DEFENCE SAYS WITNESS CONFUSED GENOCIDE SUSPECT FOR BROTHER

Arusha, February, 12, 2001(FH) - Defence counsel for genocide suspect Hassan Ngeze told the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) on Monday that protected prosecution witness ’AAM’ had mistaken Ngeze’s brother for the accused himself. Lawyer John Floyd of the US said there was a “strong family resemblance” between Ngeze and his brother.

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The witness responded saying: " I know him clearly, just bring him here among many people and see if I won’t identify him". Hassan Ngeze has been boycotting the trial for one week now. He has submitted a motion to have all charges dropped on the grounds that his rights have been grossly violated. This comes after a security search of his prison cell on January 10th, in which he claims ICTR staff destroyed, copied or stole vital defence documents. Hassan Ngeze is former editor of the Kangura newspaper. He is on trial with two other suspects linked to media that allegedly incited Hutus to kill Tutsis during the 1994 genocide in Rwanda. The other two are: Ferdinand Nahimana, director of Radio-Television Libre des Mille Collines (RTLM); and Jean-Bosco Barayagwiza, a founder of the CDR party and of RTLM. The three are charged with several counts of genocide, public incitement to commit genocide, complicity in genocide and crimes against humanity. They have pleaded not-guilty. Witness AAM told the court that he had seen Ngeze participate in looting of property belonging to Tutsis, and heard him calling at the same time for the extermination of the Tutsis. He also said Ngeze had gathered Hutu youths and taken them for military training. AAM also told the court that Barayagwiza had participated in many meetings of the CDR party. He cited a rally in which he said Barayagwiza warned the Tutsis not to complain to anybody that they were being persecuted. Barayagwiza, according to AAM, told the Tutsis that "any complaint would lead to your extermination and I should remind you that we have the capacity to do it". The case is being heard by Trial Chamber One of the ICTR, composed of Judges Navanethem Pillay of South Africa (presiding), Erik Mose of Norway and Asoka de Zoysa Gunawardana of Sri Lanka. GG/JC/FH (ME_1202f)