News
Rwandan Lawyer Accused of Genocide to Appear Before UN Court 25 September2006-09-24BBC Monitoring AfricaText of report by Eleneus Akanga entitled "Nshamihigo on trial tomorrow" published in English by Rwandan newspaper The New Times web site on 24 September The International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) has set Monday, 25 September, as the date for the beginning of the case involving former collaborator Simeon Nshamihigo. A former deputy prosecutor of Cyangungu [western Rwanda] during the 1994 genocide, Nshamihigo was until his arrest in 2001 on the ICTR payroll as a member of the defence team. He is one of the 13 suspects who Kigali alleges have continued to work with the ICTR despite their role in the genocide. A highly placed source in Arusha told The Sunday Times that investigators for the defence, who appear on the tribunal's payroll, are normally not part of the staff of the ICTR. "The defendants they represent have declared themselves to be indigent, so these people are paid by the United Nations as part of the legal aid," the source said. According to his indictment, a copy of which The Sunday Times saw, Nshamihigo is believed to have organized a genocide campaign against Tutsis and other political opponents in Cyangugu as well as participating in its implementation. He is accused of supervising the mounting of road blocks in Cyangugu town in April 1994, distributing weapons to those stationed there as well as ordering them to kill any Tutsis who passed there, sometimes giving names. Nshamihigo has denied the charges. Alphonse Van, who is the deputy prosecutor on this new trial, intends to produce some 35 witnesses, among which are two experts. Fourteen witnesses are expected to appear before the court during the first session of the trial that is to last until 20 October. The defendant will be represented by two Canadian lawyers, Denis Turcotte and Henry Benoit. It is the first time a former collaborator of the ICTR is heard by the tribunal. Another former investigator for the defence teams at the ICTR, Joseph Nzabirinda aka Biroto, is awaiting the opening of his trial before this international court. Another suspect on the list of the 13, Callixte Gakwaya, a lawyer, quit his duties at the ICTR last week, claiming that it had become impossible for him to continue fulfilling his duties at the court. Pundits however say Gakwaya's resignation came as a result of the mounting pressure from Kigali on the tribunal to stop using genocide suspects. It is claimed that Gakwaya, whose indictment has already been served, decided to throw in the towel as a means of escaping arrest. Subsequently, the resignation of Gakwaya, who lives in Mozambique, has quieted the tensions that had started boiling between Kigali and the ICTR. (c) 2006 BBC Monitoring Africa. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.
Channel: USHMM: International Law
| Copyright © 2004-2006 AskQ | Web Hosting by cHosting.com |