Rwanda: Has Kagame preempted RPF decision on third term?

http://greatlakesvoice.com/blog/has-kagame-preempted-rpf-decision-on-third-term/

Has Kagame preempted RPF decision on third term?

blogadmin on  June 12, 2013  — Leave a Comment

By Mugabe Robert

rmugabe@greatlakesvoice.com

Kagame visits Musanze

 

President Paul Kagame while speaking at the Nyakinama Military academy, on Monday, dwelt on the relationship between the Constitution and the will of the people. To many people the massage was not clear since the speech was more about passing out senior officers and responding to President Kikwete's suggestion that Rwanda holds talks with FDLR rebels.

But there is a reason. Debate on the Constitution in Rwanda begun formally in February when the Rwanda Patriotic Front held an extraordinary general assembly to discuss the transition in 2017, members gave their different views.

A few days later, the executive committee met again and appointed a team that includes RPF Secretary General François Ngarambe, Senator Dr. Bizimana Jean Damascene, Senator Tito Rutaremana, Governance Board CEO Prof Shyaka Anastase, Minister for Easter African affairs Monique Mukaruliza and Maureen Wanziga, who works at Prime minister's office. This committee which was given the job of consulting members of the party and come up with a position to be debated by NEC

Now, sources say the team has agreed on third term bid and change of the constitution and mobilizing the media linked to the government to begin talk shows about the third term bid.

In media interviews Kagame is no longer categorical as he used to be, instead he gives messages that what Rwandans want, should prevail. Other times he tells scribes to wait until when the time comes.

The citizen outreach programs which include President Kagame visiting upcountry districts and addressing thousands, are supposed to see citizens demanding that they want Kagame to stay

Inside sources familiar with RPF and Kagame style say James Musoni was given an assignment of citizen outreach but remained redundant for some time because he thought himself as a contender come 2017. It's of late, apparently after the whole plan revealed to him that Musoni realized the whole purpose of Kagame's citizen outreach tours.

An observer familiar with the situation said local leaders have been briefed on the RPF's unpaged open secret. Also how they should orient the public perception from the grass root.

Senator Tito Rutaremara a member of the team had before insisted that his take on bid for third term is in the constitution. "I am apart of team who initiated and advocated for the very principals in the constitution we have today. So you know my opinion about transition," Rutaremara added. Three months after his statement following a whisper from the source that his team has agreed to sell the idea of adopting 3rd term, he vehemently denied having an interview about the issue. To the people familiar with Rutaremara, it's unusual to deny any journalist a right to an interview.

In the Public, Rutaremara has softened his stance on transition and Kagame's bid for third term. Earlier, Rutaremera had said RPF's stand is that Kagame's mandate would go beyond the set time only when there is a crisis that may only hinder elections comes 2017. Tito said in an interview in January 2012 that: "When we have a constitution written by people, debated by people, voted by people and passed by people, in order to change it you have to have a very serious reason," observed Senator Tito, adding that the only think that would call for prolonging President Kagame's stay in office after his current second and last constitution term is if the country was at war and no time to organize elections.

Tito added, "for instance, if we are at a war and we don't have time to go to elections, then we can let him go on. That is one of the reasons". At the time Tito was responding to Internal Affairs minister and head of PDI party Musa Fazil's suggestion that Kagame be given a third term.

The sacking of Tharcisse Karugarama and Protais Musoni has already led to suggestions that it was about putting RPF members in proper line of not publicly opposing the third term. It is unknown if Tito would repeat that position.

The third term issue is not just complicated within the RPF only. Kagame's international friends and allies who stood with him in good and bad times, like Tony Blair who famously defended Rwanda president during DRC-M23 crisis; have made it clear to him that they would not back him if he bids for 3rd term.

The answer to complication is clear, get as many citizens to campaign that they want Kagame to stay, so by the time a referendum is held, it appears like it is a mass movement than coming from top leaders. So, when Kagame talks about the Constitution and the will of the people, the message is clear.

Posted in Mugabe's Blog

Rwanda: Has Kagame preempted RPF decision on third term?

http://greatlakesvoice.com/blog/has-kagame-preempted-rpf-decision-on-third-term/

Has Kagame preempted RPF decision on third term?

blogadmin on  June 12, 2013  — Leave a Comment

By Mugabe Robert

rmugabe@greatlakesvoice.com

Kagame visits Musanze

 

President Paul Kagame while speaking at the Nyakinama Military academy, on Monday, dwelt on the relationship between the Constitution and the will of the people. To many people the massage was not clear since the speech was more about passing out senior officers and responding to President Kikwete's suggestion that Rwanda holds talks with FDLR rebels.

