14.10.11 - WEEKLY SUMMARY - KATANGA TRIAL AT ICC, NGIRABATWARE'S DEFENCE AT ICTR

Arusha, October 14, 2011 (FH) - While the trial of two former militia leaders of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) continued this week at the International Criminal Court (ICC), the defence case of former Rwandan Planning Minister, Augustin Ngirabatware proceeded at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR).

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ICC

Katanga defence case: Former Congolese militia leader Germain Katanga, who testified in his own defence before the ICC, denied that he was present at Bogoro village, in Ituri, Eastern DRC, when an attack took place on February 24, 2003 resulting in the death of over 200 people. Katanga is charged with crimes against humanity and war crimes for his role in this massacre. He is tried alongside another militia leader, Mathieu Ngudjolo.

ICTR

Ngirabatware defence case: A new witness for the Defence was heard in the case of former Rwandan Planning Minister Augustin Ngirabatware. Since the opening of the defence case on November 18, 2010, 26 witnesses have been called to the bar. The defendant is charged with conspiracy to commit genocide, genocide or in the alternative complicity in genocide, direct and public incitement to commit genocide and extermination and rape as crimes against humanity. He allegedly incited Hutus to kill Tutsis in his native commune of Nyamyumba in Gisenyi prefecture (North Rwanda) in 1994.

RWANDA/CHAD

Rwanda and the prosecution of former Chadian President: On Tuesday, Rwandan President Paul Kagame declared that his country had the capacity to organize a fair trial for the ex-Chadian President Hissene Habre, who is charged for crimes against humanity committed in his country while in power between 1982-1990.

NI/ER/GF

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