NDINDABAHIZI, SIXTH FORMER MINISTER TO BE TRIED

Arusha, September 5, 2003(FH) – Emmanuel Ndindabahizi, the former Finance minister whose trial started on September 1st at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, is the sixth former minister of the Rwandan interim government to be tried by the tribunal. His trial was adjourned on Wednesday to Monday due to lack of prosecution witnesses.

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Ndindabahizi, 53, is charged with three counts including genocide and crimes against humanity (extermination and murder). He allegedly perpetrated massacres of civilians in his home prefecture of Kibuye, western Rwanda. He is also accused of organizing, inciting and supervising massacres, including making public calls for the killing of Tutsis in general and certain individuals in particular. Former Prime Minister Jean Kambanda was the first minister of the interim government to be convicted by the tribunal. He was sentenced to life imprisonment on September 4th, 1998, after pleading guilty to genocide and crimes against humanity. The Appeals Chamber confirmed the sentence on October 19th, 2000. Kambanda admitted that he spoke in public meetings and over the radio, inciting the population to kill Tutsi civilians. . Second on the list was Eliezer Niyitegeka (former Minister for Information). He was found guilty of genocide and condemned to life imprisonment on May 15, 2003