MONTREAL - Montreal's Rwandan community fears the credibility of Canada's justice system has been damaged after a man charged for his alleged role in the 1994 Rwandan genocide was seriously beaten in a Montreal jail.
Desire Munyaneza is the first person to be tried under Canada's seven-year-old Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes Act.
But proceedings at the Montreal courthouse were adjourned Thursday after Munyaneza was attacked the night before by another prisoner in the detention facility where he is being held.
"I find that it's not a good sign for the justice (system) in Canada if . . . the security of the accused is not assured," said genocide survivor Callixte Kabayiza, who, along with about 50 people, gathered in a Montreal church Saturday for a mass marking the 13th anniversary of the Rwandan genocide. "They (prison guards) have a responsibility to assure the security of Mr. Munyaneza."
Between 500,000 and 800,000 members of Rwanda's Tutsi minority and moderate members of the Hutu majority were systematically killed during the 100-day genocide in 1994.
Munyaneza has been charged with seven crimes including genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity. He is accused of ordering killings and rapes.
If convicted, the 40-year-old refugee, who was arrested at his Toronto home in 2005, faces a life sentence.
His trial will resume Monday only if he has sufficiently recovered from the attack.
On Thursday, the judge asked that the director of the detention centre be in court on Monday with a report on the incident and an update on Munyaneza's health.
Genocide survivor Jacques Rwirangira, who lost 29 family members in the slaughter, fears Munyaneza's beating could affect the trial.
"It's not good news, because I would like to see that (proceedings) run smoothly and Munyaneza receives a clear and clean trial," said Rwirangira, who attended Saturday's church service. "The lawyers of Munyaneza could establish that he is unable to continue with the trial.
"It's certain that for us who escaped the genocide that it's very important that justice is made."
Rwandan native Jean-Baptiste Kanobana said prison violence is common and doubts the assault will affect the trial's outcome.
"I think we're exaggerating a bit if we say that the Canadian justice system is tarnished by this (Munyaneza's attack)," said Kanobana, whose parents were killed in the genocide. "I think this is something that happens a little bit everywhere in prison."
Kabayiza, who runs a private psychology practice, said survivors silently carry the horrors of the genocide within them.
"For many, the nightmares are still there," said Kabayiza, president of PAGE-Rwanda, a Canadian group representing friends and families of genocide victims. "The machetes that they saw are still there."
