27.05.11 - WEEKLY SUMMARY - FUGITIVE ARRESTED, PAKISTANI JUDGE TO HEAD ICTR

27 May 2011 By

Arusha, May 27, 2011(FH) - The arrest of one of 10 genocide-fugitives wanted by the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) and election of Pakistani woman judge as ICTR president are among major events reported by Hirondelle News Agency this week.

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ICTR Prosecutor, Hassan Jallow, announced Wednesday the arrest of Bernard Munyagishari, in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in an operation mounted by the Armed forces, in collaboration with the office of the prosecution Tracking Unit in Kachanga, North Kivu.

The alleged leader of the Interahamwe for Gisenyi is charged with genocide and crimes against humanity, including rape. He is accused of recruiting, training and leading Interahamwe militiamen in mass killings and rapes of Tutsi women in Gisenyi and beyond, between April and July 1994.

Another event covered includes the election of Pakistan Judge Khalida Rachid Khan as new ICTR President to replace Judge Dennis Byron, whose term of office expired on 26 May 2011. She will remain in her new office for two years effective from May 27, 2011.

The Tribunal announced also this week that on June 24, 2011 it will deliver judgment in the case considered as longest, largest and probably the most expensive of all the trials in the international justice so far. The trial involves six accused, including former Family and Women Affairs Minister, Pauline Nyiramasuhuko.

Other accused are Nyiramasuhuko's son Arsene Shalom Ntahobali, two former Governors, Sylvain Nsabimana and Alphonse Nteziryayo and two former Mayors, Joseph Kanyabashi and Elie Ndayambaje. They are charged with genocide and crimes against humanity.

Before the same Tribunal, there was commencement of special deposition proceedings in the case of the most wanted genocide fugitive Félicien Kabuga and four witnesses have so far testified.

There was also continuation of trial of former military officer, Captain Idelphonse Nizeyimana, and seven witnesses testified for his defence. The trial continues Monday.

Before the ICC in The Hague, there was continuation of trial of Germain Katanga, former commander of the Patriotic Resistance Force in Ituri, Eastern Congo and a defence witness described him as a man who lived with civilians in harmony and neither beat anyone nor confiscated people's properties.

FK/ER/GF