08.03.07 - ICTR/RWANDA - KIGALI WANTS TO BE THE DEPOSITERY OF THE ICTR ARCHIVES

Arusha, March 8, 2007 (FH) – The Representative of the Rwandan government to the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR), Aloys Mutabingwa, indicated that his country would like to be the depository of this United Nations court, in an interview Wednesday evening with the Hirondelle Agency. Created by a Security Council resolution in November 1994, the Tribunal must end all trials before the Trial Chamber on December 31, 2008. “We would like all archives and evidence gathered by the ICTR be conserved in Rwanda. It is our natural right because the genocide was committed in Rwanda, by Rwandans and against Rwandans,” explained the diplomat. “These pieces of evidence could complete those gathered by Rwandan courts: they would permit us to complete the work of collecting information in relation to the preparation and execution of the genocide,” he indicated. According to him, “the act of conserving these archives in Rwanda would permit for the most concerned (the Rwandans) to access them more easily.” “This would be an important source for Rwandan researchers or foreigners today or tomorrow,” he said. The Rwandan diplomat was interviewed by the Hirondelle Agency while he held talks with the special American Ambassador for War Crimes, Clint Williamson, on visit to the ICTR. Mutabingwa indicated that these meetings followed-up on questions which will not have been resolved after 2008, including that of suspects still at large. “It shouldn’t be the case that the end of 2008 equals amnesty” for the organizers of the genocide who still have not been arrested by the ICTR, insisted Mutabingwa, underlining that Williamson had promised U.S. support in this “fight against impunity.” The United States notably helped in offering a substantial reward (5 million U.S. dollars max) for the arrest of persons sought by the ICTR. The Tribunal has until now rendered 28 guilty verdicts and 5 acquittals. Twenty-eight accused are in trial, 9 await trial while 18 are still at large. ER/PB/KD © Hirondelle News Agency