The International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) will deliver judgement and sentencing in two separate cases before the Tribunal in the first week of September 1998 at the seat of the Tribunal in Arusha, Tanzania. Judgement in the trial of Mr. Jean-Paul Akayesu, former bourgmestre (district mayor) of Taba commune in the Gitarama Prefecture of Rwanda, will be rendered on Wednesday, 2 September at 9:30 a.m. Akayesu is charged with genocide, crimes against humanity and violations of Article 3 common to the Geneva Conventions. He pleaded not guilty to all the charges against him.

The pre-sentencing hearing of Mr. Jean Kambanda, the former Prime Minister of Rwanda, is scheduled for Thursday, 3 September, at 9:30 a.m. (This new schedule supercedes the previously fixed date of 31 August 1998). Kambanda will be sentenced by the Tribunal the following day, 4 September 1998, at 9:30 a.m. He had pleaded guilty to six counts of genocide and crimes against humanity during his initial appearance before the Tribunal on 1 May 1998. Both proceedings will be public.

Judgement in Akayesu will be the first for the crime of genocide by an international tribunal anywhere in the world. Similarly making history, Kambanda's guilty plea to genocide charges was the first time anyone had pleaded guilty to genocide before an international tribunal.

Media Advisory

Representatives of the world press are invited to cover these events scheduled for 2-4 September. Members of the press are advised to contact the Tribunal's Press and Public Affairs Unit for accreditation by completing and returning the form below by Thursday 27 August 1998.

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WILL BRING EDIT VAN

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WILL BRING SATELLITE UP LINK TRUCK

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No

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