Editor, This is a response to the story, “ICTR speaks out on Genocide cases in France”, (The New Times, February 21).With all due respect to the Honourable Registrar of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR), Christopher Bongani Majola, I do wish to suggest one additional clarification. Mr Majola, in his commentary, appears to say that France delayed in addressing matters related to “monitoring” the cases transferred by the ICTR as this was not provided for under French statutes or regulations. It should be noted that a statute concerning the appointment of a monitor in Rwanda did not exist in that country either at that time that the Uwinkindi case was transferred there. Nevertheless, this transfer took place and has been handled with success by Rwanda up to the present time. The ICTR transferred the case to France in 2007. Five years have passed. Had Rwanda not taken action on this matter, would France have waited indefinitely? The appointment of “monitors” for cases transferred by the ICTR does, in fact, lie within the discretion of the court.Iliza, Brussels, Belgium
