14.08.09 - ICTR/WEEKLY SUMMARY - RWANDA GENOCIDE FUGITIVE NABBED IN DRC

Arusha, 14 August, 2009 (FH)-A Rwandan genocide suspect, Gregoire Ndahimana, has been arrested in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and efforts are underway to transport him to the Arusha-based International Criminal for Rwanda (ICTR) to face charges of genocide and crimes against humanity.

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According to the ICTR Deputy Prosecutor, Bongani Majola, efforts were underway to transport the accused to Arusha.

Ndahimana was Mayor of Kivumo, Kibuye, western Rwanda, during the 1994 genocide, which according to the UN estimates, claimed lives of about 800,000 ethnic Tutsis and moderate Hutus.

Meanwhile, ICTR has organized a job fair, a premier, in the annals of the United Nations, to give its staff an opportunity to market, display and show case their professionalism, skills and experience between August 17 and 21 in Arusha, reports Hirondelle Agency.

The job fair comes in the wake of the announced first-phase retrenchment of about 350 workers beginning next month as part of the UN Court's exit strategy.

"The UN-ICTR has a finite mandate to complete trials at first instance by end of December 2010. UN-ICTR is therefore in the final stages of its completion strategy after groundbreaking work in the area of international criminal and humanitarian law," said Ms Leontine Mabika, chairperson of the Fair.

In another development an ICTR trial attorney, Shymlal Rajapaksa (42), was found dead Wednesday morning at his home.

Arusha Regional Police Commander, Basilio Matei confirmed the death, adding that investigations were underway to establish the circumstances which led to the demise of the ICTR staff.

He said a postmortem would be conducted in presence of the deceased's relatives and High Commission officials, who have already arrived in Arusha.

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© Hirondelle News Agency