ADAD [the Association of Defence Lawyers at the ICTR]
PRESS RELEASE
DATE: 6 April 2004
CONTACT:
French : Me Pascal Besnier,
e-mail : besnierpascal@yahoo.fr
English :Prof. Peter Erlinder,
e-mail : adadsecretary@yahoo.com
ARUSHA, Tanzania – On April 3, The General Assembly of ADAD [the Association of Defence Lawyers at the ICTR] adopted by majority, a Resolution in commemoration of the tragic massacres of Rwandans that began ten years ago today. The ADAD Resolution urges the U.N. to make possible long-term reconciliation between Hutus and Tutsis, by holding accountable all perpetrators of massacres and genocide in the Great Lakes Region between 1994-97, and insuring to all of them a fair trial.
Ten years after the downing of former Rwandan President Habaryimana’s plane, which touched off the massacres of millions in the Great Lakes Region, only one side in the 1994 civil war in Rwanda has been prosecuted at the ICTR. Recent events require that the UN act quickly to avert future tragedies, by establishing a transparent, fair process at the ICTR.
- In August 2003 former ICTR Prosecutor Carla del Ponte was removed from office within weeks after announcing her intention to begin prosecuting both sides in the Rwanda War.
- In March 2004 French Judge Bruguière issued a finding that soldiers of present Rwandan government launched the missiles that brought down the plane.
- In March 2004, the UN announced that a mysterious plane’s “black box” was in storage in NY, after denying its existence for 10 years.
- In January 2004, UN General Romeo Dallaire’s ICTR testimony established that: the famous January 11 “genocide fax” disappeared from UN files and was replaced with a probable forgery; current Rwanda President Paul Kagame’s military strategy was to prevent the former Rwandan military from being able to stop the massacres, and victims were “collateral damage”; the US military attaché in Rwanda met daily with Kagame during the war.
- US journalist Wayne Madsen filed a report at the ICTR naming US-trained RPF and Ugandan soldiers, but the Prosecutor asked the Chamber to not hear his testimony.
The ADAD Resolution therefore, calls for the following actions by the UN and other parties committed to full reconciliation between the people of the Great Lakes Region.
ADAD:
- Invites the United Nations to respect its own Resolution of November 8, 1994 by establishing a system of impartial justice at the ICTR, which is the only way to achieve reconciliation and long-term peace in the Great Lakes Region
- Demands a formal, public inquiry into the downing of President Habyarimana’s plane and that those responsible be prosecuted.
- Demands that the Office of the ICTR Prosecutor end its policy of ethnic and political discrimination and that Hutu and Tutsi victims be treated equally.
- Demands that the UN appoint an impartial UN Reporter or investigator to probe the massacres in Rwanda and Zaire [Republic of the Congo] in 1994-1997 and extend the mandate of the ICTR to encompass crimes committed by all parties.
- Demands that the UN adhere to scrupulous impartiality by ending the special status accorded representatives of the present government of Rwanda at the ICTR, and the financing of Tutsi-only “survivor” groups, IBUKA and AVEGA.
- Demands that only the UN General assembly be empowered to establish or modify rules of procedure for the ICTR and that the principle of equity between the prosecution and defense be re-affirmed by giving the defense the means to accomplish its mission, which is necessary to the integrity of the Tribunal.
Prof. Peter Erlinder
ADAD’s advisor
in charge of Communication
Please also see:
Intl. Day of Reflection On The 1994 Genocide In Rwanda - 7 April '04
http://www.un.org/events/rwanda/
Marking 10 years since Rwanda genocide, UN officials voice regret and resolve http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=10344&Cr=rwanda&Cr1=
"We interrupt your self-indulgence"
http://www.yellowtimes.org/article.php?sid=1858
Dallaire Says the West Ignored Rwanda Because It Had No Strategic Resources
http://allafrica.com/stories/200404060740.html
US chose to ignore Rwandan genocide
Classified papers show Clinton was aware of 'final solution' to eliminate Tutsis
http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,12271,1182431,00.html
Rwanda: Legacy of 1994 genocide and war yet to be addressed
http://news.amnesty.org/mav/index/ENGAFR470092004
Rwanda: Conference Recommends Reparations Fund for Genocide Victims
http://allafrica.com/stories/200404070040.html
Ten years after the Rwanda genocide Never again?
