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Statement of Dr. Andronico O. Adede, Registrar of the ICTR, announcing the Tribunal's first indictment

Ladies and Gentlemen of the Press:

In the last few weeks, Justice Richard J. Goldstone, the Prosecutor for the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, has had the occasion to mention to you that the Rwandan Tribunal's fIrst indictment was just around the corner, and that it would, in fact, be made public today, 12 December 1995. This press conference is arranged for that purpose -- to make the Rwandan Tribunal's first indictment public.

I therefore wish to confirm that the Prosecutor submitted to me, on 22 November 1995, the indictment in question containing evidence relating to the 8 accused. According to the Rules of Procedure and Evidence of the Tribunal, I, in turn, presented the indictment to one of the trial Judges of the Tribunal for review.

Judge Navanethem Pillay, sitting in her Chamber here at the Tribunal's Headquarters on 27 and 28 November 1995, reviewed and confirmed the indictment.

By her Order, signed on 28 November 1995, Judge Pillay, after consultation with the Prosecutor, directed that there shall be no disclosure of the identities of the accused, pursuant to Rule 53 (B) of the Rules of Procedure and Evidence of the Tribunal, until otherwise ordered by her.

However, I can make public to you the following facts:

The indictment covers 4 massacre sites which are all located in the Prefecture of Kibuye in the Republic of Rwanda. I will discuss each massacre site briefly.

The fIrst massacre site addressed in the indictment is the Catholic Church and Home St. Jean complex which is located in Kibuye town, Gitesi commune. The indictment charges that on or about 17 of April 1994 thousands of men, women and children were massacred at this site.

The second massacre site addressed in this indictment is the Stadium which is also located in Kibuye town, near the main traffic circle in town. Here again, the indictment charges that on or about the 18th and 19th of April 1994 thousands of men, women and children were massacred at this site. In addition, numerous men, women and children were injured.

The third massacre site addressed in this indictment is the Church in Mubuga, which is located in Gishyita Commune. The indictment charges that between the 14 and 17 of April 1994, thousands of men, women and children were killed at this site and numerous people injured.

The fourth and final massacre addressed in the indictment is located in the area of Bisesero. The area of Bisesero extends through two communes in the Prefecture of Kibuye: Gishyita and Gisovu. The indictment charges that attacks occurred almost on a daily basis in this area between 10 April and 30 June 1994, with a result that thousands of men, women and children were killed and numerous people injured.

For each of the four massacre sites just identified the indictment accuses from one to five individuals with the following crimes:

GENOCIDE, a violation of Article 2 (3) (a) of the Tribunal's Statute;

CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY, a violation of Article 3 (a) (murder) of the Tribunal's Statute;

CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY, a violation of Article 3 (b) (extermination) of the Tribunal's Statute;

CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY, a violation of Article 3 (i) (other inhumane .acts) of the Tribunal's Statute;

A VIOLA TION OF ARTICLE 3 COMMON TO THE GENEV A CONVENTIONS, a violation of Article 4 (a) of the Tribunal's Statute.

In addition, the indictment accuses each of the 8 individuals with Conspiracy to commit Genocide, a violation of Article 2 (3) (b) of the Tribunal's Statute. The indictment alleges that it was this conspiracy which led to the 4 massacres causing literally, the death of tens of thousands of men, women and children.

Ladies and gentlemen, I would also like to make public the fact that the warrants of arrest of the 8 accused were also signed by Judge Pillay on;28 November and have now been translated into the two working languages of our Tribunal arid will shortly be transmitted to the governments in whose territories we believe the accused are residing.

I thank you for attending.

For information only - Not an official document

UN-ICTR External Relations and Communication Outreach Unit
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