NDINDABAHIZI DID NOT WANT ANY TUTSI ALIVE, SAYS WITNESS

Arusha, September 22, 2003(FH) – The thirteenth prosecution witness told the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) on Monday that former Rwandan Minister of Finance, Emmanuel Ndindabahizi, said he did not want to see any Tutsi alive in Kibuye province. Ndindabahizi 53, is charged with three counts including genocide and crimes against humanity (extermination and murder).

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He allegedly perpetrated massacres of civilians in his home prefecture of Kibuye, western Rwanda. The protected witness named CGB quoted Ndindabahizi as having told people at a roadblock in Gitaka, “I am leaving, but when I come back, I do not want to hear about any Tutsi alive in this area. ”At the same time, the suspect allegedly praised the people who were manning the roadblock for doing a good job and added that there was more to be done. Ndindabahizi gave the orders at the end of May 1994, according to the witness, a survivor of the genocide. CGB revealed that he was hiding twenty meters away in a discarded a training institution when he heard the remarks by the suspect. The accused went ahead and promised that he would reward Joel Ndabukiye, a schoolteacher, and his son Emmanuel, who were manning the roadblock, if they “did a good job. ” Ndindabahizi allegedly urged them to kill, among others, Tatiana Mukantabana also known as Nyiramaritete, a teacher and one farmer, Cyprien Karegeya. CGB added that the two were indeed killed four days later by Joël Ndabukiye and his son. Ndindabahizi promised Ndabukiye he would be appointed as the prefect and his son as a mayor, CGB explained. The lead defence counsel for Ndindabahizi, Pascal Besnier (France), brought to the attention of CGB omissions and contradictions in his statement and his oral evidence in court. The witness stated in his written statement that he saw Ndindabahizi at the roadblock in early May but he testified in court that it was towards the end of the same month. In another instance CGB, had stated that he had seen the two people being killed but in his oral evidence said he only saw Karegeya being killed at the roadblock. As for Mukantabana, he only saw the body being brought to the same place. The trial was adjourned to Wednesday due to lack of witnesses. The presiding judge, Erik Mose ordered the Registry to explain in writing why it has not facilitated a steady flow of prosecution witnesses. On September 17, the Chamber was forced to adjourn the trial until Monday due to lack of witnesses. The prosecuting counsel Charles Adeogun-Phillips of Nigeria also informed the chamber that the next witness will be American historian and human rights activist, Alison Des Forges. The trial is before Trial Chamber composed of Judge Erik Mose (Norway) presiding, Judge Khalida Rachid (Pakistan) and Solomy Balungi Bossa (Uganda). PJ/CE/FH (NB'0922e)