ICTRPublished by the Comm unicationNewsletter Cluster—ERSPS, Immediate Office of the Registrar United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda July-August 2010 UN Security Council Extends Terms of Office of ICTR Judges ICTR Judges, (Permanent, Appeals and Ad Litem), flanked by the Prosecutor Mr. H. B. Jallow (l) and Registrar Mr. A. Dieng (r) On 29 June 2010, the United Nations Judges who are members of the The Council further called upon Security Council agreed to extend Appeals Chamber were extended relevant UN bodies to work with the the terms of office of five permanent until 31 December 2012 or until the Tribunal to find solutions to address and nine ad litem Judges who are completion of the cases to which the problems of staff retention. members of the Trial Chambers until they are assigned, if sooner. Staffing constraints, as highlighted 31 December 2011 or completion of by the President in his last report to their assignments, if sooner. The The permanent Judges of the Trial the Security Council, are the major terms of office of the two permanent Chambers whose terms of office obstacle for the successful have been extended are Charles implementation of the Completion Contents Michael Dennis Byron (Saint Kitts Strategy. and Nevis), Khalida Rachid Khan (Pakistan), Arlette Ramaroson The Council took also note of the (Madagascar), William H. Sekule concerns raised by the ICTR Busy Schedule for ICTR Principals ..... 2 (United Republic of Tanzania) and President Judge Byron regarding the Visit of ICTY Registrar ......................... 3 Bakhtiyar Tuzmukhamedov (Russian report of the Prosecutor on the lack Federation). of cooperation of Kenya in the case ICTR Judicial Activities ........................ 3 of fugitive Félicien Kabuga, as well Townhall Meeting ................................ 5 The ad litem Judges are Aydin Sefa as the statement and pledge made Essays & Drawings Competition ......... 7 Akay (Turkey), Florence Rita Arrey by Kenya at the Security Council (Cameroon), Solomy Balungi Bossa meeting of 18 June 2010. The UN Day Celebrations Timetable .......... 7 (Uganda), Vagn Joensen Council reiterated its call on all (Denmark),Gberdao Gustave Kam states, especially the states of the (Burkina Faso), Lee Gacuiga Great Lakes Region, to intensify Editor-in-Chief: Roland Amoussouga Muthoga (Kenya), Seon Ki Park cooperation with and render all Senior Editor: Bocar Sy (Republic of Korea), Mparany Mamy necessary assistance to the Tribunal. Associate Editor: Danford Mpumilwa Richard Rajohnson (Madagascar) The Council in particular called upon Editing/Layout/Design/Photos: Rani Dogra Contributions: Charles Kamuru, Leontine and Emile Francis Short (Ghana). relevant states to increase their Mabika, Danford Mpumilwa, Maryann Nuna, efforts to bring Félicien Kabuga, Aissatou Soumare, Bocar Sy, Helge Zeitler, The Tribunal welcomes this decision Augustin Bizimana, Protais Mpiranya of the Security Council which will and other indictees of the E-Mail: [email protected] enable it to complete the remaining International Tribunal to justice. workload on trial and appeals level. ICTR Newsletter July-August 2010 A Busy Schedule for ICTR Principals While in Paris, the Registrar also met with Mr. Pierre Sane, Assistant Director General, of UNESCO. He also met with the co-Presidents of the Paris Bar, Mr. Jean Castelain and Mr. Jean-Yves Leborgne. The discussions were mainly on the strengthening of the cooperation between the ICTR and the Paris Bar, the pro-bono intervention of some lawyers of the Paris Bar in favour of some ICTR convicted persons who contemplate to seek a review of their judgement, and other issues of common interest. The Registrar held a meeting with officials of the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie (OIF) including M. Hugo Sada. The discussions were very fruitful. The Registrar thanked OIF for its support to the work of the ICTR and discussed the possibility of lending assistance to OIF assistance to francophone countries on international justice through training and capacity building. (from l-r) Mr. Dieng , Judge Byron, Mr. Ban Ki-Moon and Mr. Jallow Geneva: The Registrar met with Ms. Erika Feller, UNHCR Assistant Commissioner Protection and held extensive New York: From 11 to 17 June, President, Judge Dennis discussions on the long-standing issue pertaining to the Byron, accompanied in most cases by the Prosecutor, Mr. eligibility status as refugees of the ICTR acquitted persons. Hassan Bubacar Jallow and the Registrar, Mr. Adama The Registrar renewed his offer to organize a colloquium to Dieng, had high-level meetings with UN officials, including look into the new challenges facing the 1951 Convention of the Secretary-General, the Controller and the Legal Refugees in relation to international criminal justice. Counsel, as well as Member States representatives and the Security Council Informal Working Group on The Registrar met with Ms. Mona Rishmawi, in charge of International Tribunals. On 18 June, the President and the Rule of Law, OHCHR and discussed the contribution of Prosecutor addressed the Security Council with their