International: The News
20 November 2008
http://www.thenews.com.pk/print.asp?id=60546
NATO troops could train African soldiers so they are ready for the continent's conflicts, the military alliance's secretary-general said.
Speaking Wednesday at a dinner in Accra marking the start of his three-day visit to Ghana, Jaap de Hoop Scheffer said: “Africans must be in the lead to find solutions to problems that confront the continent.''
“Millions of Africans who have become victims of war (need to) see that it can be done,'' de Hoop Scheffer claimed.
21 November, 2008
20 November, 2008
ICTR Rules Another Detainee Would not get a Fair Trial if Transferred to Rwanda.
Hirondelle News Agency
19 November 2008
The International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) has rejected a fourth application of the prosecutor to transfer detainees to stand for trial in Kigali for alleged roles in the 1994 genocide.
Rejecting the application, the presiding Judge, Erik Mose of Norway, said that the Chamber was not satisfied that Jean-Baptiste Gatete, a former Mayor, would receive a fair trial if he was transferred to Rwanda.
In the decision released on 17 November, the Chamber said it was concerned that Gatete will not be able to call witnesses residing outside Rwanda to the extend and in a manner which will ensure a fair trial.
"It [Chamber] accepts that the defence will face problems in obtaining witnesses residing in Rwanda because they will be afraid to testify. Third, there is risk that Gatete, if convicted to life imprisonment there, may risk solitary confinement due to unclear legal provisions in Rwanda."
The other applications already rejected on almost similar grounds are of Lieutenant Ildenphonse Hategekimana, former Commander of Ngoma Camp and former businessmen-- Gaspard Kanyarukiga and Yusuf Munyakazi on almost similar grounds.
The Appeals Court of ICTR on 8 October upheld decision of the Lower Court to deny Prosecutor's request to transfer Munyakazi.
Observers consider that Appeals Chamber ruling will impact other two similar pending appeals, which are yet to be decided-- former Commander of Ngoma Camp Lieutenant Ildephonse Hategekimana and businessman Gaspard Kanyarukiga.
19 November 2008
The International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) has rejected a fourth application of the prosecutor to transfer detainees to stand for trial in Kigali for alleged roles in the 1994 genocide.
Rejecting the application, the presiding Judge, Erik Mose of Norway, said that the Chamber was not satisfied that Jean-Baptiste Gatete, a former Mayor, would receive a fair trial if he was transferred to Rwanda.
In the decision released on 17 November, the Chamber said it was concerned that Gatete will not be able to call witnesses residing outside Rwanda to the extend and in a manner which will ensure a fair trial.
"It [Chamber] accepts that the defence will face problems in obtaining witnesses residing in Rwanda because they will be afraid to testify. Third, there is risk that Gatete, if convicted to life imprisonment there, may risk solitary confinement due to unclear legal provisions in Rwanda."
The other applications already rejected on almost similar grounds are of Lieutenant Ildenphonse Hategekimana, former Commander of Ngoma Camp and former businessmen-- Gaspard Kanyarukiga and Yusuf Munyakazi on almost similar grounds.
The Appeals Court of ICTR on 8 October upheld decision of the Lower Court to deny Prosecutor's request to transfer Munyakazi.
Observers consider that Appeals Chamber ruling will impact other two similar pending appeals, which are yet to be decided-- former Commander of Ngoma Camp Lieutenant Ildephonse Hategekimana and businessman Gaspard Kanyarukiga.
MILITARY II TRIAL: WITNESS CLAIMS THERE WERE THREE TYPES OF ROAD BLOCKS DURING 1994 GENOCIDE.
Hirondelle News Agency
18 November 2008
A subaltern of the former Rwandan army stated Tuesday before the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) that there were, in 1994, three types of road blocks in his country.
Called by the defence of Captain Innocent Sagahutu, on trial alongside three other officers of the former Rwandan armed forces, the witness testified under the codename “CINS” to protect his identity.
In the middle of a long statement of multiple confrontations in Kigali with the former rebels of the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF), the former company commander spoke about “mobile road blocks of the RPF, road blocks of Interahamwe militiamen and road blocks of civil self-defence”.
