NTEZIRYAYO ALLEGEDLY ORDERED THE KILLING OF TUTSIS

Arusha, April 13, 2004 (FH) – A self-confessed killer and the 47thprosecution witness in the “Butare trial” told the International CriminalTribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) on Tuesday that Colonel Alphonse Nteziryayo,former prefect of Butare and one of the six accused in this case, orderedthe population to kill Tutsis. The witness code-named QBU to conceal his identity alleged that the accusedissued the order during a meeting held at Mukindo sector in Butareprefecture in 1994.

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The witness added that during the meeting the accused told the populationthat their enemies were the Tutsis, and that they should be killed. “When you sweep ashes you don't keep them in the house, you should take itout,” the witness recalled what Colonel Ntezirayo allegedly said during themeeting, in which he also introduced himself as the new prefect for Butare. QBU said that this meant all the Tutsis should be hunted down and killedwherever they might be,. According to the witness, Colonel Nteziryayo also ordered Hutu young men tokill their Tutsi girl friends. He said the population carried out the orders adding that he personallyparticipated in the killing. The witness has been in detention since January19, 1997 and has confessed before the office of the Rwandan prosecutor inButare prefecture. Part of the examination in-chief was held in camera. Nteziryayo is co-accused with Pauline Nyiramasuhuko, former minister forFamily and Women Affaires and her son and militia leader, Arsene ShalomNtahobali, another former prefect of Butare; Sylvain Nsabimana, ElieNdayambaje, former mayor of Muganza commune and that of Ngoma JosephKanyabashi. All have pleaded not guilty to genocide and crimes against humanity. Frederic Pacere, lead counsel for Colonel Alphonse Nteziryayo took over thefloor to cross examine the witness shortly after the prosecution hadfinished with the examination in-chief. The trial is taking place in Trial Chamber Two of the ICTR, composed ofJudge William Hussein Sekule of Tanzania (presiding), Judge ArletteRamaroson from Madagascar and Judge Solomy Balungi Bossa of Uganda. NI/CE/FH (BT''0413e)