NAHIMANA WAS NEVER ANTI-TUTSI, SAYS DEFENCE WITNESS

Arusha, October 22, 2002 (FH) - The second defence witness in the so-called 'media trial' told the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) that genocide suspect, Ferdinand Nahimana never harboured any sentiments against ethnic Tutsis, reports the independent news agency Hirondelle. Nahimana is a founder and alleged former controller of "hate-radio", Radio Télévision Libre des Mille Collines (RTLM).

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He was also a history professor at the National University of Rwanda. He is jointly on trial with two other suspects linked with the media in Rwanda before and during the genocide. The two are : Jean-Bosco Barayagwiza, a former politician, RTLM founder and board member and Hassan Ngeze, former editor of the newspaper "Kangura". The three are primarily accused of using their respective media to incite the 1994 genocide in Rwanda. "I never had any criticisms that he [Nahimana] awarded more marks to Hutu students than Tutsis", the protected witness only identified as 'G99' told the court in response to prosecution allegations that as a professor at the National University of Rwanda (UNR), Nahimana had segregated against his Tutsi students. G99 also said that Nahimana had been elected dean of the arts faculty by both Hutu and Tutsi employees. He suggested that had Nahimana segregated against Tutsis, he wouldn't have won the election. G99 will continue his testimony on Wednesday answering questions from prosecutor William Egbe of Cameroon. Trial Trial Chamber One of the ICTR is composed of Judges Navanethem Pillay of South Africa (Presiding), Erik Møse of Norway and Asoka de Zoysa Gunawardana of Sri Lanka. GG/FH(ME-1022f)