Arusha, 8 May 2007 (FH) – Sought by the International Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) for his alleged role in the Rwandan genocide, the former Sous-Préfet Dominique Ntawukuriryayo is living in France, according to the Rwandan representative with ICTR. His indictment was under seal till last week. It has been disclosed then, without any explanation. The Rwandan government representative to ICTR, Aloys Mutabingwa, told the Hirondelle News Agency on Monday that the accused resides in France near the Belgium border. « We are very sure », has underlined the Rwandan diplomat refusing giving details on the matter. That information has not been confirmed by any official source within the ICTR. But according to a non official source from the prosecution, the accused who was living in France with his family, might have left the territory some time before his indictment was made public. Another source also close to the prosecution said the publication of the indictment is likely a response to a probable refusal of the French authorities to hand over the suspect to the ICTR. The indictment has been filed on 13th June 2005 and confirmed the same day by a Judge. The warrant of arrested has been issued on 21st September 2006. Ntawukuriryayo, the Sous-Préfet of Gisagara, in the south of Rwanda in 1994, is accused of genocide, complicity in genocide and direct and public incitement to commit genocide. “Between about 21 and 25 April 1994, Dominique Ntawukuriryayo collected soldiers and gendarmes, who were his subordinates, from Butare and transported them to Kabuye hill to carry out the killings”, said the indictment. “During that same period the accused also collected ammunition from Butare which were used to kill the refugees at Kabuye hill.” “Towards the end of May 1994, in Muyaga commune, the accused Dominique Ntawukuriryayo addressed the local population in front of the deputy bourgmestre’s house and urged them to search for and kill all the Tutsis before the Rwandan Patriotic Front reached Muyaga.” Based in Arusha, in the north of Tanzania, the ICTR has already indicted 90 persons. 72 of them have been arrested, while 18 including Ntawukuriryayo are still on run. Two indictments are still under seal. The ICTR has so far convicted 28 persons and acquitted 5 others. ER/AS/PB
© Hirondelle News Agency