THE GENOCIDE IN RWANDA

Chief Prosecutor Promises a Clean-Up at the Rwanda Tribunal

Carla Del Ponte confirms that the Tribunal has many problems. The removal of incompetent leaders has already begun.

By Gunnar Willum and Bjørn Willum

THE HAGUE (Aktuelt): 'What is it you are writing that there is nepotism and inefficiency at our Tribunal?', the Chief Prosecutor at the Rwanda-Tribunal, Clara Del Ponte, begins while she is waving articles, we have dutifully translated and faxed to her for a comment.

"This will not be pleasant," we think. In her former job - as public prosecutor in Switzerland - this lady made even the Swiss banks break their banking secrecy during the pursuit of the Sicilian mafia. Since September last year she has been heading the UN's pursuit of war criminals from the Rwanda Genocide and from the encounters in the former Yugoslavia.

"I have one question. Do you intend to destroy the Tribunal? Or do you want things to be improved?" Del Ponte thunders towards Aktuelt's correspondents.

But after our protests that it is just about informing the public about the problems at the Tribunal in order for improvements to happen, there is a change of tune.

"It is true, there are some problems at our offices in Kigali and in Arusha and with our work," Del Ponte admits.

"Some employees do not have sufficient experience to do investigations work. But I have only been Prosecutor for six months. It takes time to find out the situation," Del Ponte explains and pauses for a short while.

"But now I have the situation," she declares. And now it is time for cleaning up at the Tribunal's departments in Arusha, Tanzania and Kigali, Rwanda.

First step will be the nomination of a new chief for the investigations in Kigali. That will be Laurent Walpen, the former police chief of Geneva. He knows what needs to be done, Del Ponte explains.

The next step will be a serious talk with her deputy, Bernard Muna, whom she has called to the Hague this week to "talk about things". And this issue is unlikely to be confronted in a soft-pedaling fashion.

"Those investigators who are not competent will not remain there," Del Ponte promises. "It is not in my nature to make compromises."

And the Secretary-General of NATO, the world's most powerful military organization, sensed that Clara Del Ponte is one determined lady, when he paid a visit just before Aktuelt's interview.

At the following press conference , where George Robertson had to answer unpleasant questions on why the Bosnian war criminals Mladic og Karadzic have not been arrested by NATO's troops long ago, Del Ponte went straight to the heart of the matter.

"We are pleased with the arrest," she said politely, with reference to NATO' s so far biggest capture - Momcilo Krajisnik, who was caught recently. But immediately added: "But it is not enough."

Del Ponte does not seem to be afraid of anyone.

But perhaps there are some people who ought to begin being afraid of her - not only the war criminals from Rwanda, but also some of those investigators in Kigali who are employed to account for and prove their atrocities.

THIS ARTICLE WAS REPUBLISHED BY RWANDA NEWSLINE:

Chief Prosecutor Vows Clean-Up at UN Tribunal

THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE WAS ALSO PUBLISHED ON APRIL 18:

Rwanda Tribunal Suffering from Nepotism