05.02.10 - ICTR/WEEKLY SUMMARY - FORMER RWANDAN MAYOR THREATENS TO SUE ICTR PROSECUTOR

Arusha, February 5, 2010 (FH) --Juvenal Kajelijeli, a former Mayor sentenced to 45 years imprisonment for his role in the 1994 genocide, Monday announced his intention to sue Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) for slander.

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"I am going to sue him. It's part of my plans. The Prosecutor smeared my reputation with his calumnies", Kajelijeli said in a mix of French and Kinyarwanda while testifying for the Defence of Joseph Nzirorera, one of the three jointly accused in the so-called ‘'Karemera Trial'', bringing together three top leaders of then Rwanda's ruling party, MRND.

Kajelijeli made the statement during examination-in-chief led by Nzirorera's lead counsel American Peter Robinson, over his alleged role in the death of Mukingo's Mayor Emmanuel Harerimana on April 8, 1994.

Meanwhile, a prosecution witness in the genocide trial against the former Rwandan Planning Minister, Augustin Ngirabatware, has alleged that the accused deployed weapons to Nyamyumba commune in Gisenyi prefecture, northern Rwanda , almost three months before the April-July, 1994 genocide.

‘'Representatives of several groups, including Interahamwe militia (for then ruling party - MRND-) and I, myself as a leader of Impuzamugambi (CDR party youth wing) received the weapons from Nyamyumba commune,'' narrated protected witness ‘'ANAN'' during Examination-in-Chief by the prosecution counsel, Wallace Kapaya.

ANAN is the second witness to testify since the resumption of the trial on January 25. The trial, which is moving slowly, continues next week.

In another development, a defence witnessed Monday claimed that former Rwandan businessman Gaspard Kanyarukiga did not hate Tutsis. A long-time friend and school colleague of the accused, witness Celestin Hitimana, 71, testified that Kanyarukiga harboured no-anti Tutsi sentiments.   

The trial was adjourned Wednesday to Monday due to lack of witnesses. So far 20 witnesses have testified.

The ICTR will render its judgment on February 11 in the re-trial of the former Rwandan Military Officer, Lieutenant-Colonel Tharcisse Muvunyi.

It will be the first judgement for this year at the U.N Court , established to try key suspects of 1994 genocide.

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