06.12.12 - ICTR/COMPLETION STRATEGY - APPEALS DECISION NEXT YEAR ON LAST RWANDA REFERRAL CASE

Arusha, December 6, 2012 (FH) – The Appeals Chamber of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda is expected to deliver early next year its ruling on whether genocide-accused Bernard Munyagishari should be transferred to Rwanda, ICTR President Vagn Joensen said Wednesday in New York, according to a UN press release.

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An ICTR Referral Chamber approved the transfer of former militia leader Munyagishari's case to Rwanda on June 6, 2012, but both parties have appealed. The defence opposes the entire decision, while the prosecution wants certain conditions fulfilled. The Appeals decision has been delayed because of translation problems. This is the Tribunal’s last referral case as it strives to complete its work by the end of 2014.Presenting the ICTR’s six-monthly report to the UN Security Council, Joensen said that unless the decision on the Munyagishari case was reversed on appeal, the Tribunal only has to finish its last seven pending appeals, which are expected to be completed by the end of 2014.Joensen told the Security Council the ICTR would hand down decisions on three appeals concerning seven persons by the end of 2013, while the final four appeals involving 10 persons were expected to be concluded by the end of 2014.Judge Joenson did not name the cases in question, but they include the Butare case, which is considered the longest and probably most complicated at the ICTR. It involves six former leaders including Pauline Nyiramasuhuko, the only woman to be indicted by the Tribunal. There are three other joint cases. One involves four former top military officials, another involves two ex-leaders of the former Rwandan ruling party MRND, and the other involves two ex-ministers.The remaining three cases involve only one individual each: a minister, a military official and a mayor.FK/NI/JC