ICTR/ FORMER RWANDAN EDUCATION MINISTER JEAN KAMUHANDA ORDERED KILLINGS OF
ETHNIC TUTSI

By Sukhdev Chhatbar

ARUSHA 13 September 2001 (Internews) A prosecution witness today claimed
before judges of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) that
Jean de Dieu Kamuhanda, former Rwandan minister for higher education and
scientific research, ordered killings of ethnic Tutsi who sought refuge at
Gikomero Parish during the 1994 genocide.

The trial's seventh witness -- identified as "GAF" for his protection --
alleged that Kamuhanda arrived in a convoy of several vehicles on 12 April
1994 and ordered the killing of the Tutsi fleeing violence.

GAF said Kamuhanda was accompanied by a truckload of 'Interahamwe'
militiamen. The Interahamwe was the youth wing of the then ruling Movement
of the Republic for National Development (MRND). The witness alleged that
Kamuhanda ordered the militiamen "to begin work," meaning kill the Tutsi.

Kamuhanda, 48, has denied nine counts of genocide, crimes against humanity
(murder and extermination), rape and violations of the Geneva conventions.

"The Interahamwe started killing using rifles, grenades, machetes, clubs and
spears," GAF told the court.

GAF said an estimated 1000 ethnic Tutsis died during the attack. More than
2000 Tutsi sought refuge at the parish, the witness said, but alleged that
others were killed elsewhere as they fled.

The witness said that Kamuhanda left the parish soon after the killings
began. He described the former minister as an influential MRND member.

Leading GAF in his testimony, Ifeoma Ojemeni of Nigeria, prosecution
attorney, displayed videocassettes and photographs of the alleged killing
sites.

Attorneys Aicha Conde of Conakry Guinea and Grace Amakye of the United
Kingdom are defending Kamuhanda. They will begin cross-examination tomorrow.

The trial is held before Trial Chamber II of the ICTR, comprising Judges
William Sekule of Tanzania (presiding), Winston Mata Zima Maputo of Lesotho,
and Arleta Caparison of Madagascar.

-0-

---------------------------------------------------------------------
Please note: Materials by sources other than Derechos distributed in this
mailing list do not necessarily imply the endorsement of Derechos
---------------------------------------------------------------------
To unsubscribe, e-mail: [email protected]
For additional commands, e-mail: [email protected]
If you need help, e-mail: [email protected]