10.08.10 - ICTR/TRIALS - TWO NEW TRIALS SET TO START BEFORE END OF YEAR

10 August 2010 By

Arusha, August 10, 2010(FH) - Two new trials involving Grégoire Ndahimana, former mayor of Kivumu Commune in Kibuye prefecture, Western Rwanda and former military officer, Captain Idelphonse Nizeyimana are set to begin at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) before the end of this year.

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According to ICTR judicial calendar, the trial of Ndahimana commences on September 6, while that of Nizeyimana will take off in November.

Ndahimana is charged with genocide or complicity in genocide, in the alternative and extermination as crimes against humanity. Between April 6 and 20, 1994, it is alleged, he was responsible for killing or causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the Tutsi population.

He is alleged to have planned the massacres at Nyange Parish jointly with genocide-convict, Father Athanase Seromba, who has since been sentenced to life imprisonment and genocide-suspect still at large, Fulgence Kayishema. More than 2000 Tutsi refugees were killed at the parish.

Ndahimana, born in 1952, was arrested on August 10, 2009 in North Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) during a combined operation by the ICTR, the United Nations Mission in the DRC (MONUC) and the DRC law enforcement agencies. He was transferred to the UN detention in Arusha on August 21, 2009.

Capt. Nizeyimana is charged with genocide or complicity in the alternative, as well as rape as crimes against humanity. He is accused of conspiring with other military personnel, members of the government, political leaders, civil servants and others in Rwanda to work out a plan for the extermination of the Tutsi population.

He allegedly organized, ordered and participated in massacres, instigating Interahamwe attacks, instructing the setting up of roadblocks, preparing lists of Tutsis to eliminate and directing soldiers to execute entire families.

During the genocide in Rwanda, Nizeyimana was second in command in charge of intelligence and military operations of Noncommissioned Officers School (ESO) in the southern town of Butare.

Born in Mutura commune, in Gisenyi Prefecture (northwest Rwanda), Nizeyimana was arrested in Kampala (Uganda) on October 5, 2009 and transferred to the UN Detention facility in Arusha (Tanzania) the following day.

No trial date has been set in the case of Rwandan Pentecostal Church Pastor, Jean-Bosco Uwinkindi, who is charged with genocide, conspiracy to commit genocide and extermination as a crime against humanity.

FK/ER/GF