Government seeks adjournment of Bagosora plea

The Rwandan government on Thursday asked that its plea to appear before the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICT) as an ‘amicus curiae’, or friend of the court, in the case against Colonel Theoneste Bagosora be adjourned, Internews service reported. In a letter to the court, the government asked that the plea not be listed for hearing at this time, but said it “reserved the right to bring up the matter at any other time,” the report said. Justice Minister Faustin Ntezilyayo had on 20 April requested that the ICTR allow it to appear to plead for “the restitution of property stolen, looted and taken away by the accused, to return the property or any proceeds derived from them to their real owners.” Rwanda alleges that Bagosora, and others co-accused, looted defence ministry records, assets and funds. Bagosora was an adviser to the defence ministry during the 1994 genocide and is regarded by Rwanda as one of its main architects.