Genocide killers cram jails

There are an estimated 85,000 prisoners in Rwanda's overcrowded jails. Many have now confessed to their role in the 1994 genocide and could soon be released.

As part of its peace-building programme, the Irish aid agency Trocaire has been supporting the search for justice.

In his second report for BBC News Online, Julian Fowler visited a prison where he spoke to some of those who have admitted their crimes.

The dense crowds, the colourful clothes, the sound of talking and the smell of cooking - it could be a scene anywhere in Africa. But this isn't a market, it's a prison.

Memories of the genocide remain fresh in Rwanda

There are more than 4,000 prisoners in Gikongoro jail. The vast majority are accused of carrying out crimes during the genocide in 1994. Many have been in prison for the last 10 years.

Among them is Emmanuel Nyirimbuga. He was dressed in prison uniform of pink shirt and pink shorts. He was of average height and average build.

In 1994, he was 33-years-old and a cultivator. He told me he was responsible for killing nine Tutsis.

A few miles from the prison is a school. But there's no sound of children. The classrooms at Murambi now contain the dead.

Fifty thousand Tutsis and moderate Hutus were murdered after they sought refuge on this site.

Eight hundred bodies have been left on public display, preserved in lime, so that no-one can deny what happened.

Emmanuel was one of those who carried out this crime.

"We encircled the people and then the soldiers entered with grenades and killed people there with guns," he said.

A group of prisoners working in the fields

"Personally I killed three other people - those who were trying to escape away from the killings inside."

I asked him why he had taken part in the genocide.

"The season of killing was not coming from the local people, it was coming from the then leaders who gave orders for the local people, the villagers, to take action, to kill," he said.

"If you refused, you were also going to be killed.

"We the ordinary people, we didn't have any problem among ourselves because we used to share everything, like we used to help one another in times of problems.

"We used to get married, inter-marriage between the Tutsis and the Hutus. There was no problem among ourselves."

During the genocide, neighbour killed neighbour and friend murdered friend - now those who have confessed could soon be released from prison. Many will return to live next to those who survived.

Emmanuel is optimistic that he can live at peace in his community.

Gacaca courts are a community-based alternative to crowded jails

"I think there should be no problem between us and the people because it's not our own fault, it's the fault of the leaders that made us commit those crimes," he said.

"For example, we often meet with the relatives of the people whom we killed and I don't see any problem between us and them."

To help solve the problems of the overcrowded jails, Rwanda has turned to community justice.

At gacaca courts held in each village, suspects are brought forward to be confronted directly by their accusers.

This is one path towards truth and reconciliation. But the way ahead, as Emmanuel admits, won't be easy.

"What happened doesn't only affect one person, it affects each and everybody in this country and even now, the consequences still exist for many people."