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Grisly research
[21 Jun 2004] KIGALI - Rwandans are again mourning loved ones murdered
in the 1994 genocide as a multitude of organizations still struggle
to find ways to reconstruct the nation. Research into what happened
in the outburst of murderous hatred is a key to understanding the deadly
forces that came into play.
Rwanda's Center for Conflict Management (CCM), under its director Dr.Anastase Shyaka, is a key player in efforts to build sustainable peace in the entire Great Lakes Region as well as trying to document what happened here.
CCM initially started as a pilot project of Rwanda University in 1999 to provide policy makers with academic research into Rwandan conflict - as a basis for reconstruction plans. When the pilot ended in 2002, the center was integrated into the National University with 5 research units.
The first unit tackled Rwanda's Conflict and Exit strategies, the second Regional Conflicts and their International dimension (peace and security in the Great Lakes region), the other 2 units dealt with Conflict Resolution Strategies and the Social Economic dimension respectively. The fifth was for gender, human rights and justice.
During the pilot phase, the CCM to published 3 books on genocide and social and cultural breakdown. It held conferences included on Peace and Security in the Great Lakes Region, National Citizenship, Conflict Resolution and International and Regional Mechanisms.
Every year CCM organizes 3-4 conferences and invite Rwanda's partners in the region to share experiences and contribute to research activities.
The Center also carried out an observatory role in both presidential and parliamentary elections of 2003. It also helped in the land demarcation issues with the influx of the returning refugees. It has published studies on Rwanda's peaceful exit from transition and building sustainable peace and democracy, working with Stae Commissions of Unity and Reconciliation.
It researches neighboring conflicts and makes studies available to leaders to act on and organizes conferences for parliamentarians, top military officers and other stakeholders from Burundi, Uganda and Congo.
However the center is starpeeed for both cash and personnel, with only eight researchers. It also lacks basic infrastructure like computers, independent premises and modern research facilities.
It never had a research budget and gets a general budget that barely covers basic research needs. Some donors have attached strings to their support, threatening the researchers' autonomy.
