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THE PROSECUTOR V. Simon BIKINDI JUDGEMENT International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda Tribunal pénal international pour le Rwanda UNITED NATIONS NATIONS UNIES Original: English TRIAL CHAMBER III Before Judges: Inés Mónica Weinberg de Roca, Presiding Florence Rita Arrey Robert Fremr Registrar: Adama Dieng Judgement of: 2 December 2008 THE PROSECUTOR v. Simon BIKINDI Case No. ICTR-01-72-T JUDGEMENT Counsel for the Prosecution Counsel for the Defence William T. Egbe Andreas O’Shea Veronic Wright Jean de Dieu Momo Patrick Gabaake Peter Tafah Iain Morley Sulaiman Khan Amina Ibrahim Disengi Mugeyo The Prosecutor v. Simon Bikindi, Case No. ICTR-01-72-T TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER I: INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................. 1 1. THE TRIBUNAL AND ITS JURISDICTION ................................................................................ 1 2. THE ACCUSED ..................................................................................................................... 1 3. THE INDICTMENT ................................................................................................................ 1 4. SUMMARY OF PROCEDURAL HISTORY ................................................................................ 2 5. OVERVIEW OF THE CASE ..................................................................................................... 2 CHAPTER II: FACTUAL FINDINGS……………………………………………..…………3 1. PRELIMINARY MATTERS ...................................................................................................... 3 1.1. Allegations on which Evidence was not Presented .................................................... 3 1.2. Alleged Defects in the Indictment ............................................................................. 3 1.3. Alibi ........................................................................................................................... 6 1.4. Temporal Jurisdiction ................................................................................................ 7 1.5. Evaluation of Evidence .............................................................................................. 7 2. WELL-KNOWN COMPOSER, SINGER AND LEADER OF THE IRINDIRO BALLET .................... 10 3. COLLABORATION WITH GOVERNMENT FIGURES, MRND AND CDR PARTIES .................. 12 3.1. Collaboration with President Habyarimana ............................................................. 13 3.2. Collaboration with Minister of Youth and Association Movements ....................... 13 3.3. Collaboration with National Leaders of the MRND ................................................ 15 3.4. Conducting MRND Membership Drives ................................................................. 18 3.5. Performing at MRND and CDR Political Gatherings .............................................. 20 3.6. Conclusion ............................................................................................................... 22 4. RELATIONSHIP WITH INTERAHAMWE .................................................................................. 22 4.1. Association with Interahamwe Leading Figures ..................................................... 22 4.2. Participation in Recruitment and Military Training of Interahamwe ...................... 23 4.3. Authority over the Interahamwe .............................................................................. 24 4.4. Conclusion ............................................................................................................... 26 5. RELATIONSHIP WITH RTLM AND RADIO RWANDA ........................................................... 26 5.1. Background to RTLM .............................................................................................. 26 5.2. Collaboration with RTLM and Radio Rwanda ........................................................ 28 5.3. Conclusion ............................................................................................................... 29 6. PARTICIPATION IN POLITICAL GATHERINGS ...................................................................... 30 6.1. Participation in Public Gatherings as a Prelude to or Motivating Factor in Anti- Tutsi Violence ...................................................................................................................... 30 6.1.1 MRND Meeting in Umuganda Stadium in Gisenyi, mid-late June 1994 ........ 30 6.1.2 Meeting in Kivumu, 1993 ................................................................................ 33 6.1.3 Other Political Gatherings................................................................................ 36 6.1.3.1 CDR Meeting at MRND Palais in Kigali, early 1994 ................................. 36 6.1.3.2 Demonstration in Kigali, early 1994 ............................................................ 37 6.1.3.3 Rally in Cyasemakamba, 1994 .................................................................... 37 6.1.3.4 Rally in Nyamirambo Stadium in Kigali, early 1994 .................................. 38 6.1.3.5 MRND Rally in Nyamirambo Stadium in Kigali, 7 November 1993 ......... 38 6.1.3.6 Rally in Rubavu, 1993 ................................................................................. 39 6.1.3.7 MRND Meeting at MRND Palais in Gisenyi, 1993 .................................... 39 The Prosecutor v. Simon Bikindi, Case No. ICTR-01-72-T 6.1.3.8 Rally in Ruhengeri, 1992 ............................................................................. 41 6.1.3.9 Rally at Umuganda Stadium in Gisenyi, 1992............................................. 41 6.2. Bikindi’s Specific Exhortations to “Work” ............................................................. 42 6.2.1 MRND Rally at Umuganda Stadium in Gisenyi, February 1994 .................... 42 6.2.2 CDR Meeting, March 1994.............................................................................. 43 6.3. Conclusion ............................................................................................................... 43 7. SONGS ............................................................................................................................... 44 7.1. Meaning and Interpretation of the Songs ................................................................. 44 7.1.1 Preliminary Matters ......................................................................................... 44 7.1.1.1 Titles ............................................................................................................ 44 7.1.1.2 Translations .................................................................................................. 45 7.1.1.3 Dates Composed .......................................................................................... 46 7.1.1.4 Score and Background Music ...................................................................... 46 7.1.1.5 Poetic Language ........................................................................................... 47 7.1.1.6 Other Songs .................................................................................................. 48 7.1.2 Twasezereye, Nanga Abahutu, and Bene Sebahinzi ......................................... 49 7.1.2.1 Twasezereye ................................................................................................. 50 7.1.2.2 Nanga Abahutu ............................................................................................ 52 7.1.2.3 Bene Sebahinzi ............................................................................................. 56 7.1.3 Conclusion ....................................................................................................... 59 7.2. Deployment of the Songs ......................................................................................... 62 7.3. Conclusion ............................................................................................................... 64 8. USE OF PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEM ON VEHICLE ................................................................ 64 8.1. Road between Kivumu and Kayove, June 1994 ...................................................... 65 8.2. Kigali, 1993.............................................................................................................. 69 8.3. Conclusion ............................................................................................................... 69 9. ATTACKS AND KILLINGS ................................................................................................... 70 9.1. Killings at the Gisenyi Prison .................................................................................. 70 9.2. Killing of Gasasira ................................................................................................... 74 9.3. Killing of Karasira ................................................................................................... 76 9.4. Incident at Rugerero Roadblock and Killings in Nyamyumba ................................ 79 9.5. Rape and Killing of Ancilla ..................................................................................... 84 9.6. Killings at Camp Scout ............................................................................................ 87 9.7. Killing of Three Tutsi Women at Commune rouge ................................................. 89 9.8. Sexual Violence against Tutsi Women in Rubavu .................................................. 90 10. EXILE IN ZAIRE ............................................................................................................
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