Before the end of this week Jean Uwinkindi currently in custody of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR), will be transferred to Rwanda for trial.
His transfer date will not exceed 19th April. Uwinkindi is charged with genocide and extermination.
On April 5, 2012, the President of the Tribunal, Judge Vagn Joensen, ruled that Uwinkindi should be transferred to Rwanda “within 14 days of the filing of this decision” and instructed the Registrar to “make all other necessary arrangements.”
“The President directs the Registrar to immediately begin discussions with Rwanda to determine what is necessary to effect transfer of Uwinkindi,” reads the decision.
The President has also directed the Registrar to appoint ICTR Legal Staff that would be chosen in consultation with him to act as “interim monitor” upon the transfer of the accused and until the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights (ACHPR) or other organization is appointed as monitor.
The Registrar has been directed to immediately resume negotiations with the ACHPR with the goal of expeditiously conclude an agreement for the monitoring of the trial and promptly inform him in the event of any further difficulties, so that he could assist in the process or decide otherwise.
A Referral Chamber at ICTR approved on June 28, 2011 the transfer of Uwinkindi to Rwanda and ordered the appointment of ACHPR as monitoring body for his trial. The decision was confirmed on appeal on December 16, 2011.
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