10.04.07 - ICTR/GENOCIDE - THE ICTR DETAINEES COMMEMORATED THE ATTACK OF THE 6TH APRIL 1994

Arusha, 10 April 2007 (FH) – In a news release, the detainees of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) and accused of genocide announced that they “celebrated the 13th anniversary of the terrorist attack that cast Rwanda into the deepest darkness of its History”. According to a text signed by their “representatives”, Augustin Ndindiliyimana, former gendarmerie Chief and Casimir Bizimungu, former Minister of Health, this attack “was part of a large project planned by the RPF (former rebel movement currently at power in Kigali) in order to take the power by arms, taking advantage of the chaos that the assassination of President Habyarimana would cause in the country”. This “commemoration” of the attack against the plane of President Habyarimana occurred before the commemoration of the beginning of the genocide celebrated throughout Rwanda last Saturday. Ceremonies will be organized during the week in the country. According to detainees’ news release, “the best way to pay homage to victims is to undertake everything to promote peace and reconciliation among Rwandans. But to realize that, Rwanda needs to go out of the shadow, above all the truth about this drama and then to try all the persons responsible for this cataclysm in whole independence and equity”. The Detention Unit of the United Nations accommodates 56 persons (35 detainees and 21 convicted prisoners), among them one of the six accused normally imprisoned in Mali. Omar Serushago was temporarily transferred to Arusha to be tried. On a total of 72 Accused, 7 have pled guilty. The commemoration of the genocide in the ICTR occurred at Dar es Salam, the Tanzanian capital where a delegation went to celebrate the “day of reflection about the Rwandan genocide” organized by the Representative of the United Nations there. The Rwandan community of Arusha organized a ceremony in a town hall. PB/AT/CV © Hirondelle News Agency