Bucyibaruta trial in Paris: the former Rwandan prefect faced with the strong testimony of a survivor
This court sketch shows Laurent Buciybaruta at the opening of his trial, in Paris, on May 9, 2022. He is accused of complicity in the genocide in Rwanda.
AFP - BENOIT PEYRUCQ
Text by: RFI Follow
1 min
The trial of the former Rwandan prefect Laurent Bucyibaruta addressed, Thursday, May 19, the massacres committed in Murambi, on the territory of the prefecture of Gikongoro.
The accused was confronted with the testimony of a survivor: Jacques Uwimana, the son of a leader of the Pentecostal church in this prefecture.
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Facing the Paris Assize Court, Jacques Uwimana was heard for simple information, not as a witness, indicates our special correspondent at the Paris courthouse,
Claire Fages
.
But the account of the survivor of the massacres committed in Rwanda in 1994 could weigh heavily.
“
In 1994, I was about 17 years old.
My father was a pastor.
He represented the association of Pentecostal churches in Gikongoro prefecture,
he said.
When the killings started, a hundred parishioners came to take refuge with us.
On April 10, my father called the prefect to guarantee them safety and food.
The next day, the bourgmestre came with the gendarmes to take them to the city of Murambi.
»
All will be killed on April 21.
On the 23rd, the pastor's entire family was decimated in his home.
Jacques Uwimana has just enough time to hide under a false ceiling.
Seeing the photos of the pastor,
Laurent Bucyibaruta
said he did not recognize the man of the Church, who nevertheless had the same weight as a bishop in his prefecture.
“
Did he call me at work or at home?
“Asked the former prefect, as if to kick into touch.
He had already done so on the morning of this Thursday, May 19, stating that there was no telephone at the parish of Kibeho, and therefore that the priest had not been able to warn him.
► To read also: Trial of the former Rwandan prefect Buciybaruta in Paris: the course of an "adequate profile"
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