Date set for hate media trial

A founding member of the extremist Radio Television Libre des Mille Collines (RTLM), Jean-Bosco Barayagwiza, on Tuesday declined to plead to three new counts brought against him by the prosecutor of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR). According to an ICTR press statement, Barayagwiza - who is also former director of political affairs in the foreign ministry - refused to recognise the defence counsel assigned to him by the Tribunal. However, setting aside his objections, Judge Navanthem Pillay entered a plea of not guilty to each of the new counts on his behalf. The new charges include crimes against humanity and serious violations of the Geneva conventions. Last month, the Appeals Court reversed its earlier decision to release Barayagwiza on procedural grounds, following new facts presented by the prosecutor. Meanwhile, the joint trial of ringleaders of the Rwandan hate media campaign is due to start on 5 June at the ICTR, the Hirondelle news agency reported. The accused include former RTLM director Ferdinand Nahimana, former editor of the extremist 'Kangura' newspaper Hassan Ngeze, and Jean-Bosco Barayagwiza.