ICTR: Chief Prosecutor Promises Clean-Up at UN Tribunal

By Gunnar Willum and Bjørn Willum

THE HAGUE - Well-informed sources at the UN International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda have confirmed that the UN body is suffering from nepotism, and the leadership of the Tribunal are having an internal power struggle to employ as many friends and connections as possible, although these are often completely useless and have never done any investigative work before then.

This information was disclosed after several remarks made by numerous employees at the Tribunal, whom a Dutch-based newspaper, Aktuelt spoke to recently while investigating the conditions at the Tribunal for several months.

"Nepotism and cronyism are thriving. Many are only employed on their CV without an interview," a former investigator says, estimating that "to be conservative" 30-50% of those already there are unqualified for the positions they hold.

"Many investigators just want to milk the UN machine. They don't care about the Genocide," the person says, explaining how many people manipulate their CVs in order to get a lucrative job.

The Chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) Carla Del Ponte has disclosed that the tribunal facing some problems including nepotism and incompetence.

She talking to these correspondents in the Hague a few weeks ago. "It is true, there are some problems at our offices in Kigali and in Arusha and with our work," Del Ponte admitted. "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."

"But now I have the situation," she said adding that 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 disclosed.

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

"Those investigators who are not competent will not remain there," Del Ponte promised. "It is not in my nature to make compromises." And the Secretary-General of NATO, the world's most powerful military organisation, believes that Clara Del Ponte is one determined lady, when he paid a visit just before Aktuelt's interview

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 ORIGINALLY APPEARED IN AKTUELT:

The Genocide in Rwanda: Chief Prosecutor Promises a Clean-Up at the Rwanda Tribunal