Arusha, 3 May 2007 (FH) – At the beginning of the week, the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) published an indictment issued in 2005 against Dominique Ntawukuriryayo, former administrative chief in the South of Rwanda which had been confidential until now.
The warrant of arrest issued against Ntawukuriryayo was also published. This decision was signed by the Fijian Judge Jai Ram Reddy at the request of the Prosecutor. Two indictments are still held confidential. 18 persons searched for by the Tribunal are at large. In total, the ICTR have prosecuted 90 persons.
The indictment of Ntawukuriryayo was filed by the Prosecutor on 13 June 2005 and confirmed the same day, whereas the warrant of arrest was issued on 21 September 2006.
Ntawukuriryayo, deputy prefect of Gisagara in the Butare prefecture in 1994 is accused of genocide, complicity of genocide and direct and public incitement to commit genocide.
“Between about 21 and 25 April 1994, Dominique Ntawukuriryayo collected soldiers and gendarmes from Butare and transported them to Kabuye hill to kill the Tutsis who were there”, the indictment states. “During the same period, he also collected ammunition from Butare which was used by attackers to kill the Tutsis at Kabuye hill”, the Prosecutor furthermore alleges.
“Towards the end of May 1994, in Muyage Commune, the Accused Dominique Ntawukuriryayo addressed the local population in front of the deputy burgomaster’s house and urged them to search for and kill all the Tutsis before Rwandan Patriotic Front reached Muyaga”, the text adds.
The order making the indictment public explains neither the reasons why the Prosecutor kept it confidential, nor why he finally gave up the confidentiality.
Ninety indictments have been issued by the Tribunal since its creation in 1994. Eighteen accused are at large, 72 were arrested and among them, 33 were tried.
ER/PB/CV
© Hirondelle News Agency