DATE=2/22/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=RWANDA / TRIBUNAL (L ONLY)
NUMBER=2-259448
BYLINE=FARAH STOCKMAN
DATELINE=ARUSHA, TANZANIA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: The U-N's Rwanda war crimes tribunal is being
asked to reconsider the controversial release of a
suspect in the Rwanda genocide. Farah Stockman in
Arusha, Tanzania, reports the tribunal's chief
prosecutor, Carla del Ponte, told judges the earlier
release of the suspect was wrong.
TEXT: Court observers had earlier said the case
against John Bosco Barayagwiza -- a high-ranking
Rwandan politician -- seemed easy to prove.
He was the founder of a radio station that prosecutors
said helped incite the 1994 slaughter of one-half-
million Rwandans. And he represented the Rwanda
government abroad at the height of the killings.
But three months ago, the war crimes tribunal's
appeals court ruled that Barayagwiza's own rights had
been violated during his prolonged detention. The
court said prosecutors and incompetent court clerks
kept him in jail without charges for nearly one year.
For these and a series of other violations, the judges
ordered his immediate release.
Outraged Rwandan authorities suspended cooperation
with the war crimes tribunal. They cut off access to
witnesses, and refused a visa to tribunal prosecutor
Carla del Ponte.
In a hearing (Tuesday) to review the case, prosecutor
del Ponte argued that the appeals court forgot to
consider the rights of the victims and the seriousness
of Barayagwiza's alleged crimes.
Rwanda's top prosecutor, Gerald Gahima -- speaking as
an interested party -- asked judges to change their
minds about releasing Barayagwiza or else to hand him
over to Rwanda for trial.
But defense lawyers said the appeals court -- which
also serves the U-N's Yugoslav war crimes tribunal --
has already given its verdict. They say their client
is presumed innocent, and that his case is already
closed. (Signed)
NEB/FS/JWH/LTD/KL/Africa
22-Feb-2000 13:58 PM EDT (22-Feb-2000 1858 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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