But there is a reason. Debate on the Constitution in Rwanda begun formally in February when the Rwanda Patriotic Front held an extraordinary general assembly to discuss the transition in 2017, members gave their different views.

A few days later, the executive committee met again and appointed a team that includes RPF Secretary General François Ngarambe, Senator Dr. Bizimana Jean Damascene, Senator Tito Rutaremana, Governance Board CEO Prof Shyaka Anastase, Minister for Easter African affairs Monique Mukaruliza and Maureen Wanziga, who works at Prime minister's office. This committee which was given the job of consulting members of the party and come up with a position to be debated by NEC

Now, sources say the team has agreed on third term bid and change of the constitution and mobilizing the media linked to the government to begin talk shows about the third term bid.

In media interviews Kagame is no longer categorical as he used to be, instead he gives messages that what Rwandans want, should prevail. Other times he tells scribes to wait until when the time comes.

The citizen outreach programs which include President Kagame visiting upcountry districts and addressing thousands, are supposed to see citizens demanding that they want Kagame to stay

Inside sources familiar with RPF and Kagame style say James Musoni was given an assignment of citizen outreach but remained redundant for some time because he thought himself as a contender come 2017. It's of late, apparently after the whole plan revealed to him that Musoni realized the whole purpose of Kagame's citizen outreach tours.

An observer familiar with the situation said local leaders have been briefed on the RPF's unpaged open secret. Also how they should orient the public perception from the grass root.

Senator Tito Rutaremara a member of the team had before insisted that his take on bid for third term is in the constitution. "I am apart of team who initiated and advocated for the very principals in the constitution we have today. So you know my opinion about transition," Rutaremara added. Three months after his statement following a whisper from the source that his team has agreed to sell the idea of adopting 3rd term, he vehemently denied having an interview about the issue. To the people familiar with Rutaremara, it's unusual to deny any journalist a right to an interview.

In the Public, Rutaremara has softened his stance on transition and Kagame's bid for third term. Earlier, Rutaremera had said RPF's stand is that Kagame's mandate would go beyond the set time only when there is a crisis that may only hinder elections comes 2017. Tito said in an interview in January 2012 that: "When we have a constitution written by people, debated by people, voted by people and passed by people, in order to change it you have to have a very serious reason," observed Senator Tito, adding that the only think that would call for prolonging President Kagame's stay in office after his current second and last constitution term is if the country was at war and no time to organize elections.

Tito added, "for instance, if we are at a war and we don't have time to go to elections, then we can let him go on. That is one of the reasons". At the time Tito was responding to Internal Affairs minister and head of PDI party Musa Fazil's suggestion that Kagame be given a third term.

The sacking of Tharcisse Karugarama and Protais Musoni has already led to suggestions that it was about putting RPF members in proper line of not publicly opposing the third term. It is unknown if Tito would repeat that position.

The third term issue is not just complicated within the RPF only. Kagame's international friends and allies who stood with him in good and bad times, like Tony Blair who famously defended Rwanda president during DRC-M23 crisis; have made it clear to him that they would not back him if he bids for 3rd term.

The answer to complication is clear, get as many citizens to campaign that they want Kagame to stay, so by the time a referendum is held, it appears like it is a mass movement than coming from top leaders. So, when Kagame talks about the Constitution and the will of the people, the message is clear.

Posted in Mugabe's Blog

Ambasade y’u Rwanda muri Uganda yarekuye umuvandimwe w’umwanditsi mukuru w’Umuvugizi ari indembe

http://www.umuvugizi.com/?p=8444

Uburyo ambasade y'u Rwanda muri Uganda yarekuye umuvandimwe w'umwanditsi mukuru w'Umuvugizi ari indembe nyuma yo kwimwa uburenganzira bwo kumushimutira mu Rwanda n'urwego rwa Uganda rushinzwe abinjira n'abasohoka

Ambasaderi Mugambage Frank na bagenzibe bimuriye irimbi rya Kami muri Uganda

Nkuko twabibasobanuriye mu nkuru zacu z'ubushize, twerekanye uburyo ambasade y'u Rwanda muri Uganda yari iherutse gushimuta umwe mu bagize umuryango w'umuyobozi w'Umuvugizi, akaba yarashimuswe ku mugoroba w'itariki ya 26/5/2013, ubwo yasohokaga hanze arimo gukora ibikorwa ngorora ngingo.

