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UN tribunal sentences ex-minister to life in prison over 1994 Rwandan genocide


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UN tribunal sentences ex-minister to life in prison over 1994 Rwandan genocide

2011-06-24 22:59:58 GMT+7 (ICT)

ARUSHA, TANZANIA (BNO NEWS) -- The United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) on Friday sentenced a former minister to life imprisonment for genocide and other crimes against humanity; the first woman to be convicted for the 1994 Rwandan genocide.

Pauline Nyiramasuhuko, former Minister of Family and Women's Development, was convicted for conspiracy to commit genocide, genocide, crimes against humanity (extermination, rape, and persecution), and serious violations of the Geneva Conventions and of Additional Protocol II thereto (violence to life, and outrages upon personal dignity).

The former minister was found guilty of crimes in the so-called Butare case. According to the documents shown in court, Nyiramasuhuko ordered the killing of many Tutsis who were taking refugee in Butare prefecture.

Nyiramasuhuko was born in 1946 in Butare and was arrested in Kenya on July 18, 1997. The UN-backed Trial Chamber also sentenced her son, Arsene Shalom Ntahobali, a former student, and Elie Ndayambaje, a former Bourgmestre of Muganza to life in prison.

Ntahobali was sentenced on the same charges as his mother while Ndayambaje was found guilty of genocide, direct and public incitement to commit genocide, crimes against humanity (extermination and persecution) and violating the Geneva Conventions.

Three other individuals were sentenced also on Friday. Sylvan Nsabimana, former Prefect of Butare, received a 25-year prison term; Alphonse Nteziryayo, a former Lieutenant Colonel in the Rwanda Armed Forces was sentenced to 30 years in prison; and Alphonse Nteziryayo, a former Lieutenant Colonel in the Rwanda Armed Forces was also sentenced to 30 years.

The sentences were handed by the Trial Chamber II composed of Judges William Sekule, presiding, Arlette Ramaroson and Solomy Balungi Bossa. The ICTR is a UN court set up after the 1994 genocide in Rwanda and based in Arusha, Tanzania.

On May 17, the ICTR sentenced Augustin Bizimungu, former Rwandan Army chief to 30 years in prison for genocide, crimes against humanity, murder, rape and other war crimes.

Prosecutors said Bizimungu was instrumental in the organization of the Rwandan genocide, in which an estimated 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus were slain in less than 100 days starting in April 1994.

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-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2011-06-24

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