Arusha, June 21st , 2004 (FH) A prosecution witness testifying in the trial known as "Government II" of four former Rwandan ministers accused of genocide, on Monday told the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) that one of the accused in the case, Prosper Mugiraneza, had in early 1994 called on Hutu youths to get military training.

The thirty-second prosecution witness said the former Minister for public service called on young men to join the Interahamwe (youth wing of MRND - ruling party in 1994) where they could train in using fire arms, during a rally for the MRND party at Kigarama commune in Kibungo prefecture.

“He [Mugiraneza] looked at the youths present and said these youths here need to learn how to use fire arms and train with the Interahamwe”, the witness told the court.

The witness identified as ‘GJX’ to keep his identity secret from the public added that Mugiraneza promised to talk to the mayor of Kigarama, Emmanuel Mugiraneza, about getting help for the youth get the military training.

GJX who was giving his chief evidence told the chamber he could not remember the exact date when the rally took place but placed it between January and February 1994, and said it took place at a football pitch in Kigarama.

GJX explained that he later learned that the youths had gone to obtain military training at Gabiro in Byumba prefecture. The witness discovered about the training after one of the youths hit him on the cheek with a bottle at a bar where he had gone to purchase drinks at Kibungo shopping centre in April 3rd 1994 .

He told the court how the youth accused him of being an inyenzi (a derogatory word used to refer to Tutsis as cockroaches).The assailant who was a Hutu also boasted that he had just received military training with other young men in his company.

Mugiraneza is in a joint trial with Casmir Bizimungu, former Minister for health, that of commerce, Justin Mugenzi and Jerome Bicamumpaka, former Minister of Foreign Affairs. The have all pleaded not guilty to six counts including genocide and crimes against humanity.

The trial which began in November 6th last year continues on Tuesday with the cross-examination of GJX.

Government Two Trial is taking place before in Trial Chamber Two of ICTR where Judge Khalida Rachid Khan (Pakistan) is presiding assisted by ad-litem judges Lee Muthoga (Kenya) and Emile Francis Short (Ghana).

PJ/JA/FH (GVII’’0621e)