Icyo gikorwa kibisha cyakozwe n'ushinzwe ibikorwa bya gisirikare (military attache) muri ambasade y'u Rwanda muri Uganda, umwicanyi Lt Col Burabyo James, afatanyije n'uhagarariye Polisi y'u Rwanda muri ambasade y'u Rwanda muri Uganda, Superitendant Charles Kayihura, umwicanyi ruharwa udateze kuzibagirana mu mateka y'u Rwanda kubera ibikorwa by'ubwicanyi yagiye akora ubwo yari mu rwego rw'ubutasi rubarizwa muri Polisi y'u Rwanda (Special Intelligence) mu rurimi rw'icyongereza.

Bimwe mu bikomere bigize umubiriwe wese bigaragaza uburyo yakorewe iyica rubozo na maneko za Kagame zikoresha bamwe mubashinzwe umutekano muri Uganda

Abo bicanyi babiri basanze uwo muvandimwe w'umwanditsi mukuru w'Umuvugizi akora siporo hafi y'aho iwabo batuye muri Uganda, nyuma yo guhungira muri icyo gihugu, ari na bwo abicanyi batatu ba perezida Kagame bakorera muri ambasade y'u Rwanda muri Uganda, batangiraga kuganiriza uwo mwana ntiyamenya ko ari abicanyi barimo kumuhuma amaso, ari na bwo bamukubitaga ikintu kimeze nk'ikinya abura ubwenge, bamujugunya mu modoka yabo, akanguka ari mu gihome cya ambasade y'u Rwanda muri Uganda.

Bwaracyeye bamusaba kwemera ko yaceceka bakamusubiza mu Rwanda bujura, asize umuryango we yahunganye na wo muri Uganda, ari na bwo yaje kubangira, bafata icyemezo cyo kumufungira muri zimwe muri gereza zitemewe n'amategeko ambasade y'u Rwanda muri Uganda yahinduye irimbi rya Kami, aha hakaba hakorerwa ibikorwa byo kumena amaraso y'inzirakarengane.

Kugirango iki gikorwa cya bunyamaswa kigerweho, aba bicanyi bakoresheje bamwe mu bashinzwe umutekano muri Uganda bari baguriwe kugirango bakore ibyo bikorwa by'iyicwa rubozo. Ku ruhande rwayo, ambasade y'u Rwanda muri Uganda yaje kumwimurira muri gereza yijimye bamenagamo inkari gusa, hamwe n'amazi, bamutegeka kuryama aho hantu n'ingurube itarara. Bamubwiye ko azakomeza kuba muri ubwo buzima kugeza igihe azemerera abo bicanyi kumucisha ku mupaka adasakuje.

Nyuma yo kubangira ko atasiga umuryango we aho wahungiye muri Uganda, uyu mwana bamushyize ku igaburo ry'imigeri hamwe n'inkoni za buri munsi, ari na ko bamuhataga ibibazo bitandukanye bijyanye n'umuryango w'umwanditsi mukuru w'Umuvugizi, aho uherereye muri Uganda, hamwe n'abavandimwe baba bafite mu gisirikare hamwe no muri polisi y'igihugu.

Icyo gihe cyose abicanyi ba Kagame bicaga uwo mwana ungana n'ababo, yari afunzwe amapingo ku maboko no ku maguru, bakamurekura gusa uri uko agiye kwihagarika, akagaruka muri icyo cyumba babaga bamennyemo inkari n'amazi. Bakaba baragiye bamwimurira muri gereza nk'izo zigera kuri eshatu, bakoresheje imodoka za ambasade y'u Rwanda muri Uganda, aho buri gihe bamujyanaga bamuhambiriye umwenda mu maso, ari na ko aboshywe amapingo ku maguru n'amaboko .

Abicanyi ba Kagame batse impapuro z'inzira ibiro bishinzwe abinjira n'abasohoka muri Uganda, ntibazihabwa.

