The High Court on Thursday begun to hear in substance the case involving Bernard Munyagishari, one of the suspects referred to Rwanda by the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR).

The trial is being heard by the specialised chamber for international crimes at the High Court in Kigali.

Munyagishari, was according to his indictment, the commander of the Interahamwe militia in the former Gisenyi prefecture, the present-day Rubavu District.

At the beginning of the hearing, the suspect denounced the two lawyers assigned to him through the Rwanda Bar Association.

He said that the lawyers, Bruce Bikotwa and Jeanne d’Arc Umutesi should be disqualified.

Munyagishari said he should be assigned other lawyers, claiming the duo had had misunderstandings with their previous clients.

The suspect said that Bikotwa, who was defending another Genocide suspect Charles Bandora, had at one point been fined for coming to court late.

The lawyers, however, said what transpired in Bandora’s case should not arise in this particular case and insisted that they have always discharged their duties professionally.

They, however, accused their client, whom they represent as an indigent, of making it difficult for them to prepare the case.

It has become difficult for us to understand the case because of his lack of cooperation, the lawyers said.

Indigents have their legal services paid for by government.

"As you know, the case is criminal in nature and it requires constant communication with our client. However, our client never wants to communicate with us; which is why we shall need collaboration with prosecution to tell us what they have,” said Bikotwa.

The charges

As the case began in substance, John Bosco Mutangana, the prosecutor, said Munyagishari is accused of the Genocide; complicity in genocide; conspiracy to commit genocide, murder and rape as crimes against humanity during the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi.

He said that Munyagishari used his position at the national insurance company SONARWA office in Gisenyi town, to perpetuate genocidal ideology in the area.

"During the Genocide, Munyagishari was on different occasions seen brandishing machetes and guns and set up and manned roadblocks where many people were killed because they were Tutsi,” said Mutangana.

He said the suspect also played a role in the establishment of a roadblock along the border with DR Congo to prevent Tutsi from fleeing the massacres to the DR Congo.

"Munyagishari himself ordered Omar Serushago to supervise the killing of over 300 people who had sought refuge at Nyundo Catholic church,” said prosecutor.

Serushago was convicted by the ICTR but he later died in detention.

The accused is also said to have formed an infamous group of young militia called the Intarumikwa, whose primary task was to rape Tutsi women, both in Gisenyi town and in neighbouring areas.

The hearing was concluded by the court requesting prosecution to prepare the witnesses before the trial reconvenes on March 1.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw