TRIAL ADJOURNED TO MONDAY DUE TO LACK OF WITNESSES

Arusha, September 17, 2003(FH) – The trial of genocide suspect and former Rwandan Minister of Finance, Emmanuel Ndindabahizi, was, late on Tuesday evening, adjourned at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda due to lack of prosecution witnesses. 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 trial was adjourned to Monday after the twelfth prosecution witness, code-named CGL, completed testifying. CGL testified mainly on Ndindabahizi's visit to Mabanza Commune in May 1994. CGL, a Tutsi female survivor of the genocide, said that the suspect distributed machetes to Interahamwe militiamen and incited, towards the end of May, to the killing of Tutsi women married to Hutu men. According to her, he made this public call at Kibirizi market in Mabanza Commune, where he allegedly addressed a gathering of about fifty people. “He said that in Kigali the Tutsis have already been killed including Tutsi women married to Hutu men,” she stated, adding that “the Interahamwe got into the vehicle and took off machetes. People shared them out under the watchful eye of the accused. ”After weapons were distributed, the witness said, the gathering applauded Ndindabahizi. She added that Tutsis were massacred and killings continued until June. Ndindabahizi's co-counsel, Guillaume Marçais from France, asked CGL why she had taken the risk of going to the market whereas she was a Tutsi woman and a target of the Intarahamwe. The witness responded that she did not have the physical looks of a Tutsi though she was one. Counsel Marçais also asked that the written statement of CGL be submitted as an exhibit since, according to him, it contains extensive contradictions with her testimony in court. The prosecution have four more witnesses to call, including American historian and human rights activist, Alison Des Forges. She will testify as an expert. The trial is before Trial Chamber One composed of Judge Erik Mose (Norway) presiding, Judge Khalida Rachid (Pakistan) and Judge Solomy Balungi Bossa (Uganda). Since it began, on September 1, 2003, Ndindabahizi's trial has been heard in the afternoon, while the Military I trial is being heard in the morning in the same chamber. PJ/CE/FH (NB'0917e)