Simon Bikindi, a well-known Rwandan composer and singer of popular music and director of the performance group Irindiro Ballet was on 27 March 2002, transferred from The Netherlands to the Tribunal in Arusha, Tanzania to answer charges linking him with the 1994 genocide in Rwanda. The accused is being held at the UN Detention Facility.

Bikindi, 48, is charged with six counts of conspiracy to commit genocide, genocide, or in the alternative, complicity in genocide, direct and public incitement to commit genocide, and crimes against humanity for murder and persecution.

The accused, who was also an official in Ministry of Youth and Sports and a member of the MRND political party in 1994, is alleged, inter alia, to have composed and performed songs which mobilised and incited the Interahamwe militia and civilians to kill and destroy Tutsis.

He is also alleged to have participated with others in planning, instigating and preparing the killing of Tutsis apart from playing a major role in recruiting and training the Interahamwe to commit the crimes.

Bikindi was arrested in Leiden, The Netherlands, by the Dutch authorities at the request of the Tribunal. The accused will shortly make his initial appearance before a Judge of the Tribunal to answer the charges preferred against him.