Hirondelle News Agency (Lausanne)
26 May 2004
Kigali — Roland Amoussouga, the head of delegation of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) visiting Rwanda's prisons has told the Hirondelle Agency that they were in Kigali "to inspect the facilities they (Rwanda) have identified to see if they meet basic UN standards".
The delegation of experts who arrived from Arusha Monday is in Rwanda on a mission to assess the conditions at a prison set aside by the country to host convicts from the ICTR. On Tuesday and Wednesday the delegation went to Mpanga prison, in the central province of Gitarama built specially to receive some of the ICTR's detainees.
"We are here to inspect the facilities they (Rwanda) have identified to see if they meet basic UN standards", Roland Amoussouga who is also chief of external relations of the ICTR told Hirondelle. "We will also assess whether they need any help from us regarding the prison," he add. Until now, all those convicted by the ICTR have been sent to Mali to serve their sentences. Mali is one of six countries that have agreed to hold convicts of the ICTR. Special cells have been constructed there, according to UN standards. The ICTR statute mentions that convicts can be sent to Rwanda or any other country.
Rwandan officials have consistently complained that the ICTR has not brought any of those convicted of participating in the 1994 genocide to serve their sentences in Rwanda.
Earlier this year, Rwanda complained to the ICTR about the issue. Rwandan Deputy Attorney General, Martin Ngoga said that Rwanda was being denied its "statutory right" to hold the convicts. However, Amoussouga says that the ICTR's mission to Rwanda is not a result of any pressure from the Rwandan government. "This is a normal procedure for any country willing to host convicts. We started the process with the Rwandan government earlier this year", he said. "There was no pressure from anyone", he added.
Amoussouga could not put a time frame on when the first convicts would be brought to Rwanda if the country fulfilled the required standards.
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