MUSABYIMANA TO BE BURIED IN RWANDA

Arusha, February 16, 2003 (FH) - Genocide suspect and former Anglican Bishop of Shyogwe diocese in Rwanda, Samuel Musabyima who passed away nearly a month ago will be finally laid to rest in his home country, Rwanda, Hirondelle has learnt on Sunday. The widow, Mrs Bernadette Mukafaranswa Musabyimana told Hirondelle that " I am very happy, initially the Tribunal wanted just to hand over the body to me, but now they are fully participating.

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" She said the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) took all the responsibilities including transporting the body back home. Musabyimana, 46, was accused of genocide and crimes against humanity in connection with the killings of ethnic Tutsis refugees at his Shyogwe diocese in the central Rwandan province of Gitarama. The killings took place between April and July 1994. The Bishop was also accused of several other killings around the diocese. He denied all charges when he first appeared before the tribunal on 2 May, 2001. He passed away on January 24, at the Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre (KCMC) in Moshi, 80 km East of Arusha after a long illness. The body was since then preserved at The Arusha Funeral Home Service. There was uncertainty as to where and when the late Bishop would be buried until his wife's arrival from France where she lives as a refugee and told ICTR that she would wish to fulfill her husband's wish, which was to bury him in his home country. ICTR Medical Doctor, Epee Maria told Hirondelle that the body would be transported by road from Arusha to Nairobi on Sunday and the following morning it would be flown to Kigali by Kenya Airways. Tanzanian Anglican Bishop of Mount Kilimanjaro Diocese, Simon Makundi conducted a mass service for the late Musabyimana at a viewing area inside Arusha Funeral Home mortuary which lasted for 30 minutes. The ceremony was attended by about 20 people including the widow and the mother of the late Bishop. NI/AT/FH (ms'0216E)