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Rwandan Genocide Mastermind Convicted

Bagosora sentenced to life by UN court for role in 1994 massacre

By the Associated Press

Posted Dec 18, 2008 5:13 AM CST

(AP) – A UN court has convicted the organizer of the 1994 Rwandan genocide that claimed more than 500,000 lives and sentenced him to life in prison, reports the AP. Théoneste Bagosora was found guilty of genocide and crimes against humanity, as well as the deaths of a Rwandan prime minister and Belgian peacekeepers. As head of the notorious Interahamwe militia, he directed Hutu soldiers to kill Tutsis and moderate Hutus.

The genocide began after the Rwandan president's plane was mysteriously shot down over Kigali as he returned home from peace talks with Tutsi-led rebels. Hours after the crash, the Interahamwe set up roadblocks across Kigali and began killing Tutsis and moderate Hutus, which only ended after Tutsi rebels invaded from neighboring Uganda and drove out the genocidal forces. In 1997 the UN set up the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, based in Tanzania.

A UN court convicted Théoneste Bagosora of genocide and crimes against humanity Thursday, Dec. 18, 2008 and sentenced him to life in prison.
A UN court convicted Théoneste Bagosora of genocide and crimes against humanity Thursday, Dec. 18, 2008 and sentenced him to life in prison.   (AP Photo Cukhdev Chhatbar/file)
Skulls belonging to the victims of the 1994 Rwandan genocide are shown in a display case at the Nyamata church, Nov. 24, 2006, outside of Kigali.
Skulls belonging to the victims of the 1994 Rwandan genocide are shown in a display case at the Nyamata church, Nov. 24, 2006, outside of Kigali.   (AP Photo/Jody Kurash)
Clothing belonging to the victims of the 1994 Rwandan genocide is shown hanging on a clothesline, Nov. 25, 2006, at the Murambi Genocide Memorial Site outside of Gikongoro, Rwanda.
Clothing belonging to the victims of the 1994 Rwandan genocide is shown hanging on a clothesline, Nov. 25, 2006, at the Murambi Genocide Memorial Site outside of Gikongoro, Rwanda.   (AP Photo/Jody Kurash)
Bones belonging to the victims of the 1994 Rwandan genocide flank the altar at the Ntarama church, Nov. 24, 2006, outside of Kigali, Rwanda. The church is now a genocide memorial site.
Bones belonging to the victims of the 1994 Rwandan genocide flank the altar at the Ntarama church, Nov. 24, 2006, outside of Kigali, Rwanda. The church is now a genocide memorial site.   (AP Photo/Jody Kurash)
Rwandan refugee children plead with Zairean soldiers to allow them across a bridge separating Rwanda and Zaire in this Aug. 20, 1994 file photo.
Rwandan refugee children plead with Zairean soldiers to allow them across a bridge separating Rwanda and Zaire in this Aug. 20, 1994 file photo.   (AP Photo/Jean-Marc Bouju, file)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 6 comments
Guest
Dec 18, 2008 6:17 AM CST
Great! But where is Bagosora? Is he in custody?
Mr.C
Dec 17, 2008 11:48 PM CST
sign a petition to help Darfur (on facebook if you have it) http://apps.facebook.com/causes/petitions/8?m=97172d2f otherwise see what you can do here: http://www.savedarfur.org/pages/current_initiatives
Mr.C
Dec 17, 2008 11:47 PM CST
sign a petition to help Darfur (on facebook if you have it) http://apps.facebook.com/causes/petitions/8?m=97172d2f

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Blog covering the Bagosora trial
Trial Watch

A profile of the Interahamwe mastermind
BBC

 
United Nations • genocide • Rwanda • International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda • Hutu • Tutsi • Théoneste Bagosora

 
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