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Rwanda genocide 'kingpin' jailed Rwanda genocide 'kingpin' jailed
(40 minutes later)
Former army colonel Theoneste Bagosora has been convicted of instigating Rwanda's 1994 genocide by a UN tribunal and sentenced to life in prison. Former army colonel Theoneste Bagosora has been convicted by a UN tribunal of instigating Rwanda's 1994 genocide and sentenced to life in prison.
Bagosora and two co-defendants were found to have led a committee of Hutu extremists that plotted the massacre of ethnic Tutsis and moderate Hutus.Bagosora and two co-defendants were found to have led a committee of Hutu extremists that plotted the massacre of ethnic Tutsis and moderate Hutus.
It is the first time the Rwanda tribunal has convicted anyone of organising the killings.It is the first time the Rwanda tribunal has convicted anyone of organising the killings.
More than 800,000 people were killed in Rwanda's genocide.More than 800,000 people were killed in Rwanda's genocide.
RWANDA'S 1994 GENOCIDE 6 April: Rwandan Hutu President Habyarimana killed when plane shot down April-July: An estimated 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus killed July: Tutsi-led rebel movement RPF captures Rwanda's capital KigaliJuly: Two million Hutus flee to Zaire, now DR Congo class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/3594187.stm">Rwanda's 100 days of genocide Along with Bagosora, former military commanders Anatole Nsegiyumva and Alloys Ntabakuze were also found guilty of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes, and given life sentences.
Along with Bagosora, former military commanders Anatole Nsegiyumva and Alloys Ntabakuze were also found guilty of genocide and given life sentences. RWANDA'S 1994 GENOCIDE 6 April: Rwandan Hutu President Habyarimana killed when plane shot downApril-July: An estimated 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus killedJuly: Tutsi-led rebel movement RPF captures Rwanda's capital KigaliJuly: Two million Hutus flee to Zaire, now DR Congo class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/3594187.stm">Rwanda's 100 days of genocide Bagosora, 67, and the two senior military officers were found to have organised, trained and armed the Interahamwe militia, which was responsible for most of the killing.
According to the indictment at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR), based in Tanzania, Bagosora and the two senior military officers all conspired to "work out a plan with intent to exterminate the civilian Tutsi population and eliminate members of the opposition". They were also responsible for drawing up a list of Tutsis and moderate Hutus who opposed their vision of an ethnically pure Rwanda.
The tribunal rejected the defence's argument that the killing was not organised, and therefore not genocide. The International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR), based in Tanzania, rejected the defence's argument that the killing was not organised, and therefore not genocide.
Brigadier Gratien Kabiligi, the former chief of military operations, who was on trial with Bagosora and the two other men, was cleared of all charges and ordered to be released from custody immediately.Brigadier Gratien Kabiligi, the former chief of military operations, who was on trial with Bagosora and the two other men, was cleared of all charges and ordered to be released from custody immediately.
In another verdict on Thursday, the Rwandan court sentenced Protais Zigiranyirazo, 57, to 20 years in jail for his part in the genocide. In another verdict on Thursday, the tribunal sentenced Protais Zigiranyirazo, 57, to 20 years in jail for his part in the genocide.
Mr Zigiranyirazo, a brother-in-law of former President Juvenal Habyarimana, was accused of ordering Hutus to kill 48 people in two incidents.Mr Zigiranyirazo, a brother-in-law of former President Juvenal Habyarimana, was accused of ordering Hutus to kill 48 people in two incidents.
'Principal enemy''Principal enemy'
Bagosora, 67, has been in custody since 1996, when he was arrested in Cameroon. The sentences will be welcomed by the government in Rwanda, which has come to regard the tribunal as a key part of the process of justice and reconciliation, says the BBC's Peter Greste.
The prosecution said he played a key role in plotting to exterminate the Tutsis and moderate Hutus, and that he also set up the Interahamwe - gangs of Hutu extremists who carried out much of the slaughter. Bagosora has been in custody since 1996, when he was arrested in Cameroon.
Prosecutors said Bagosora assumed control of military and political affairs in Rwanda when President Habyarimana's plane was shot down in 1994 - the catalyst for the genocide.Prosecutors said Bagosora assumed control of military and political affairs in Rwanda when President Habyarimana's plane was shot down in 1994 - the catalyst for the genocide.
He is said to have distributed the arms and machetes that became the chief tools of the genocide. However, the indictment alleges that he set out to "prepare the apocalypse" as far back as 1990.
BAGOSORA TRIAL Theoneste Bagosora on trial with three others409 trial days30,000 pages of transcripts242 witnesses heard1,600 exhibits300 written decisionsMost material translated into French, English and Kinyarwanda Profile: Col Theoneste Bagosora BAGOSORA TRIAL Theoneste Bagosora on trial with three others409 trial days30,000 pages of transcripts242 witnesses heard1,600 exhibits300 written decisionsMost material translated into French, English and Kinyarwanda Profile: Col Theoneste Bagosora The following year, Bagosora helped draft a document circulated within the army that described Tutsis as "the principal enemy".
The indictment alleges that he set out to "prepare the apocalypse" as far back as 1990. Canadian General Romeo Dallaire, head of UN peacekeepers in Rwanda at the time, described Mr Bagosora as the "kingpin" behind the genocide.
The following year, Bagosora helped draft a document circulated within the army that described Tutsis as "the principal enemy". Gen Dallaire wrote in his memoirs that Bagosora was a "known extremist" who "controlled - as well as anyone could - the genocidal militia".
Canadian General Romeo Dallaire, head of UN peacekeepers in Rwanda at the time, described Mr Bagosora as the "kingpin" behind the genocide and said the colonel had threatened to kill him with a pistol. Bagosora introduced militia leaders to Gen Dallaire when the UN commander thought it might help save lives to meet them.
The trial, which began in 2002, was expected to last two years. The tribunal is due to wind up at the end of 2009. After talking to the militia leaders, one of whom had blood stains on his shirt, Gen Dallaire wrote that he felt he had "shaken hands with the devil".
At their last meeting on Rwandan soil, in 1994, Bagosora said the next time he saw the Canadian general, he would kill him.
In fact, the next time they saw each other in person was in tribunal's courtroom when Gen Dallaire testified for the prosecution against Bagosora.
The trial, which began in 2002, was expected to last two years.
The tribunal, which has made 33 convictions and five acquittals, due to wind up next year.
The effects of the genocide are still being felt in the region, in particular across the border in DR Congo.The effects of the genocide are still being felt in the region, in particular across the border in DR Congo.
Some of the Hutu militias involved in the genocide fled to DR Congo, where Tutsi rebels, allegedly with some Rwandan backing, refuse to lay down their arms, saying they are being attacked by the Hutu fighters.Some of the Hutu militias involved in the genocide fled to DR Congo, where Tutsi rebels, allegedly with some Rwandan backing, refuse to lay down their arms, saying they are being attacked by the Hutu fighters.
Some 300,000 people have fled their homes in DR Congo this year because of this conflict.Some 300,000 people have fled their homes in DR Congo this year because of this conflict.
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