The first two categories of road blocks were harmful to public order and to the integrity of the territory, the witness stated, explaining that he had sometimes received orders of dismantling them in 1994.
He indicated that the people holding these kinds of road blocks could open fire on the passing Rwandan army, whereas “the self-defence road blocks encouraged” the forces of their government.
The witness also denied that Rwandan soldiers took part on the side of civilians maintaining road blocks.
“The soldiers were busy at the front”, said CINS, who was questioned by Seydou Doumbia, one of Captain Sagahutu’s lawyers.
The witness was to be thereafter confronted with the questions from the prosecutor, Alphonse Van.
18 November 2008
A subaltern of the former Rwandan army stated Tuesday before the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) that there were, in 1994, three types of road blocks in his country.
Called by the defence of Captain Innocent Sagahutu, on trial alongside three other officers of the former Rwandan armed forces, the witness testified under the codename “CINS” to protect his identity.
In the middle of a long statement of multiple confrontations in Kigali with the former rebels of the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF), the former company commander spoke about “mobile road blocks of the RPF, road blocks of Interahamwe militiamen and road blocks of civil self-defence”.
The first two categories of road blocks were harmful to public order and to the integrity of the territory, the witness stated, explaining that he had sometimes received orders of dismantling them in 1994.
He indicated that the people holding these kinds of road blocks could open fire on the passing Rwandan army, whereas “the self-defence road blocks encouraged” the forces of their government.
The witness also denied that Rwandan soldiers took part on the side of civilians maintaining road blocks.
“The soldiers were busy at the front”, said CINS, who was questioned by Seydou Doumbia, one of Captain Sagahutu’s lawyers.
The witness was to be thereafter confronted with the questions from the prosecutor, Alphonse Van.
19 November, 2008
NORTH KIVU (2): LOOTING CONTINUES, CIVILIANS TAKING REFUGE IN FORESTS.
MISNA
18 November 2008
Renewed violence and looting took place today in Kirumba and Kayna, in the Lubero territory, over 200km north of North Kivu’s provincial capital Goma, where local residents said that Congolese regular soldiers raided and pillaged. Self-defence militia groups of the Mayi-Mayi ‘Pareco’ (Congolese Resistant Patriots) intervened to halt the looting, sparking an armed confrontation that left at least six people dead and displaced numerous. “We are concerned to find once again that it is the army soldiers who are responsible for actions against the local population”, witnesses told Radio Okapi, the United Nations mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo. A large part of the local residents were forced to seek refuge in the surrounding forests, where many civilians have already been hiding since last week after other devastation and looting by soldiers protesting the decision to pull back a few kilometres from the frontline.
Also the humanitarian emergency is deepening: the UN has reported that aid has not reached over 28,000 people north of Goma due to the continuing violence and terrible road conditions. The World Food Programme (WFP) communicated that it is stepping up food distribution to 235,000 people in different areas of Kivu, some of which controlled by rebels of the National Congress for the Defence of the People (CNDP) commanded by general Laurent Nkunda. Meanwhile, the National Bishops Conference of the Congo from Kinshasa urged the sides in conflict to end the violence and return to dialogue. “We need world attention to ensure that everyone does everything in their power to stop the war”, said a Conference representative Monsignor Nicolas Djomo, Bishop of Tshumbe, at the conclusion of a meeting with DR-Congo President Joseph Kabila.
18 November 2008
Renewed violence and looting took place today in Kirumba and Kayna, in the Lubero territory, over 200km north of North Kivu’s provincial capital Goma, where local residents said that Congolese regular soldiers raided and pillaged. Self-defence militia groups of the Mayi-Mayi ‘Pareco’ (Congolese Resistant Patriots) intervened to halt the looting, sparking an armed confrontation that left at least six people dead and displaced numerous. “We are concerned to find once again that it is the army soldiers who are responsible for actions against the local population”, witnesses told Radio Okapi, the United Nations mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo. A large part of the local residents were forced to seek refuge in the surrounding forests, where many civilians have already been hiding since last week after other devastation and looting by soldiers protesting the decision to pull back a few kilometres from the frontline.
