₦airaland Forum

By Sophia Kagan*

The Prosecutor v. Nahimana, Barayagwiza and Ngeze, popularly dubbed the Mediacase, involved the prosecution of three individuals alleged to have been the masterminds behind a media campaign to desensitize the Hutu population and incite them to murder the Tutsi population in Rwanda in 1994. (Similar stuff may be happening on some Nigerian social media today, and it is easy for these ICC guys to take screenshots. You may not mean it but be careful o. We no wan hear long story abeg.)

Ferdinand Nahimana and Jean-Bosco Barayagwiza were both influential members of the “Comité d’Initiative” (the Steering Committee) which founded Radio Télévision Libre des Mille Collines (“RTLM”), a radio station that from July 1993 – July 1994, broadcast virulent messages branding Tutsis as the enemy and Hutu opposition members as accomplices. Nahimana, a former university lecturer and Director of the Office of Information (ORINFOR), was alleged to have been the ideologue behind the creation of RTLM and was seen as the director of the company. Barayagwiza, a former Director of Political Affairs at the Foreign Ministry of Rwanda was considered the second in command of the radio station. Additionally, Barayagwiza was a founding member of the Coalition pour la Défense de la République (“CDR”) and, in 1994, the chairman of its regional committee for Gisenyi préfecture.

Hassan Ngeze was the owner, founder and editor of the Kangura newsletter, which was published from 1990-19951 and was widely read across Rwanda. Like the emissions of RTLM, Kangura produced hate-filled messages, characterizing Tutsis as enemies who wanted to subvert the democratic system and seize power for themselves. Additionally Ngeze was a founding member of the CDR and was alleged to have participated in distributing firearms, supervising roadblocks and ordering massacres in the Gisenyi préfecture.

On 3 December 2003, the Trial Chamber found all three defendants guilty of genocide, conspiracy to commit genocide, direct and public incitement to commit genocide and persecution and extermination as crimes against humanity. However all three were acquitted of complicity in genocide and assassination as a crime against humanity. Barayagwiza was also found to be not guilty of serious breaches of Common Article 3 of the Geneva Conventions and Additional Protocol II.

The three accused lodged an appeal against the Trial Judgement on various grounds of errors of fact and law. The appeal was heard in January 2007 and the verdict was rendered on 28 November 2007. In its judgement, the Appeals Chamber reversed several aspects of the Trial Judgement. It acquitted all three of conspiracy to commit genocide, and all genocide charges relating to their involvement with RTLM and Kangura respectively, as well as extermination as a crime against humanity. While Nahimana and Ngeze were still found guilty of direct and public incitement to commit genocide, Barayagwiza’s guilty verdict in relation to this offence was reversed. Nahimana and Ngeze’s respective sentences were consequently reduced from life imprisonment to 30 years while Barayagwiza’s already reduced sentence was changed to 32 years. 

Source: http://www.haguejusticeportal.net/index.php?id=9166

In that case Nnamdi Kanu and his hate-mongering Radio Biafra would be first to go down for inciting his people to kill Yoruba and Hausa people. Evidence brekete.

You people know the origins of all the hate. Put the blame squarely on Nnamani Kanu and his foot soldiers.

It almost the exact same thing here in Nigeria..OK oo GOD help us

It is igbo's hate, not ours. Anyone who doesn't know this is plain ignorant.

What a pity. See what Igbo Jews like Nnamdi Kanu and his fellow Biafrats have caused the peace-loving Igbo Christians in the North. Kanu, wherever you are, e no go better for you o.

ICJ boys no dey smile o. Them no send anybody. Igbos say use your tongue to count your teeth. 2017 is not 1966.
In 1966 Nigeria was not a major oil producer; in 2017 it is.
In 1966 there was no internet; in 2017 there is.
In 1966 people couldn't take screenshots of incriminating social media statements, in 2017 they can do so, even from International Criminal Court monitoring office, and there's nothing y'all can do about it.

In 1966 Igbos were not abroad in large numbers that can hold worldwide protests in every world capital; in 2017 they are all over the world, in fact in every country. See the Free Nnamdi Kanu protests for example (held all over the world and only stopped after Nnamdi Kanu was freed).

Please fellow Nigerians, whether you are Oodua, Arewa or Biafran be careful and let peace reign. Don't promote ethnic cleansing.
The ICC sees eviction of ethnic groups as ethnic cleansing. It does not matter to them if blood is not spilled. Some of those viewing the threads here are not even Nigerians. Look at the bottom of the thread. Remember what almost happened when Nigeria almost refused to release Charles Taylor for trial.

We will see what we will see!
Pikin wey say him Mama no go sleep, him self no go take eye touch sleep!


OP, no judgement can bring back the thousands of lives killed!

ashjay001:
We will see what we will see!

Pikin wey say him Mama no go sleep, him self no go take eye touch sleep!



OP, no judgement can bring back the thousands of lives killed!

Are you implying that you would support genocide or ethnic cleansing?

So Boko Haram is spreading love and unity in Naija?

igbodefender:
Are you implying that you would support genocide or ethnic cleansing?

Then, I would have to kill my kids, their mum n maternal relatives! Ka ma ri! Their mum would fall under biafra!?

But, I've lived long enough to realise, man will always make a choice when placed btw d sea n a hard place!

U either start climbing or u start swimming or u die of starvation!

AshiwajuFoward:
In that case Nnamdi Kanu and his hate-mongering Radio Biafra would be first to go down for inciting his people to kill Yoruba and Hausa people. Evidence brekete.

This is truly food for thought!

ODVanguard:
What a pity. See what Igbo Jews like Nnamdi Kanu and his fellow Biafrats have caused the peace-loving Igbo Christians in the North. Kanu, wherever you are, e no go better for you o.

Peace loving christian Ignos in the North? You think the Northerners are thinking about this when they have been massacaring Igbos since 1945? Over one hundred thousand Igbos have been massacred in the North (conservative estimate) since the creation of Nigeria. How many Northerners have been killed in Igbo land? Hardly anybody. Kanu did not cause anything, Igbos should not be doing 'one Nigeria' with Northerners

kingzizzy:
Peace loving christian Ignos in the North? You think the Northerners are thinking about this when they have been massacaring Igbos since 1945? Over one hundred thousand Igbos have been massacred in the North (conservative estimate) since the creation of Nigeria. How many Northerners have been killed in Igbo land? Hardly anybody. Kanu did not cause anything, Igbos should not be doing 'one Nigeria' with Northerners

Not that I'm in support of d killings, but d number of igbos in d north can not be compared to d number of northerners in d east! Igbos are an invasive tribe, they come in and try to take over evrything, ur houses, ur biznesses, ur lands, ur daughters and then mock u!

But, truly, its not anybody's fault, just d way they are wired. Same thing with d jews, though I havent read of d jews mocking their hosts.