10.06.11 - ICTR/REFERRALS - ICTR PROSECUTOR TO FILE FIVE FRESH REFERRAL APPLICATIONS

Arusha, June 10, 2011 (FH) -The Prosecutor of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR), Hassan Bubacar Jallow, is planning to file, in the months ahead, five additional requests for transfer of cases to national jurisdictions for trial.

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"In the months ahead, we plan to file additional requests of four fugitives and one new arrestee to national jurisdictions for trial," Jallow said when presenting his six-monthly report to the United Nations Security Council on Monday.

He said he had visited a number of European states in April this year and held discussions with senior officials to encourage their governments to consider accepting cases for trial from the ICTR.

"I wish to record my appreciation for the warm reception by the member states concerned. I sincerely look forward to their positive consideration of our requests," he said.

Three other referral applications, filed on November 4, 2010 are pending before the judges. They involve Pastor Jean Uwinkindi, who is detained at the UN Detention Facility in Arusha, Fulgence Kayishema, former judicial police inspector of Kivumu commune in Kibuye prefecture (Western Rwanda) and Charles Sikubwabo, ex-mayor of Gishyita commune in the same prefecture, both still on the ran.

The Tribunal has deferred the applications involving Kayishema and Sikubwabo, pending their arrest or final determination of Uwinkindi's case. The decision in the case of Uwinkindi is expected at the end of this month.

The first five similar applications filed in 2007 were rejected because the Chambers were of the view that the accused would not receive fair trials in Rwanda as a result of the laws in existence in the country at that time.

Jallow says Rwanda is now ready to prosecute the accused in accordance with established international standards.

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© Hirondelle News Agency