ICTR faults Kenya, pledges to clear 21 cases

Arusha, Tanzania

The president of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR), Justice Dennis Byron, told the UN Security Council on Thursday that he expected "judgment delivery in trials against 21 accused in 2010". He also accused Kenya of not acting on claims fugitive Felicien Kabuga was in the country.

He requested more cooperation from the member states to capture the accused still on the run.

"I am sure you agree with me that eleven fugitives remaining at large today, more than fifteen years after the genocide, are eleven too many. The list includes three top suspects,

FÈlicien Kabuga, Protais Mpiranya and Augustin Bizimana. The time for their arrest is long overdue. They have benefited from impunity for far too long," said the judge.

The ICTR’s president specifically mentioned Kenya: "It is in the interest of the entire international community that the remaining fugitives be arrested and tried fairly. I call strongly upon all member states, and in particular those where there is significant evidence that fugitives hide in their territory, such as Kenya, to fully cooperate with the Tribunal".

Progress report

Byron was in New York with Chief Prosecutor Hassan Bubacar Jallow to present his six-month progress report to the United Nations.

He also asked for more cooperation by member states in the relocation of acquitted persons, now living in "ICTR’s safe houses" in Arusha.

"It is of fundamental importance and in the interests of fair justice that member states are ready and prepared to accept the relocation of acquitted persons to their territory."

There are four acquitted persons waiting for a host country : former Minister of Transportation Andre Ntagerura, general Gratien Kabiligi, the brother-in-law of late president Juvenal Habyarimana, Protais Zigiranyirazo, and Father Hormisdas Nsengimana.

Ntagerura was acquitted at first instance in February 2004, then on appeal in February 2006. General Kabiligi was acquitted in December 2008 and the Prosecutor did not appeal.

— Hirondelle News Agency