the Tribunals rich complexities, journalist Thierry Cruvellier came back day after day to watch the proceedings, spending more time there than any other outside observer. Gradually he gained the confidence of the victims, defendants, lawyers, and judges. Drawing on interviews with these protagonists and his close observations of their interactions, Cruvellier takes readers inside the courtroom to witness the motivations, mechanisms, and manipulations of justice as it unfolded on the stage of high-stakes, global politics. It is this ground-level view that makes his account so valuableand so absorbing. A must-read for those who want to understand the dynamics of international criminal tribunals, Court of Remorse reveals both the possibilities and the challenges of prosecuting human rights violations. Best Books for General Audiences, selected by the American Association for School Libraries Best Books for High Schools, selected by the American Association for School Libraries Best Books for General Audiences, selected by the Public Library Association When genocidal violence gripped Rwanda in 1994, the international community recoiled, hastily withdrawing its peacekeepers. Late that year, in an effort to redeem itself, the United Nations Security Council created the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda to seek accountability for some of the worst atrocities since World War II: the genocide suffered by the Tutsi and crimes against humanity suffered by the Hutu. But faced with competing claims, the prosecution focused exclusively on the crimes of Hutu extremists. No charges would be brought against the Tutsi-led Rwandan Patriotic Front, which ultimately won control of the country. The UN, as if racked by guilt for its past inaction, gave in to pressure by Rwanda's new leadership. With the Hutu effectively silenced, and the RPF constantly reminding the international community of its failure to protect the Tutsi during the war, the Tribunal pursued an unusual form of one-sided justice, born out of contrition. Fascinated by the Tribunal's rich complexities, journalist Thierry Cruvellier came back day after day to watch the proceedings, spending more time there than any other outside observer. Gradually he gained the confidence of the victims, defendants, lawyers, and judges. Drawing on interviews with these protagonists and his close observations of their interactions, Cruvellier takes readers inside the courtroom to witness the motivations, mechanisms, and manipulations of justice as it unfolded on the stage of high-stakes, global politics. It is this ground-level view that makes his account so valuable—and so absorbing. A must-read for those who want to understand the dynamics of international criminal tribunals, Court of Remorse reveals both the possibilities and the challenges of prosecuting human rights violations. A Choice Outstanding Academic Book Best Books for General Audiences, selected by the American Association for School Libraries and the Public Library Association Best Books for High Schools, selected by the American Association for School Libraries Contents......Page 8 Geographic Landmarks......Page 9 Historical Reference Points......Page 12 Prologue......Page 18 1. The Addis Ababa Departure Lounge......Page 24 2. The Eagle Eye......Page 30 3. At the First Judgment......Page 35 4. Lines of Defense......Page 47 5. The Fool’s Game......Page 53 6. Counting Up the Interahamwe......Page 64 7. The White Man’s Grave......Page 73 8. A Little Murder among Friends......Page 89 9. Opening Up Kibuye......Page 93 10. Be like the Arab (Reason to Doubt)......Page 98 11. Closing Up Shop......Page 117 12. A Mayor in Turmoil (The Doubt in Reason)......Page 130 13. The Principle of Ignorance......Page 146 14. The Betrayal of the “Moderates”......Page 151 15. Like a Flight of Termites......Page 169 16. Loser’s Justice......Page 179 17. Giving and Taking Back......Page 183 Acknowledgments......Page 190 Notes......Page 192 Index......Page 200 In the wake of the genocidal violence that gripped Rwanda in 1994, the United Nations Security Council created the International Criminal Tribunal for Rhanda to seek accountability for some of the worst atrocities sicne WWII. Journalist Thierry Cruvellier spent years covering the court's proceedings in detail, interviewing the protagonists and dissecting the dynamics of war crimes justice. -- Back cover