Kubera inyota yo kumena maraso, abicanyi ba Kagame ntibigeze banyurwa n'uburyo bishe urw'agashinyaguro uwo mwana, ari na bwo bakaga urwego rushinzwe abinjira n'abasohoka mu gihugu cya Uganda urwandiko rw'inzira kugirango basubize uwo muvandimwe w'umuyobozi w'Umuvugizi mu Rwanda, kugirango abe ari ho bamutsinda, nyuma yo kumubaza ibyo bari bakeneye byose bijyanye n'umuryango we.

Ku ikubitiro, Umuvugizi washoboye kumenya amakuru ko ambasade y'u Rwanda yafashe icyemezo cyo kwakira impapuro z'inzira uwo mwana, ari na ko byaje kugenda, dore ko yahise isaba umuyobozi w'abinjira n'abasohoka mu gihugu cya Uganda, Komiseri Namara Anthony, ibyangombwa by'inzira kugirango babikoreshe mu gushimutira mu Rwanda uwo muvandimwe w'umwanditsi mukuru w'Umuvugizi. Nyamara ibi ntibyabahiriye kuko Komiseri Namara yahise atera utwatsi icyifuzo cy'abicanyi ba Kagame, abereka ko amategeko yo muri Uganda atemera gusubiza impunzi zifite ibyangombwa by'ubuhunzi mu gihugu zaturutsemo, bityo ababwira ko inama ahubwo yabagira ari uko barekura uwo mwana, agasanga umuryango we aho wahungiye muri Uganda.

Nyuma yo kwimwa urwandiko rw'inzira rushimutira uwo mwana mu Rwanda, abicanyi ba Perezida Kagame bakorera muri ambasade y'u Rwanda muri Uganda, basanze nta yandi mahitamo bafite uretse gutegeka abashinzwe umutekano muri Uganda, bakoresheje mu kumwica urw'agashinyaguro, ko bamufungura mu gihome yari afungiyemo kirenze umusarani, akarekurwa, dore ko ambasade y'u Rwanda muri Uganda yari imaze gufatirwa mu cyuho kubera ukuntu yahakaniye inzego zishinzwe impunzi muri Uganda ko atari yo yari yamushimuse.

Bataramurekura kugirango ave muri uwo musarani bari bamufungiyemo, Lt Col Burabyo James na Superitendant Kayihura Charles, baje noneho baciye bugufi, basaba uwo muvandimwe w'umwanditsi mukuru w'Umuvugizi, ko yabafasha akajya kwiba impapuro z'inzira, ari zo "Refugee Asylum Status", impapuro z'abagize umuryango w'umwanditsi mukuru w'Umuvugizi; icyo gihe bamusezeranyaga ko naramuka abikoze bazamuha akayabo k'amafaranga atabarika, bakanamwohereza kwiga mu mahanga, ku mafaranga y'ubutegetsi bwa Perezida Kagame (bourse).

Ibikorwa nk'ibi bibisha, bikaba byarabaye iminsi itatu ikurikirana, dore ko uwo muvandimwe w'umwanditsi mukuru w'Umuvugizi yashimuswe ku itariki ya 26/5/2013, naho kuri 29/5/2013 Polisi y'aho batuye igafata umwe mu bo ambasade y'u Rwanda yari yaguririye, yurira urukuta kugirango ahe icyanzu bagenzi be bari bazanye guhutaza abagize umuryango wa Gasasira, abari hanze bakaba barakijijwe n'amaguru ariko uwo polisi yari yafashe akaba yarahise yigira nk'umusazi amaze kugezwa ku biro bya polisi, kugirango adasabwa kumena amabanga y'abari bamutumye no kugirango bibe impamvu z'inyoroshya cyaha kugirango bamurekure, bifashishije ko yari umasazi.

Ibi na byo bikaba byarabaye nyuma y'aho inzego z'ubutasi z'u Rwanda zakoresheje umwe mu bantu bari hafi n'umuryango w'Umuvugizi mu kubeshyera abavandimwe b'umwanditsi mukuru w'Umuvugizi, ko ari bo batanga amakuru ku nyandiko ziba zanditswe n'urubuga rw'Umuvugizi ku bintu bitandukanye muri Uganda na Kongo, iki kinyoma cyuzuye urwango kikaba cyari kigamijwe kugirango ambasade y'u Rwanda muri Uganda yishyire yizane mu bikorwa byuzuye kumena amaraso y'abagize umuryango w'umwanditsi mukuru w'Umuvugizi, nta nkomyi cyangwa kivugira.

