Ladies and Gentlemen of the Press,

I wish to announce that the Prosecutor submitted to me, on February 13, 1996, two indictments setting forth charges against Georges Anderson Rutaganda and Jean Paul Akayesu. Both men are currently in the custody of Zambian authorities.

On February 15th I presented the indictments to Judge William H. Sekule who reviewed and confirmed the indictments the following day, February 16th. The confirmation establishes that the Prosecutor has set forth in the indictment a prima facie case against the accused. A summary of the charges is as follows:

Georges Rutaganda was a businessman and served as second vice president of the National Committee of Interahamwe, the youth wing of the MRND, the party of former President Habyarimana. He is alleged to have participated in the massacres of Tutsis at the ETO school in Kigali and at a gravel pit in Nyanza on or about April 11, 1994. Furthermore, he is charged with having been involved with the murders of several people committed near the Amgar garage in Kigali.

For these purported actions, Georges Rutaganda has been charged with:

GENOCIDE, punishable by Article 2(3)(a) of the Statute of the Tribunal;

CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY (extermination) punishable by Article 3(b) of the Statute of the Tribunal;

CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY (murder) punishable by Article 3(a) of the Statute of the Tribunal (3 counts);

VIOLATIONS OF ARTICLE 3 COMMON TO THE GENEVA CONVENTIONS, as incorporated by Article 4(a) murder, of the Statute of the Tribunal (3 counts).

Jean Paul Akayesu was the bourgemestre of Taba commune in Gitarama Prefecture. On or about April 19, 1994, at a public meeting, he is alleged to have given his support to the murderers of a teacher in his commune. Thereafter, the widespread killing of Tutsis in his commune began. Furthermore, he is alleged to have directly ordered the killing of several people near his office at the bureau communal and to have personally supervised the interrogation and beating of local residents.

For these purported actions, Jean Paul Akayesu has been charged with:

GENOClDE, punishable by Article 2(3)(a) of the Statute of the Tribunal;

Complicity in GENOCIDE, punishable by Article 2(3)(e) of the Statute of the Tribunal;

Direct and Public Incitement to Commit GENOCIDE, punishable by Article 2(3)(c} of the Statute of the Tribunal;

CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY (extermination) punishable by Article 3(b) of the Statute of the Tribunal;

CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY (murder) punishable by Article 3(a) of the Statute of the Tribunal (3 counts);

VIOLATIONS OF ARTICLE 3 COMMON TO THE GENEVA CONVENTlONS, as incorporated by Article 4(a) murder, of the Statute of the Tribunal;

CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY (torture) punishable by Article 3(f) of the Statute of the Tribunal (3 counts); and

VIOLATIONS OF ARTICLE 3 COMMON TO THE GENEVA CONVENTIONS, as incorporated by Article 4(a) (cruel treatment), of the Statute of the Tribunal.

I further wish to announce that Judge Sekule has signed warrants of arrest for the accused and has requested their continued detention in Zambia until facilities can be made available in Arusha.

Copies of the indictments are available upon request.