Ngoga, UN disagree on post-ICTR ‘mechanism’

Following the decision by the UN to establish a residual mechanism to carry on cases being handled by international criminal tribunals, Rwandan officials have disagreed with the decision, saying the mechanism is not necessary. The residual mechanism, was established to take over cases from UN international tribunals, including the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR), whose mandate runs out at the end of next year. According to the Prosecutor General, Martin Ngoga, there would not have been any need for the extension of international tribunals in the form of a mechanism. “As far as Rwanda is concerned, we shall cooperate with the mechanism in the same way we have been cooperating with the ICTR,” Ngoga said, Monday. “The point is no longer whether the mechanism was a necessary option vis-a-vis other options, more particularly full closure of the international tribunals and handover to national jurisdictions, rather that the decision to establish the mechanism is already taken and we have to live with it.” Rwanda has for years been vying to take over - from the Tanzania-based tribunal - the cases that will remain after the tribunal closes down, but the efforts are yet to bear fruits. “If national jurisdictions were to take over and be fully politically and logistically supported, there would not have been any need for the extension of international tribunals in the form of a mechanism.” The International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (IRMCT), under UN resolution 1966 (2010), concerns the work of the ICTR, with effect from July 1, and on the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) which commences on July 1, 2013. According to the statute establishing the mechanism, it will operate for the first four years which may be renewed for a two year period until all cases are dealt with. Ends

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Ngoga, UN disagree on post-ICTR ‘mechanism’