Umuvugizi ukaba warashoboye kumenya ko icyo kinyoma cyari kigamije kumarisha abavandimwe ba Gasasira Jean Bosco aho bahungiye muri Uganda, cyabibwe n'umwe mu basirikare bakuru uri mu Rwanda tugikoraho iperereza, agicishije muri uwo muyoboro we akoresha mu bikorwa by'ubutasi, na we wahise ugaburira ubwo burozi umwe mu bashinzwe impunzi muri Uganda.

Maneko John Ngarambe apanga gushimuta umuvandimwe w'umwanditsi mukuru w'Umuvugizi, mu rwego rwo gusibanganya ibimenyetso by'uko yari yishwe urubozo.

Amakuru Umuvugizi ukura muri ambasade y'u Rwanda muri Uganda, yemeza ko nyuma y'aho urwego rw'abinjira n'abasohoka muri Uganda rwimye ambasade icyangombwa cyo gushimutira mu Rwanda umuvandimwe w'umwanditsi mukuru w'Umuvugizi wari wishwe urubozo, dore ko yari agifite ibikomere ku mubiri hose, byatumye John Ngarambe akoresha bamwe mu byitso bye babarizwa mu muryango w'umwanditsi mukuru w'Umuvugizi, bayobowe na «retired» SGT Maninga Frank, wahoze akorana n'urwego rw'ubutasi rwa gisirikare (DMI), mbere yuko ahungira mu Bwongereza, akaza kugarurwa n'inzego z'ubutasi za perezida Kagame kugirango amunge umuryango w'umwanditsi mukuru w'Umuvugizi, ibi bikaba byari mu rwego rwo kuwufataho ingwate kugirango Perezida Kagame azajye awica uruhongohongo nk'agaca kageze mu mishwi.

Ni muri urwo rwego, nyuma y'aho ambasade y'u Rwanda muri Uganda inaniriwe gushimuta uwo mwana imusubiza mu Rwanda mu buryo bujyanye n'amategeko, yasabye John Ngarambe ko yakoresha agatsiko kayobowe na SGT Maninga Frank kugirango abe ari ko gakora icyo gikorwa kigayitse cyo kwambukisha uwo mwana wari wishwe urw'agashinyaguro, bamucishije mu tuyira turi mu nkengero z'umupaka, tuzwi nka «panya», ibi bikaba byari bigamije ko ibikomere byari byuzuye ku mubiri we wose, ibikomere by'iyica rubozo, byakorewe uwo mwana, he kugira ubibona mu rwego rwo kumufataho bugwate nk'inzira yo kwihimura ku nyandiko zisohoka mu Umuvugizi, inyandiko zinenga ibikorwa by'ubwicanyi, ifungwa ridasobanutse, kumarira abanyapolitiki batavuga rumwe n'ubutegetsi muri gereza, hamwe n'ubusahuzi simusiga bukorwa na perezida Kagame n'agatsiko bafatanyije kuyogoza igihugu, harimo no gusahura umutungo kamere wa Kongo.

Nyuma yo kubona aya makuru yose ateye agahinda, yerekana uburyo ambasade y'u Rwanda yakaga ibyangombwa urwego rushinzwe abinjira n'abasohoka mu gihugu, igikorwa cyahamyaga ko ari ambasade yashimuse uwo muvandimwe w'umwanditsi mukuru w'Umuvugizi, ikanamukorera iryo yica rubozo, byatumye tuvugana na Komiseri ushinzwe «Immigration», Namara Anthony, tumushimira igikorwa cy'ubutabazi n'ubutwari igihugu cye cyakoze cyo gutesha agaciro abicanyi ba Perezida Kagame, bakorera muri ambasade y'u Rwanda muri Uganda, ubwo babimaga impapuro zo gushimuta umuvandimwe wa Gasasira Jean Bosco bari bakoreye iyica rubozo, «Immigration» ya Uganda ikaba yarashingiye ku mategeko mpuzamahanga arengera impunzi, amategeko avuga ko mu gihe umuntu yabonye ubuhungiro mu gihugu yahungiyemo, aba atemerewe gusubizwa mu gihugu yahunze.

