01.12.09 - ICTR/VATICAN - ICTR WANTS THE VATICAN TO HOST FATHER NSENGIMANA

1 December 2009 By

Arusha, December 1, 2009 (FH) - The International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda intends to request the Vatican to host a catholic priest, Father Hormidas Nsengimana, who was recently acquitted of complicity in genocide, a source at the ICTR told the Hirondelle News Agency Tuesday on condition of anonymity.

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Nsengimana was rector of the Christ-Roi College in Nyanza during the genocide in 1994.

In February, the Prosecution had demanded lifelong imprisonment for the Catholic priest accused of supervising the killings of ethnic Tutsis at his College. However, the Chamber considered the evidence brought against Nsengimana too shaky for conviction.

The defendant was acquitted on November 17.

If the Vatican agrees, Father Nsengimana will still be required to appear before the Court in case of an Appeal trial. The Prosecution has not yet announced its decision on the matter.

The ICTR already shelters three other acquittees while searching a host country for them: former minister of Transportation Andre Ntagerura, general Gratien Kabiligi and Protais Zigiranyirazo, a brother-in-law of the late president Habyarimana.

Equally acquitted, former mayors Ignace Bagilishema and Jean Mpambara are now in France. Former Prefet of Cyangugu Emmanuel Bagambiki lives in Belgium whereas former Minister of Education, Andre Rwamakuba joined his family in Switzerland.

ER/GF