International Criminal Law And Victor's Justice:acase Study Of The Tribunal For Rwanda

Abstract

The background of the study focuses on Rwanda in the situation of selective justice by the victors after the civil war between the Rwanda Patriotic Front and the Rwandan government in 1994 and subsequent atrocities the victors committed. The purpose of the study is to critically examine the credibility and the way the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda selectively discharged its mandate by only prosecuting the defeated individual perpetrators whilst protecting victors’ perpetrators who also committed the same atrocities. The selectivity done by the ICTR was contrary to the Tribunal’s competence enshrined in the Statute that the Tribunal shall prosecute individual perpetrators regardless of their affiliations. Ignoring the selective prosecution discharged by the Tribunal would promote the continued violation of International Humanitarian Law and genocide in Rwanda and in other countries worldwide. The methodology applied under this study is based on analytical review of the literature relating to the topic, because it deeply explains the application of the selective prosecution of the perpetrators. The research also analyzed international instruments like ICTR’s Statute and Geneva Conventions. The analytical method is also complemented by the methodology of case study of the Tribunal for Rwanda. The data collected was subsequently analyzed qualitatively through narrative data analysis approach showing individual prosecution of perpetrators. The findings of the study show that the ICTR discharged its obligations selectively due to the lack of cooperation from the Rwandan State and support from the United Nations Security Council. Had the RPF led government cooperated with the United Nations Security Council, could lead the ICTR to prosecute both individual perpetrators of armed conflict, end impunity, redress successfully, and contributed to the process of national reconciliation and maintenance of peace. The study recommends to the United Nations Security Council to re- evaluate its mandate and call upon the RPF led government to comply with its obligation.