http://www.iht.com/ihtsearch.php?id=513119&owner=(IHT)&date=20040404145919
Rwanda's growing faith: Islam
http://www.iht.com/articles/513696.html
International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda(ICTR)
http://www.ictr.org
PRESS RELEASE
DATE: 6 April 2004
CONTACT:
French : Me Pascal Besnier,
e-mail : besnierpascal@yahoo.fr
English :Prof. Peter Erlinder,
e-mail : adadsecretary@yahoo.com
ARUSHA, Tanzania – On April 3, The General Assembly of ADAD [the Association of Defence Lawyers at the ICTR] adopted by majority, a Resolution in commemoration of the tragic massacres of Rwandans that began ten years ago today. The ADAD Resolution urges the U.N. to make possible long-term reconciliation between Hutus and Tutsis, by holding accountable all perpetrators of massacres and genocide in the Great Lakes Region between 1994-97, and insuring to all of them a fair trial.
Ten years after the downing of former Rwandan President Habaryimana’s plane, which touched off the massacres of millions in the Great Lakes Region, only one side in the 1994 civil war in Rwanda has been prosecuted at the ICTR. Recent events require that the UN act quickly to avert future tragedies, by establishing a transparent, fair process at the ICTR.
- In August 2003 former ICTR Prosecutor Carla del Ponte was removed from office within weeks after announcing her intention to begin prosecuting both sides in the Rwanda War.
- In March 2004 French Judge Bruguière issued a finding that soldiers of present Rwandan government launched the missiles that brought down the plane.
- In March 2004, the UN announced that a mysterious plane’s “black box” was in storage in NY, after denying its existence for 10 years.
- In January 2004, UN General Romeo Dallaire’s ICTR testimony established that: the famous January 11 “genocide fax” disappeared from UN files and was replaced with a probable forgery; current Rwanda President Paul Kagame’s military strategy was to prevent the former Rwandan military from being able to stop the massacres, and victims were “collateral damage”; the US military attaché in Rwanda met daily with Kagame during the war.
- US journalist Wayne Madsen filed a report at the ICTR naming US-trained RPF and Ugandan soldiers, but the Prosecutor asked the Chamber to not hear his testimony.
The ADAD Resolution therefore, calls for the following actions by the UN and other parties committed to full reconciliation between the people of the Great Lakes Region.
ADAD:
- Invites the United Nations to respect its own Resolution of November 8, 1994 by establishing a system of impartial justice at the ICTR, which is the only way to achieve reconciliation and long-term peace in the Great Lakes Region
- Demands a formal, public inquiry into the downing of President Habyarimana’s plane and that those responsible be prosecuted.
- Demands that the Office of the ICTR Prosecutor end its policy of ethnic and political discrimination and that Hutu and Tutsi victims be treated equally.
- Demands that the UN appoint an impartial UN Reporter or investigator to probe the massacres in Rwanda and Zaire [Republic of the Congo] in 1994-1997 and extend the mandate of the ICTR to encompass crimes committed by all parties.
- Demands that the UN adhere to scrupulous impartiality by ending the special status accorded representatives of the present government of Rwanda at the ICTR, and the financing of Tutsi-only “survivor” groups, IBUKA and AVEGA.
- Demands that only the UN General assembly be empowered to establish or modify rules of procedure for the ICTR and that the principle of equity between the prosecution and defense be re-affirmed by giving the defense the means to accomplish its mission, which is necessary to the integrity of the Tribunal.
Prof. Peter Erlinder
ADAD’s advisor
in charge of Communication
Please also see:
Intl. Day of Reflection On The 1994 Genocide In Rwanda - 7 April '04
http://www.un.org/events/rwanda/
Marking 10 years since Rwanda genocide, UN officials voice regret and resolve http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=10344&Cr=rwanda&Cr1=
"We interrupt your self-indulgence"
http://www.yellowtimes.org/article.php?sid=1858
Dallaire Says the West Ignored Rwanda Because It Had No Strategic Resources
http://allafrica.com/stories/200404060740.html
US chose to ignore Rwandan genocide
Classified papers show Clinton was aware of 'final solution' to eliminate Tutsis
http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,12271,1182431,00.html
Rwanda: Legacy of 1994 genocide and war yet to be addressed
http://news.amnesty.org/mav/index/ENGAFR470092004
Rwanda: Conference Recommends Reparations Fund for Genocide Victims
http://allafrica.com/stories/200404070040.html
Ten years after the Rwanda genocide Never again?
http://www.iht.com/ihtsearch.php?id=513119&owner=(IHT)&date=20040404145919
Rwanda's growing faith: Islam
http://www.iht.com/articles/513696.html
International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda(ICTR)
http://www.ictr.org