Rwanda wants ICTR judge Meron to resign

Rwanda has called for the resignation of embattled president of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda Appeals Chamber Theodor Meron, who was recently accused of influencing court decisions by exerting undue influence on judges to let high-profile war crimes suspects go free. Speaking at a news briefing yesterday, the Executive Secretary of the National Commission for the Fight against Genocide (CNLG), Jean de Dieu Mucyo, said Rwanda’s concerns over the shock release or reduction of sentences of the masterminds of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi were confirmed with the latest development that faults Judge Meron. Last week, a confidential letter by a Danish judge, Frederik Harhoff that leaked to the media, revealed that Meron had exerted “persistent and intense” pressure on his fellow judges to allow suspects go free. Judge Meron acquitted Protais Zigiranyirazo in November 2009 and, recently, Justin Mugenzi and Prosper Mugiraneza, all senior officials of the genocidal regime. Meron and other judges also reversed convictions and reduced considerably the sentences of Col. Theoneste Bagosora–the mastermind of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi–and Lt. Col. Anatole Nsengiyumva. “At the moment, we are requesting for two things; we want Meron to step down from all business of the international tribunals and re-trials of all cases that he worked on or influenced the decisions of the judges,” Mucyo said. ICTR Spokesperson Roland Amoussouga declined to comment when contacted, saying he had not seen a request for resignation of Judge Meron from CNLG. But Mucyo said his office is focussed on putting together enough evidence to prove that Meron’s decisions were biased. Although Meron’s replacement can only be done by the UN Security Council, Mucyo believes mounting pressure might lead him to resign or the Council considering his replacement. The ICTR was established in 1994 to prosecute persons responsible for the Genocide and other serious violations of international humanitarian law committed in Rwanda or in neighbouring states in 1994. More than one million people lost their lives in the Genocide. The court has completed 72 cases; with 10 ending in acquittals, while 17 are pending appeals. Although the court will close business next year, Mucyo said if no action is taken on such malpractices, it would have “disastrous consequences for the current and future cases of international war crimes, for truth and justice in the world, for peace and tolerance, and for human rights and freedoms.” Dr Emmanuel Ugirashebuja, the dean of Law department at the National University of Rwanda, said the Security Council should initiate a probe into the accusations and the outcome of the investigation would determine the next step. “If it is discovered that Judge Meron influenced court decisions, then that would be miscarriage of justice. Meron, as well as all judges that succumbed to his pressure, would have to resign” Ugirashebuja said. So far, six former ministers who served on the interim government, led by Jean Kambanda, have been acquitted despite a guilty plea entered by Kambanda on the role of his government in the Genocide.