CAR/ICCCall for justice: The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), Central African Human Rights League (LCDH) and Central African Human Rights Monitor (OCDH) on Monday urged the International Criminal Court to send investigators to the CAR, and urged the UN peacekeeping mission to help set up a special court in the country. The call came as the UN took over the peacekeeping mission (MINUSCA) in the country. ICC Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda has already opened a preliminary inquiry into the situation in the Central African Republic.
ICTR/BELGIUMAcquitted general to join family in Belgium: Former Rwandan gendarmerie boss Augustin Ndindiliyimana, who was acquitted of genocide by the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, on Thursday left Arusha, Tanzania, for Belgium. This came after he obtained a visa for that European country where members of his family are living. He leaves behind in Arusha eight other acquitted persons who are still fed and housed by the ICTR as they seek a host country. Ndindiliyimana was convicted by a trial court in May 2011 and sentenced to 11 years in jail, but was acquitted by the ICTR Appeals Chamber last February.
RWANDA/JUSTICEPastor asks in vain for trial restart: Pastor Jean Uwinkindi, the first genocide accused to be transferred to Rwanda by the ICTR, has called in vain for his trial to be started again. The trial is already well advanced before a Rwandan court. Uwinkindi’s defence argued on Wednesday that the trial should be started again because of changes to the composition of the court. Two of the three judges have been replaced. In its decision on Thursday, the High Court in Kigali followed the prosecution argument that continuing the trial would not violate any of the accused’s rights. The defence immediately filed an appeal.
NEXT WEEKThe International Criminal Court (ICC) is set to continue hearings in the trial of Kenyan Deputy President William Ruto and journalist Joshua Sang.
ER/JC