Rwandan Genocide Trials Will Take 20 Years

October 28 2000 at 04:01PM

Kigali - The United Nations Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) will take at least 20 years to finish the cases of top Rwandan political and military leaders charged with genocide crimes, state-run Radio Rwanda quoted Carla del Ponte, the ICTR chief prosecutor, as saying Saturday.

Carla del Ponte who is on a working visit to Rwanda made the statement Friday while addressing a press briefing in Kigali, the radio said.

Del Ponte rebutted wide-spread criticism among Rwandans that the UN tribunal has been slow in trying the ringleaders of the former Hutu regime which orchestrated the 1994 genocide.

"It is not slow because three languages are used and the process needs to be thorough so that justice is achieved," del Ponte was quoted as saying.

At present, there are 43 genocide suspects in UN custody in Arusha, Tanzania, while 17 suspects under international arrest warrant are on the run.

Only one case, that of former Rwandan Prime Minister, Jean Kambanda, is finished. He has been sentenced to life imprisonment.

In Rwanda, over 120 000 suspects are crammed in prisons and are awaiting trials.

"The only weak point in our activities is the arrest of fugitives. It is not as easy as it used to be because they change their passports, they changes their names, and they are moving a lot," del Ponte told reporters.

As for trials, Del Ponte indicated that hearings could take place in Rwanda, but this would depend on the decision of the president and the judges.

It is notably the case of the media group which is now being heard in Arusha.

The Rwandan genocide claimed the lives of more than one million people, mostly ethnic Tutsis and opposition Hutus. - Sapa-DPA

Source: http://www.iol.co.za/html/frame_news.php?art_id=qw972741661230B265&set_id=19&click_id=68