06.08.10 - ICTR/WEEKLY SUMMARY - SECOND CONVICTION OF RWANDAN OFFICIALS IN RELATION TO KABUYE HILL

Arusha, August 6, 2010(FH) -The International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) this week entered a second conviction in relation to massacres committed at Kabuye hill, Butare Prefecture (South Rwanda), after finding guilty former Rwandan Deputy Governor, Dominique Ntawukulilyayo, of genocide and sentenced him to 25 years in jail.

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The first conviction in relation to Kabuye hill, which is close to Burundian border, was meted out last year against Callixte Kalimanzira, former senior government official, who was sentenced to 30 years imprisonment for genocide and direct incitement to commit genocide.

According to witnesses before the ICTR, some refugees from Burundi participated into the massacre together with Interahamwe militiamen, gendarmeries and other soldiers.

 Ntawukulilyayo was convicted of genocide for transporting soldiers on April 23, 1994 to Kabuye hill, who joined other assailants in killing of Tutsis who had sought refuge at the area.

The Chamber found that between April 20 and 23, 1994, thousands of Tutsis fled attacks in their localities and sought refuge at Gisagara market.  On April 23, 1994, Ntawukulilyayo came at the market together with Kalimanzira and promised the refugees that they would be fed and protected at Kabuye hill, prompting them to go there.

Ntawukulilyayo was arrested in France in 2007. He was transferred to the ICTR for trial on June 5, 2008. He was defended by Maroufa Diabira of Mauritania, as lead counsel and Dorothée Le Fraper du Helen of France, as co-counsel.  

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