Further Information on UA 106/07 (AFR 47/007/2007, 08 July 2007) and follow-ups (AFR 47/008/2007, 23 May 2007; AFR 47/009/2007, 09 July 2007) – Fear for safety/legal concern

PUBLIC AI Index: AFR 47/012/2007
28 August 2007

Francois-Xavier Byuma was sentenced to 19 years’ imprisonment on 27 May, after an unfair trial, for participating in weapons training during the 1994 genocide. He lodged an appeal, which the court rejected on 18 August. Byuma has stated that he will ask the authorities to review the decision.

The judge who presided over Francois-Xavier Byuma’s initial trial, at the gacaca community court in the Bilyogo secteur of the capital, Kigali, was being investigated by the NGO Turengere Abana (the Rwandan Association for the Protection and Promotion of the Child - l’Association Rwandaise pour la Protection et la Promotion de l’Enfant). Francious-Xavier Byuma was the head of Turengere Abana. Byuma was indicted and tried after Turengere Abana started investigating allegations that the presiding Judge had raped a 17-year-old girl.

The gacaca court is part of a nationwide community-based justice system intended to try those suspected of the 1994 genocide. The judge’s conflict of interest denied Francois-Xavier Byuma his right to receive a fair trial before an independent and impartial tribunal.

No further action is requested from the UA network. Many thanks to all who sent appeals. Amnesty International will continue to campaign on behalf of Francois-Xavier Byuma. Activists interested in taking further action can access information through the Amnesty International Individuals database. Please contact your national Amnesty International section for further details.********