CYANGUGU TRIAL RESUMES WITH TWO MORE WITNESSES

Arusha, May 2, 2001 (FH) The trial of three suspects accused of committing genocide in Cyangugu, southwest Rwanda, resumed on Wednesday before the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR), after a two-month suspension. This case groups former Cyangugu prefect Emmanuel Bagambiki, former commander of Cyangugu military barracks Samuel Imanishimwe and former Transport Minister André Ntagerura who comes from Cyangugu.

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All three are accused of genocide and crimes against humanity for their alleged role in massacres during the 1994 genocide in Rwanda. The trial is alternating with that of former Rwandan mayor Laurent Semanza before the ICTR's Trial Chamber Three. On Wednesday, the court heard testimony from the 21st prosecution witness, a 30-year-old Tutsi woman dubbed "Z" to protect her identity. Much of the testimony took place behind closed doors. Witness Z told the court she had attended a meeting held by Bagambiki at the Gafunzo communal office, during which she said she had taken notes. The meeting, she said, was followed by massacres of Tutsis who had taken refuge at Shangi Parish. Bagambiki's Belgian lawyer Vincent Lurquin suggested that her notes had not actually been taken during the meeting, and that massacres at Shangi Parish occurred on April 28th, 1994, and not April 7th as the witness claimed. The defence also argued that the meeting's agenda, as noted by Z, did not include the problem of the refugees at Shangi Parish, and that therefore "their massacre could not be the consequence of the meeting attended by the witness". A 22nd prosecution witness continues his testimony Thursday. The witness, dubbed "AQ" to protect his identity, is a former soldier who is testifying mainly against Imanishimwe. Trial Chamber Three is composed of judges Lloyd George Williams of St. Kitts and Nevis (presiding), Yakov Ostrovsky of Russia and Pavel Dolenc of Slovenia. BN/AT/JC/FH (CY0502E)