24.11.06 - ICTR/MILITARY II - ASSASSINATION OF HABYARIMANA

IT IS NECESSARY TO "LET THE INVESTIGATIONS BE CONDUCTED ", DALLAIRE SAYSArusha, November 23 2006 (FH) - General Roméo Dallaire, commander of the UN forces in Rwanda during the 1994 genocide and now senator, was heard this Thursday at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR). He advocated to « let the investigations be conducted » concerning the assassination of President Juvénal Habyarimana on April 6th 1994. « We must let the investigations be conducted », Dallaire told the court during his cross-examination by Mr. Ronnie Mc Donald, one of the lawyers of General Augustin Bizimungu, the former Chief of Staff of the Rwandan Army at the time of the genocide, The questions of the defense attorney pertained notably to the opinion of General Dallaire on the report of the French anti-terrorist judge Jean-Louis Bruguière accusing Paul Kagame, Rwanda’s sitting president and former leader of the rebel forces, of being responsible of the assassination of his predecessor. « About Bruguière’s report, I know nothing more than what I have read in the papers in Canada », Dallaire said. The general explained that even if he « bears (with him) » the genocide of 1994, he has many other responsibilities both « inside his family and at work ». He thus justified the fact that he had not yet read the book of Abdul Ruzibiza, one of the witnesses of Judge Bruguière, even though he has bought it. Bizimungu is judged alongside three other officers in this trial called « Militaries II »; they are General Augustin Ndindiliyimana, former Chief of Staff of the Gendarmerie, Major François-Xavier Nzuwonemeye, commander of the survey unit during the genocide and his second-in-command, Captain Innocent Sagahutu. The four officers are prosecuted for crimes of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes; they plead not guilty. Dallaire testifies via video-conference from Ottawa in order to protect his mental health. His hearing will resume on Friday. ER/PB/MG © Hirondelle News Agency ____________________________________________________________________Hirondelle Foundation Lausanne, Switzerland Tel : +41 21 654 20 20 Email : info@hirondelle.org Hirondelle News Agency Arusha, Tanzania Tel : +255 741 51 08 94 Email : hirondelle@habari.co.tzHirondelle audio products are available in English, French, Swahili and Kinyarwanda. www.hirondelle.org This project is funded by Belgium, the European Community, Norway and Luxembourg