Man Accused Of Running ‘Hate Speech Radio’ Before Rwanda Genocide Arraigned In UN Court
A Rwandan businessman, Felicien Kabuga(85), was arraigned before the United Nations (UN) court, in Hague, over roles he allegedly played in the 1994 genocide in the country.
He appeared before Judge Iain Bonomy of the UN Court.
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Prosecutors for the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda had filed a 5 count charges bordering on genocide, against Kabuga.
Reuters reports that he was accused of running a hate speech radio station known as Radio Télévision Libre des Mille Collines (RTLM), which allegedly sponsored ethnic hatred between Hutus and Tutsis people leading to widespread killings.
At the hearing, the judge asked Kabuga to enter a plea in light of the allegations.
But his counsel, Emmanuel Altit, told the judge that his client was sick, adding that his non-response should be considered as a not guilty plea.
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“We have talked about this with Mr Kabuga before the hearing and he does not wish to answer in these conditions. I would appreciate it if you would consider his non-response as a plea of not guilty,” lawyer said on Wednesday.
Subsequently, the judge granted his prayers while directing that Kabuga should be given medical attention.
According to a UN report, seen by THE WHISTLER: “Approximately 800,000 people were killed during the 1994 genocide in Rwanda. Rwandans killed Rwandans, brutally decimating the Tutsi population of the country, but also targeting moderate Hutus. Appalling atrocities were committed, by militia and the armed forces, but also by civilians against other civilians.”