six- both institutions in relation to the strengthening of the Rule monthly update on the Completion Strategy. of Law. It was agreed that ICTR will liaise with the Regional offices of the OHCHR in Africa to maximize the benefits of During their meetings, the Principals discussed, in addition the excellent cooperation between the two institutions. to the Completion Strategy, issues related to State cooperation, staffing, budget and residual matters. The Registrar met with Professor Yves Sandoz, member of the Executive Committee, ICRC and Dr. Anne-Marie Mr. Dieng also attended a meeting convened by the Larosa, Legal Adviser. They had discussions on the Security Council Working Group preparing ICTR’s cooperation between ICTR and ICRC. transition to the residual mechanism. Alongside the President and the Prosecutor, the Registrar met with the The Registrar paid a courtesy call on Mr. Hamadoun Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mr Ban Ki-Moon, Toure, Secretary-General of International who once again commended the work of the ICTR and Telecommunication Union (ITU) on 6 July 2010. During pledged his support for a smooth completion of the their meeting, the Registrar explored the possibility of mandate of ICTR. openings for staff of ICTR in light of the downsizing and completion strategy of the ICTR. In addition, the Registrar undertook the following missions : Paris: From 21-24 June 2010 the Registrar was in Paris where he met Ms. Edwige Belliard, Director of Legal Affairs in the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs. The discussions centered on cooperation issues. The Registrar expressed his warm thanks to the Government of France for its continuous support to ICTR. Mr. Dieng with ITU Secretary-General, Dr Hamadoun Touré ©ITU / V. Martin South Africa: Shortly upon his return from Europe, the Registrar was invited to the International Conference on Africa and the Future of International Criminal (from l-r) Mr. Jean-Yves Leborgne, Mr. Dieng & Mr. Jean Castelain Justice at Wits University in Johannesburg. After -2- ICTR Newsletter July-August 2010 delivering his speech, the Registrar visited the Munyakazi was found guilty of genocide and Headquarters of the Africa Office of the International extermination as a crime against humanity and Commission of Jurists along with Mr. Lovemore Munlo sentenced to 25 years’ imprisonment. Chief Justice of Malawi, former ICTR Deputy Registrar and Ms. Okali, ICTR Senior Trial Attorney representing 2. Trial Chamber II the Prosecutor. Ongoing trials While in South Africa, the Registrar met with the Chief of Justice of South Africa as well as the Deputy Ngirabatware Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs. On 18 March 2010, the Trial Chamber adjourned the proceedings for the completion of the Prosecution's ICTY Registrar Visits the ICTR and case-in-chief. On 15 July 2010, the Chamber ordered Rwanda that three witnesses be added to the Prosecution list. The Prosecution's case recommenced on 23 August 2010, after which the Chamber heard the evidence of The Registrar of the Tribunal, John Hocking, was on a these three witnesses, with one of them testifying by working visit to the International Criminal Tribunal for video-link. The Prosecution closed its case-in-chief on Rwanda (ICTR), in Tanzania and to Rwanda from 29 31 August 2010, and the Defence case-in-chief August - 30 August. remains scheduled to commence on 15 November 2010. During the reporting period, the Chamber issued In his first visit to the ICTR since his appointment as six written and three oral decisions. Registrar, Mr Hocking met with his counterpart, Mr Adama Dieng in Arusha, Tanzania. The two Registrars Trials in Judgement Drafting Phase discussed issues of common importance to the ad hoc Tribunals including cooperation, the completion Nyiramasuhuko et al. (“Butare”) strategy and the downsizing process as well as the The Chamber is involved in deliberations and Tribunals’ engagement with local communities. judgement drafting. From 30 August-2 September 2010, the Registrar Nidiliyimana et al. (“Military II”) visited Rwanda where he met with the Minister of Judgement drafting is in progress. Justice and judges of the Supreme and Higher Courts as well as with relevant nongovernmental and victims’ Bizimungu et al. organizations. Judgement drafting in the case is ongoing. Hategekimana Judgement drafting is in process. The Chamber issued one order. Kanyarukiga The Chamber is currently undertaking deliberations and judgement drafting. 3. Trial Chamber III Judgement Delivery ICTY Registrar, Mr. John Hocking during the ICTR's Outreach Workshop at Kagarama SSS in Kigali City Ntawukulilyayo On 3 August 2010, the Chamber, by a majority He visited the ICTR’s main office and the Information & composed of Judges Khan and Muthoga, convicted Documentation Centre (Umusanzu) in Kigali. He also Dominique Ntawukulilyayo sub-prefect of Gisagara sub visited the Gasabo Mini Information Centre, one of the -préfecture in Butare, of genocide and sentenced him ten Mini-Umusanzu Centres that the Tribunal has to 25 years of imprisonment. Judge Akay dissented.