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Will Hissène Habré's victims in Chad finally get justice? Will Hissène Habré's victims in Chad finally get justice?
(2 months later)
"I would just like to look Hissène Habré in the eye and ask him why?" says Clement Abaifouta, who spent four years in jail after he was arrested in 1985 during the former Chadian president's "reign of terror". Abaifouta still does not understand what he did to justify the incarceration. "I was a 25-year-old student, I won a scholarship to go to Europe, and then … What was it all for?""I would just like to look Hissène Habré in the eye and ask him why?" says Clement Abaifouta, who spent four years in jail after he was arrested in 1985 during the former Chadian president's "reign of terror". Abaifouta still does not understand what he did to justify the incarceration. "I was a 25-year-old student, I won a scholarship to go to Europe, and then … What was it all for?"
Abaifouta, who is now president of the Hissène Habré victims association in Chad, spends his days campaigning on behalf of others like him; tireless in his efforts to bring justice, he has worked closely with Human Rights Watch and other groups. "I was forced to bury my compatriots who died in the jail. We all had to dig their graves. If I didn't have faith that one day justice would come, I wouldn't have been able to continue," he says.Abaifouta, who is now president of the Hissène Habré victims association in Chad, spends his days campaigning on behalf of others like him; tireless in his efforts to bring justice, he has worked closely with Human Rights Watch and other groups. "I was forced to bury my compatriots who died in the jail. We all had to dig their graves. If I didn't have faith that one day justice would come, I wouldn't have been able to continue," he says.
There is now a palpable sense of achievement among the victims of Habré's rule, who have been fighting for justice for more than two decades. Some of his victims have died without justice, and many doubted that they would ever see a day like Sunday 30 June when Habré was arrested in Senegal. He has been charged with crimes against humanity, war crimes and torture at a specially convened court in Senegal. In the last week it has been announced that 13 of Habré's closest lieutenants, including former directors and deputy directors of the secret police (the DDS) – who had been living at liberty in the Chadian capital, N'Djamena, since his overthrow in 1990 – have been arrested.There is now a palpable sense of achievement among the victims of Habré's rule, who have been fighting for justice for more than two decades. Some of his victims have died without justice, and many doubted that they would ever see a day like Sunday 30 June when Habré was arrested in Senegal. He has been charged with crimes against humanity, war crimes and torture at a specially convened court in Senegal. In the last week it has been announced that 13 of Habré's closest lieutenants, including former directors and deputy directors of the secret police (the DDS) – who had been living at liberty in the Chadian capital, N'Djamena, since his overthrow in 1990 – have been arrested.
There have been many false dawns, including offers from Belgium and the African Union to hold a trial, but this time seems different. "Chad will turn the page now," says Abaifouta. "What's to stop us having a truth and reconciliation commission like they had in South Africa? Now everyone will know there is no more impunity."There have been many false dawns, including offers from Belgium and the African Union to hold a trial, but this time seems different. "Chad will turn the page now," says Abaifouta. "What's to stop us having a truth and reconciliation commission like they had in South Africa? Now everyone will know there is no more impunity."
At least 40,000 people died during Habré's reign, according to rights groups, many of them at the hands of the DDS. Documents found by Human Rights Watch in 2001 revealed details of what happened to people in prison. Habré was said to have an underground prison known as La Piscine where people were tortured.At least 40,000 people died during Habré's reign, according to rights groups, many of them at the hands of the DDS. Documents found by Human Rights Watch in 2001 revealed details of what happened to people in prison. Habré was said to have an underground prison known as La Piscine where people were tortured.
The years of terror are blamed by many for sowing the seeds of hatred and misunderstanding in Chadian society, some of which continues. "Before Habré we never spoke of northerners and southerners, but today that is one of the biggest dividers between us," says Jacqueline Moudeina, a Chadian lawyer and president of the Chadian Association for the Promotion and Defence of Human Rights, which represents some of Habré's victims. "This is the first step towards the reconciliation we so desperately need but there should also be an inquiry, and compensation offered to the victims."The years of terror are blamed by many for sowing the seeds of hatred and misunderstanding in Chadian society, some of which continues. "Before Habré we never spoke of northerners and southerners, but today that is one of the biggest dividers between us," says Jacqueline Moudeina, a Chadian lawyer and president of the Chadian Association for the Promotion and Defence of Human Rights, which represents some of Habré's victims. "This is the first step towards the reconciliation we so desperately need but there should also be an inquiry, and compensation offered to the victims."