Also the humanitarian emergency is deepening: the UN has reported that aid has not reached over 28,000 people north of Goma due to the continuing violence and terrible road conditions. The World Food Programme (WFP) communicated that it is stepping up food distribution to 235,000 people in different areas of Kivu, some of which controlled by rebels of the National Congress for the Defence of the People (CNDP) commanded by general Laurent Nkunda. Meanwhile, the National Bishops Conference of the Congo from Kinshasa urged the sides in conflict to end the violence and return to dialogue. “We need world attention to ensure that everyone does everything in their power to stop the war”, said a Conference representative Monsignor Nicolas Djomo, Bishop of Tshumbe, at the conclusion of a meeting with DR-Congo President Joseph Kabila.
18 November, 2008
FALSE TESTIMONY: ICTR ORDERS INVESTIGATION ON ANOTHER PROSECUTION WITNESS.
Hirondelle News Agency
12 November 2008
Trial Chamber II of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) has ordered an investigation into the false testimony of protected prosecution witness “QA” who confessed on October 29, 2008 that he had lied during his previous testimony.
In its ruling posted on the website of ICTR, the Chamber also ordered an investigation into the allegations of intimidation and bribery related to the witness who first gave evidence on March 18, 22 and 23, 2004.
The decision followed an oral motion filed by the defence of Arsene Shalom Ntahobali, one of the accused in a six-man trial popularly known as “Butare Trial” who asked the Chamber to launch investigation about witness QA’s false testimony and contempt of court.
Witness QA was recalled back following Chamber’s decision to grant the motion filed by two accused in the case, Joseph Kanyabashi, former Mayor of Ngoma commune and Sylvain Nsabimana, former Governor, who wanted to cross examine QA on additional topics as they suspected that he told lies in his earlier testimony.
According to the Statute of the ICTR, telling lies under solemn declaration was serious offence and punishable.
In the trial of Jean de Dieu Kamuhanda, former Minister for Education, a prosecution witness dubbed “GAA” was sentenced to nine months imprisonment last December for contempt of court after being found guilty of giving false evidence under solemn declaration.
The other accused in the Butare case are: Mother of Arsene Shalom Ntahobali, former minister of Family and Women Affairs, Pauline Nyiramasuhuko; former Governor, Alphonce Nteziryayo; and Ex-Mayor of Ngoma Commune, Joseph Kanyabashi.
The trial, longest and largest, started in June 2001.
12 November 2008
Trial Chamber II of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) has ordered an investigation into the false testimony of protected prosecution witness “QA” who confessed on October 29, 2008 that he had lied during his previous testimony.
In its ruling posted on the website of ICTR, the Chamber also ordered an investigation into the allegations of intimidation and bribery related to the witness who first gave evidence on March 18, 22 and 23, 2004.
The decision followed an oral motion filed by the defence of Arsene Shalom Ntahobali, one of the accused in a six-man trial popularly known as “Butare Trial” who asked the Chamber to launch investigation about witness QA’s false testimony and contempt of court.
Witness QA was recalled back following Chamber’s decision to grant the motion filed by two accused in the case, Joseph Kanyabashi, former Mayor of Ngoma commune and Sylvain Nsabimana, former Governor, who wanted to cross examine QA on additional topics as they suspected that he told lies in his earlier testimony.
According to the Statute of the ICTR, telling lies under solemn declaration was serious offence and punishable.
In the trial of Jean de Dieu Kamuhanda, former Minister for Education, a prosecution witness dubbed “GAA” was sentenced to nine months imprisonment last December for contempt of court after being found guilty of giving false evidence under solemn declaration.
The other accused in the Butare case are: Mother of Arsene Shalom Ntahobali, former minister of Family and Women Affairs, Pauline Nyiramasuhuko; former Governor, Alphonce Nteziryayo; and Ex-Mayor of Ngoma Commune, Joseph Kanyabashi.
The trial, longest and largest, started in June 2001.
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