GENOCIDE SURVIVOR CONTINUES TESTIFYING

Arusha, March 11, 2004 (FH) – Trial chamber Two of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) on Thursday continued hearing the cross examination of a genocide survivor and 38th prosecution witness in the “ Butare Trial”. The witness code-named RT to conceal his identity had mainly touched one accused in his examination in chief, Elie Ndayambaje, former mayor of Muganza commune, one of the six co-accused.

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Pierre Boule, counsel for Ndayambaje cross-questioned RT the whole day on how about 20,000 refugees were forcibly led to Kabaye hill by soldiers, communal police and members of the Hutu population, where they were later killed. The killings took place between April 19 and 22, 1994. Counsel Boule also challenged the oral testimony of witness RT against his written statement made on October 10,1995. While in the statement he said that he saw the accused Ndayambaje distributing guns and grenades on the third day of the attack at Kabuye hill, RT told the chamber in court that he saw the accused only once, on the second day of the attack. Responding to the question, RT said that “it was possible that ICTR investigators distorted my statement”. The chamber then went in closed session. Other co-accused are the former minister of women and family affairs, Pauline Nyiramasuhuko, her son and former militia leader in Butare, Arsene Shalom Ntahobali, two former prefect of Butare, Sylvain Nsabimana and Alphonse Nteziryayo and the former mayor of Ngoma commune, Joseph Kanyabashi. The “Butare trial” is taking place in Trial Chamber Two of the ICTR, composed of Judge William Hussein Sekule of Tanzania (presiding), Judge Arlette Ramaroson from Madagascar and Judge Solomy Balungi Bossa of Uganda. NI/CE/FH(BT''03011e)