ICTRICTR completes detainee transfers: The International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) on Wednesday handed former militia leader Bernard Munyagishari to the Rwandan authorities, marking the end of its transfers to national jurisdictions. The Court has now transferred a total of two accused to the Rwandan judicial authorities, while two cases are also awaiting trial in France. In addition, the ICTR has transferred to Rwanda the files of six other accused who are still at large. The Rwandan Ambassador to France welcomed these transfers to his country, saying it signalled international recognition of the Rwandan judicial system. He called on France to extradite all the Rwandan genocide suspects living on its territory to Kigali.
MICTStatus of cases transferred to France: The Mechanism for International Criminal Tribunals (MICT) said in two evaluation reports published this week that investigations in the two ICTR cases transferred to France could be completed by the beginning of 2015. The cases of Father Wenceslas Munyeshyaka, former priest at the Sainte Famille church in Kigali, and former prefect of Gikongoro Laurent Bucyibaruta were transferred to France in 2007. The two men are currently living in France under judicial supervision. According to the MICT reports, judicial investigations in the Munyeshyaka case could be completed by the end of 2014 and in the Bucyibaruta case at the beginning of 2015.
MALIPresidential candidates urged to pledge support to ICC: The Malian Human Rights Association (AMDH) and the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) urged candidates in this Sunday’s Malian presidential elections to pledge their support to the ICC’s investigations in their country. The two organizations called on the 27 candidates to commit to “promoting and guaranteeing independent and impartial investigations into violations of human rights and international humanitarian law, notably by cooperating with the regional and international bodies charged with fighting impunity such as the International Criminal Court”.
ER/JC