Arusha
The trial of Emmanuel Rukundo, former Military Chaplain in the Rwandan
Armed Forces (FAR) in Ruhengeri Prefecture, began today in accordance with
Article 15bis of the Statute in the absence of Judge Taghrid Hikmet before
Trial Chamber II. The Chamber is composed of Judges Asoka de Silva,
presiding, Taghrid Hikmet and Seon Ki Park.
Rukundo was also the Military Chaplain in Kigali. He is charged with three
counts of: genocide, crimes against humanity for murder, and crimes against
humanity for extermination. He pleaded not guilty to all charges during his
initial appearance of 26 September 2001.
In the presence of the Prosecutor, Hassan Bubacar Jallow, Senior Trial
Attorney William Egbe said in his opening statement that the Prosecution
would establish Rukundo’s role in the 1994 events as openly extremist. He
accused Rukundo of manifesting hatred for Tutsi in words and in actions.
The Prosecution spoke of incidents at St. Joseph’s college in Kabgayi where
the Tutsis would hide when they heard “the Priest was around”. This would
be synonymous with the abduction and killing of the Tutsi. The Prosecutor
accused Rukundo of being fully conscious of his power and authority and
abusing it by promoting hatred, death and mass victimisation. The
Prosecution spoke of Rukundo always being surrounded by armed soldiers and
that he was always seen dressed in the military uniform. The Prosecution
intends to call twenty-one factual witnesses and one investigator. The
Prosecutor called its first witness today.
Responding to the Prosecutor, the lead counsel for the Defence, Aïcha Conde
challenged the allegations made in the opening statement and denied that
Rukundo was an extremist. The Defence clarified that it was usual for all
military chaplains to be armed and to wear the military uniform.
Rukundo was born in 1959 in Gitarama prefecture. He was arrested in Geneva
on 12 July 2001 and transferred to the UN Detention Facility on 20
September 2001.
International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda/Tribunal pénal international pour le Rwanda http://www.ictr.org
The trial of Emmanuel Rukundo, former Military Chaplain in the Rwandan
Armed Forces (FAR) in Ruhengeri Prefecture, began today in accordance with
Article 15bis of the Statute in the absence of Judge Taghrid Hikmet before
Trial Chamber II. The Chamber is composed of Judges Asoka de Silva,
presiding, Taghrid Hikmet and Seon Ki Park.
Rukundo was also the Military Chaplain in Kigali. He is charged with three
counts of: genocide, crimes against humanity for murder, and crimes against
humanity for extermination. He pleaded not guilty to all charges during his
initial appearance of 26 September 2001.
In the presence of the Prosecutor, Hassan Bubacar Jallow, Senior Trial
Attorney William Egbe said in his opening statement that the Prosecution
would establish Rukundo’s role in the 1994 events as openly extremist. He
accused Rukundo of manifesting hatred for Tutsi in words and in actions.
The Prosecution spoke of incidents at St. Joseph’s college in Kabgayi where
the Tutsis would hide when they heard “the Priest was around”. This would
be synonymous with the abduction and killing of the Tutsi. The Prosecutor
accused Rukundo of being fully conscious of his power and authority and
abusing it by promoting hatred, death and mass victimisation. The
Prosecution spoke of Rukundo always being surrounded by armed soldiers and
that he was always seen dressed in the military uniform. The Prosecution
intends to call twenty-one factual witnesses and one investigator. The
Prosecutor called its first witness today.
Responding to the Prosecutor, the lead counsel for the Defence, Aïcha Conde
challenged the allegations made in the opening statement and denied that
Rukundo was an extremist. The Defence clarified that it was usual for all
military chaplains to be armed and to wear the military uniform.
Rukundo was born in 1959 in Gitarama prefecture. He was arrested in Geneva
on 12 July 2001 and transferred to the UN Detention Facility on 20
September 2001.
International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda/Tribunal pénal international pour le Rwanda http://www.ictr.org