Rwanda is ready to try Genocide suspect Ladislas Ntaganzwa before its special court for international crimes, the Prosecutor-General has said.

Richard Muhumuza yesterday told The New Times that Ntaganzwa was still in custody in DR Congo, awaiting transfer to the custody of the National Public Prosecution Authority (NPPA) in Rwanda.

"NPPA is prepared to prosecute Ntaganzwa before the specialised International Crimes Chamber of the High Court for the crimes he is accused of,” he said.

According to the indictment the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) made against Ntaganzwa in 1996, he participated in a plan to exterminate Tutsi population in his commune of Nyakizu from late 1990 to July 1994.

The plan included the fuelling of racial hatred and violence, training and armament of paramilitary units, and compilation of lists of people to be eliminated.

He is also accused of organising and ordering massacres that he participated in personally.

"As mayor and MRND chairman for Nyakizu Commune, Ntaganzwa is accused of participating in genocide, direct and public incitement to commit genocide, and extermination, murder and rape as crimes against humanity,” Muhumuza said.

During the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, Ntaganzwa was the mayor of Nyakizu commune in former Butare Prefecture and also headed the then ruling party MRND (National Republican Movement for Democracy and Development) in the commune.

His arrest in DR Congo was announced on Wednesday by Judge Hassan Bubacar Jallow, the prosecutor of ICTR and the Mechanism for International Criminal Tribunal.

Judge Jallow shared the news while addressing reporters following a Security Council open debate on ICTR and the International Criminal Tribunal of the Former Yugoslavia.

‘Arrest terrific news’

The head of Ibuka, the umbrella body of Genocide survivors’ associations, Jean Pierre Dusingizemungu, welcomed the arrest of Ntaganzwa and called for his extradition to face justice.

"Ntaganzwa’s arrest is terrific news. It shows that it’s possible to arrest all the wanted Genocide fugitives if leaders in different countries have political will to do so,” he told The New Times.

Dusingizemungu said Rwanda is the best place to try Ntaganzwa because it’s safe for witnesses to testify for and against anyone and that the Rwandan justice system has been effective in fairly trying Genocide suspects.

"There is no reason why he shouldn’t be extradited to Rwanda. The country is able to try these people (Genocide suspects) and we are afraid if he is tried somewhere else they may not deeply understand what he did. He should be tried where he committed the crimes (Rwanda) and justice institutions here are effective,” he said.

Ntaganzwa is one of the nine fugitives sought by ICTR for their involvement in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi and one of the six Genocide suspects indicted by the court whose cases were transferred to Rwanda for trial.

Other top Genocide fugitives sought by ICTR but to be tried by the Mechanism for International Criminal Tribunal once captured are Félicien Kabuga, the alleged chief financier of the Genocide; Protais Mpiranya, the former commandant of the notorious Presidential Guards; and former defence minister Augustin Bizimana.

With Ntaganzwa in custody, other prominent suspects who remain on the run and whose cases have been transferred to Rwanda by ICTR are Fulgence Kayishema, Pheneas Munyarugarama, Aloys Ndimbati, Charles Rwandikayo and Charles Sikubwabo.

For the arrest or information leading to arrest of any of the nine fugitives, the US pledged $5 million reward. editorial@newtimes.co.rw