Habré has been living in exile in Dakar since 1990 but this year Macky Sall, who became Senegal president in 2012, made resolving Habré's situation a priority. For many years Chadians have been sceptical that anything would come of promises to hold a trial.Habré has been living in exile in Dakar since 1990 but this year Macky Sall, who became Senegal president in 2012, made resolving Habré's situation a priority. For many years Chadians have been sceptical that anything would come of promises to hold a trial.
And although some of Habré's victims may be confident that this time is different, others in N'Djamena say they are not yet convinced. "We never believed we would see this moment, but we still have to wait and see what they do next," says Therese Mekombe, a lawyer. Taxi driver Omar Mahamat says: "Yes, we're happy to see the arrest, but I don't believe the trial will be open and transparent."And although some of Habré's victims may be confident that this time is different, others in N'Djamena say they are not yet convinced. "We never believed we would see this moment, but we still have to wait and see what they do next," says Therese Mekombe, a lawyer. Taxi driver Omar Mahamat says: "Yes, we're happy to see the arrest, but I don't believe the trial will be open and transparent."
Following Habré's arrest, Chad's president, Idriss Déby Itno, who was a general in Habré's army before unseating him in a coup in 1990, made a rare public statement on the issue, suggesting the country will co-operate with Senegalese prosecutors. "Chad will support the Senegalese judiciary; Chad will open all its doors to shed light on what happened during this grim period," he said. This comes despite fears that Habré may spill secrets on Déby in the witness box. The Chadian government has promised 2bn CFA (about £2.6m) towards the costs of the trial in Dakar.Following Habré's arrest, Chad's president, Idriss Déby Itno, who was a general in Habré's army before unseating him in a coup in 1990, made a rare public statement on the issue, suggesting the country will co-operate with Senegalese prosecutors. "Chad will support the Senegalese judiciary; Chad will open all its doors to shed light on what happened during this grim period," he said. This comes despite fears that Habré may spill secrets on Déby in the witness box. The Chadian government has promised 2bn CFA (about £2.6m) towards the costs of the trial in Dakar.
But will the trial have an impact on good governance and the rule of law in Chad, which is struggling to overcome the wounds of three decades of conflict? According to Amnesty International, "the criminal justice system [is still] used to harass political opponents, and impunity for human rights violations and abuses continues". Amnesty accuses Chad's government of arbitrary detention and holding prisoners without trial.But will the trial have an impact on good governance and the rule of law in Chad, which is struggling to overcome the wounds of three decades of conflict? According to Amnesty International, "the criminal justice system [is still] used to harass political opponents, and impunity for human rights violations and abuses continues". Amnesty accuses Chad's government of arbitrary detention and holding prisoners without trial.
At a recent press conference on Habré, hundreds of his victims and their families were crying, singing and cheering. Abaifouta says: "Justice is part of democracy and that will come to Chad now. There must be a clear separation of powers between politicians and the judiciary. This will change."At a recent press conference on Habré, hundreds of his victims and their families were crying, singing and cheering. Abaifouta says: "Justice is part of democracy and that will come to Chad now. There must be a clear separation of powers between politicians and the judiciary. This will change."
Moudeina is less sanguine. "Senegal is far away and we're only talking about one man," she says. "If those who were complicit in Habré's crimes still living in Chad can be dealt with by the Chadian justice system, that will be a step towards convincing the population that we can take responsibility for ourselves."Moudeina is less sanguine. "Senegal is far away and we're only talking about one man," she says. "If those who were complicit in Habré's crimes still living in Chad can be dealt with by the Chadian justice system, that will be a step towards convincing the population that we can take responsibility for ourselves."
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