Tukimara kumushimira kubera icyo gikorwa cy'ubutwari, urwego ayoboye rwari rwakoze cyo kwima ambasade y'u Rwanda impapuro yashakaga kugirango ishimute umuvandimwe w'umwanditsi mukuru w'Umuvugizi, yadusubije muri aya magambo : "Yes, I remember rejecting their request of returning back that person of the names you have just mentioned. Is he in Rwanda or still in Uganda" ? Bisobanuye ngo : «Ndibuka ayo mazina y'umuvandimwe wawe umbwiye, banzaniye nkabyanga. Umuvandimwe wawe baba baramugejeje mu Rwanda cyangwa aracyari muri Uganda ?»

Mu kumusubiza ko akiri mu Rwanda, ko nyuma yuko ambasade imwimye ibyangombwa, yafashe icyemezo cyo gukoresha bamwe mu byitso byayo bibarizwa mu muryango w'umwanditsi mukuru w'Umuvugizi biyobowe na Sgt Maninga Frank kugirango bayifashe gushimutira mu Rwanda uwo mwana wabonye ubuhungiro muri Uganda.

Acyumva ibi, Komiseri Namara Anthony yasubizanyije akababaro n'uburakari, muri aya magambo : "We are sorry of what happened to your relative. It's not a policy of the Government of Uganda to torture and terrorise refugees. I wish people could respect our sovereignty and do not extend their barbaric activities in Uganda".
Bisobanuye ngo : «Twababajwe n'ibyabaye ku muvandimwe wawe; ntabwo ari imikorere ya Leta ya Uganda yo kwica urubozo no gukorera impunzi ibikorwa by'iterabwoba. Nifuza ko abantu bakagombye kubaha ubusugire bw'igihugu cyacu, ntibakwirakwize ibikorwa byabo bya kinyamaswa n'ubwicanyi ndengakamere".

Ubwanditsi bukuru bw'Umuvugizi.

Byashyizweho na editor on Jun 10 2013. Filed under Ahabanza, Amakuru Ashyushye,Politiki. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry

Prosecutor of UN Rwanda genocide tribunal urges cooperation to catch reaming fugitives

http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=45149&Cr=rwanda&Cr1=#.Ube9j-eOSo1

Prosecutor of UN Rwanda genocide tribunal urges cooperation to catch reaming fugitives

Prosecutor of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) Hassan Bubacar Jallow. UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe

11 June 2013 – With nine men linked to the 1994 genocide in Rwanda still on the run, the Prosecutor who would help to try them is today urging Member States to cooperate with the United Nations war crimes tribunal and its successor body to track down and arrest the fugitives.

At a press conference at the UN Headquarters in New York, Justice Hassan Bubacar Jallow, Prosecutor of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) and the Mechanism for International Criminal Tribunal reiterated the UN's call on Member States "to live up to their obligations to cooperate with the [residual mechanism], and the tracking and the arrest of these fugitives."

As for the fugitives, Mr. Jallow urged them to turn themselves in and stand trial in "very transparent and impartial" judicial processes.

"There is no time limit to the prosecution of these cases. Your hiding does not pay off. The mechanism will not relent," Mr. Jallow said.

Based in Arusha, Tanzania, the ICTR was set up after the 1994 Rwandan genocide, when at least 800,000 ethnic Tutsis and politically moderate Hutus were killed during a span of three months beginning in April 1994.

The Security Council has urged both the ICTR and the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) to conclude their work by the end of 2014.

It set up the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (IRMCT) in December 2010 and mandated it to take over and finish the remaining tasks of the two courts when they are closed after their mandates expire. The ICTR branch of the Residual Mechanism began its functions on 1 July 2012 in Arusha, while the branch for ICTY will start this coming July in The Hague.

Members of the Security Council had emphasized that establishing the Residual Mechanism was essential to ensure that the closure of ICTR and the ICTY "does not leave the door open to impunity for the remaining fugitives and for those whose appeals have not been completed."

"The ICTR has concluded the trial phase of its work and is currently focused on management of appeals, and legacy and closing issues," Mr. Jallow has said.

During its operations, it indicted some 93 people, all of whom were arrested with the exception of nine men. Augustin Bizimana, the Minister of Defence of the interim Government during the time of the atrocities; Félicien Kabuga, who is believed to have financed the genocide; Protais Mpiranya, who as Commander of the Presidential Guard Battalion in the Rwandan Army allegedly oversaw all the units in the battalion; as well as Fulgence Kayishema, Pheneas Munyarugarama, Charles Sikubwabo, Aloys Ndimbati, Ladislas Ntaganzwa and Charles Ryandikayo.

