20.01.12 - WEEKLY SUMMARY - POLEMIC AT ICTR OVER UWINKINDI'S TRANSFER

Arusha, January 20, 2012 (FH) - While top officials with the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) this week locked horns on the implementation of the order for transfer of Pastor Jean Uwinkindi to Rwanda, the UN Secretary General appointed John Hocking as Registrar of the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals.

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ICTR

Prosecutor and Registrar debate Uwinkindi transfer to Rwanda: The Prosecutor of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) Thursday accused the Tribunal's Registrar of trying to delay unnecessarily the transfer of Pastor Jean Uwinkindi to Rwanda for trial. The ICTR has approved the transfer of Uwinkindi to the Rwandan justice system as part of its closure strategy, but the Registrar said on Monday there were prior issues that needed to be sorted out first.  In his response, however, the Prosecutor said timely referral of the case for trial in Rwanda was vital to the interests of justice, including the right of the accused to trial without undue delay.  He said the administrative difficulties the Registry has apparently experienced in implementing the Tribunal's judicial orders should not be allowed to frustrate such substantial interests. Uwinkindi is charged with genocide and extermination as a crime against humanity.

Ban Ki-Moon appoints Australian as Registrar of International Residual Mechanism: On Wednesday, the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon appointed John Hocking of Australia as the Registrar of the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals. Hocking will remain in office for a period of four years and may be eligible for reappointment thereafter. He has been serving as Registrar of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia since May 2009 and will continue in that position while working as Registrar of the Residual Mechanism.     

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