\nArusha, April 1st, 2011 (FH) - Genocide-convict and former
\nDirector of Cabinet in the Ministry of Defence, Colonel Theoneste Bagosora,
\nFriday admitted before the Appeals Chamber of the International Criminal
\nTribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) for the first time that genocide was committed in Rwanda.\n<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\n‘'I kneel down before all the victims of Rwandan genocide. I still
\nclaim that I am a victim of strong RPF (Rwandese Patriotic Front Rebels)
\npropaganda which started the massacres and hence triggered genocide of which
\nthe prosecution failed to prove the planning ,'' Bagosora told the Chamber
\npresided by Judge Patrick Robinson.\n<\/p>\n
\nTestifying in his own defence on October 24, 2005 before the Trial
\nChamber, Bagosora who is considered by prosecution as mastermind of 1994
\ngenocide denied that it had occurred. ‘'I do not believe in the genocide
\ntheory. Most reasonable people concur that there were excessive
\nmassacres.'' \n<\/p>\n
\nIn his 10-minute address to the Appeal Chamber Bagosora
\ndisassociated himself with the tragedy claiming that there was "no
\nmaterial evidence that the crimes committed were coordinated and that I
\ncoordinated them.''\n<\/p>\n
\nHe went on saying ‘'I admit that between April 7 and 9, 1994, I
\nreplaced the Minister of Defence but with limited powers. In my capacity as
\nDirector of Cabinet, I could not act as the minister because I did not have all
\nthe ministerial powers.''\n<\/p>\n
\nHe pointed out that the prosecution failure to prosecute RPF, in a
\nway tarnished the image of the UN Tribunal.\n<\/p>\n
\nIn his part, another appellant, Lieutenant Colonel Anatole
\nNsengiyumva told the Chamber that he did everything possible to control
\nsoldiers under him. ‘'I did everything to prevent my soldiers from committing
\ncrimes and I succeeded, contrary to what had been said,'' he emphasized.\n<\/p>\n
\nHe elaborated that he helped many people who were under threat
\nduring genocide to cross the border to the former Zaire, now the Democratic Republic
\nof Congo (DRC).\n<\/p>\n
\nAccording to Nsengiyumva, who was the Commander of Military Operation
\nin Gisenyi prefecture, Northern Rwanda, he was
\nhappy when he heard that the United Nations would set up a Tribunal to try
\nperpetrators of genocide but ended up regretting. ‘'I expected to testify about
\nthe events but I was surprised to find myself among the suspects,'' he
\nnarrated.\n<\/p>\n
\nThe Appeals Chamber Friday concluded hearing the appeal cases for
\nthis session.\n<\/p>\n
\nNI\/FK\/ER\/GF\n<\/p>\n
\n©
\nHirondelle News Agency<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Arusha, April 1st, 2011 (FH) - Genocide-convict and former Director of Cabinet in the Ministry of Defence, Colonel Theoneste Bagosora, Friday admitted before the Appeals Chamber of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) for the first time that genocide was committed in Rwanda.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":64,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[555],"tags":[],"ji_location":[],"class_list":["post-23344","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-hirondellenews"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n