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Belgian envoy comes in defence of ex-Rwanda FM
2008-01-30 09:29:08
By Guardian Correspondent, Arusha
Genocide suspect and former Rwandan foreign minister Jerome Bicamumpaka wanted to restore peace in his country which was devastated by war and massacres, a Belgian diplomat told the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) here on Monday.
Prosecuted for genocide and crimes against humanity, Bicamumpaka (51) was his country`s top diplomat in the interim Rwandan government from April to July 1994. He has pleaded not guilty.
The defence witness, Jean Ghiste, was a diplomat in neighbouring Burundi in April 1994. He had been representing the French-speaking Belgian community in both Rwanda and Burundi since December 1992.
The Belgian told the UN court that he had met Bicamumpaka in Bujumbura on April 16 and 17, 1994. On April 16, Bicamumpaka had represented his country at the funeral services for Burundian President Cyprien Ntaryamira, killed in a plane crash with his Rwandan counterpart Juvenal Habyarimana ten days earlier. The crash, believed to have been caused by an attack on the plane, sparked the genocide in Rwanda.
Ghiste said that on April 17, he had discussed at length with Bicamumpaka the political situation which prevailed in Rwanda at the time.
``What he said to me was completely related to the support of the international community, in particular of the Belgian community, to negotiate with the RPF and to put an end to the hostilities and massacres which were in progress,`` he testified.
He had observed in the former minister ``a will to support the international community and to have contacts, which appeared difficult at that time``, Ghiste said, adding that he had noticed in Bicamumpaka a feeling of impotence owing to the fact that the interim government, of which he was member, was isolated.
Bicamumpaka is on trial alongside three of his colleagues who were in the interim government. Their trial started in November 2003.
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