The Office of Global Criminal Justice – headed by Stephen J. Rapp, Ambassador-At-Large for War Crimes Issues in the Office of Global Criminal Justice who also attended the press conference – is offering up to a $5 million reward for information leading to the arrest or conviction of any of the nine men.

"We are still very optimistic that we will track and find and bring them to justice," Mr. Jallow said. "It is not an easy task to track."

The Prosecutor noted that the men on the run make every effort to evade the trackers by changing their identities, relocating to different terrains and sometimes assisted by slow cooperation of Member States.

"There is nonetheless intense activity ongoing," he added.

Given that there is no time limit to be prosecuted, the residual mechanism can be activated at any time to try the men. In addition, precautions have been taken to secure evidence against the accused and preserve testimony, if witnesses are no longer available to participate in person at future trials.

---

News Tracker: past stories on this issue

Security Council extends terms of judges serving on UN Rwanda genocide tribunal

Prosecutor of UN Rwanda genocide tribunal urges cooperation to catch reaming fugitives

http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=45149&Cr=rwanda&Cr1=#.Ube9j-eOSo1

Prosecutor of UN Rwanda genocide tribunal urges cooperation to catch reaming fugitives

Prosecutor of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) Hassan Bubacar Jallow. UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe

11 June 2013 – With nine men linked to the 1994 genocide in Rwanda still on the run, the Prosecutor who would help to try them is today urging Member States to cooperate with the United Nations war crimes tribunal and its successor body to track down and arrest the fugitives.

At a press conference at the UN Headquarters in New York, Justice Hassan Bubacar Jallow, Prosecutor of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) and the Mechanism for International Criminal Tribunal reiterated the UN's call on Member States "to live up to their obligations to cooperate with the [residual mechanism], and the tracking and the arrest of these fugitives."

As for the fugitives, Mr. Jallow urged them to turn themselves in and stand trial in "very transparent and impartial" judicial processes.

"There is no time limit to the prosecution of these cases. Your hiding does not pay off. The mechanism will not relent," Mr. Jallow said.

Based in Arusha, Tanzania, the ICTR was set up after the 1994 Rwandan genocide, when at least 800,000 ethnic Tutsis and politically moderate Hutus were killed during a span of three months beginning in April 1994.

The Security Council has urged both the ICTR and the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) to conclude their work by the end of 2014.

It set up the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (IRMCT) in December 2010 and mandated it to take over and finish the remaining tasks of the two courts when they are closed after their mandates expire. The ICTR branch of the Residual Mechanism began its functions on 1 July 2012 in Arusha, while the branch for ICTY will start this coming July in The Hague.

Members of the Security Council had emphasized that establishing the Residual Mechanism was essential to ensure that the closure of ICTR and the ICTY "does not leave the door open to impunity for the remaining fugitives and for those whose appeals have not been completed."

"The ICTR has concluded the trial phase of its work and is currently focused on management of appeals, and legacy and closing issues," Mr. Jallow has said.

During its operations, it indicted some 93 people, all of whom were arrested with the exception of nine men. Augustin Bizimana, the Minister of Defence of the interim Government during the time of the atrocities; Félicien Kabuga, who is believed to have financed the genocide; Protais Mpiranya, who as Commander of the Presidential Guard Battalion in the Rwandan Army allegedly oversaw all the units in the battalion; as well as Fulgence Kayishema, Pheneas Munyarugarama, Charles Sikubwabo, Aloys Ndimbati, Ladislas Ntaganzwa and Charles Ryandikayo.

The Office of Global Criminal Justice – headed by Stephen J. Rapp, Ambassador-At-Large for War Crimes Issues in the Office of Global Criminal Justice who also attended the press conference – is offering up to a $5 million reward for information leading to the arrest or conviction of any of the nine men.

"We are still very optimistic that we will track and find and bring them to justice," Mr. Jallow said. "It is not an easy task to track."

The Prosecutor noted that the men on the run make every effort to evade the trackers by changing their identities, relocating to different terrains and sometimes assisted by slow cooperation of Member States.

"There is nonetheless intense activity ongoing," he added.

Given that there is no time limit to be prosecuted, the residual mechanism can be activated at any time to try the men. In addition, precautions have been taken to secure evidence against the accused and preserve testimony, if witnesses are no longer available to participate in person at future trials.

---

News Tracker: past stories on this issue

Security Council extends terms of judges serving on UN Rwanda genocide tribunal