VOA标准英语2011-Germany Opens First Rwanda Genocide Trial

Germany's first trial related to the Rwandan genocide is underway with a former Rwandan mayor accused of ordering three Tutsi massacres¹. There are dozens of Rwandans accused of taking part in the genocide living in Europe.

Onesphore Rwabukombe is standing² trial in Frankfurt accused of murder, genocide, and incitement³ to both.

The prosecutor⁴ Christian⁵ Ritscher charges Rwabukombe ordered the killing⁶ of more than 3,000 people during the Rwandan genocide. Ritscher said the Tutsis who were killed were seeking refuge in a church.

It is the first trial in Germany related to the Rwandan genocide.

A legal advisor⁷ with the London-based human rights group Redress⁸, Jurgen Schurr, says it is crucial that European courts try suspected genocide suspects.

"These trials of course send the important signal that these countries do not accept to provide a safe haven⁹ to suspects of such crimes," said Schurr.

Schurr says the international policing organization Interpol has issued red notices for almost 100 Rwandans living in Europe who may have been involved in the country's genocide.

"A lot of them are living often under known addresses in European countries, such as particularly in France, in Belgium, but also in the United Kingdom, in the Netherlands as well as in Italy, Germany, Denmark, Norway, Finland, and Sweden. So, we see that they are fairly widespread currently living in European countries," added Schurr.

Belgium and Norway have conducted genocide-related trials. But Schurr says many European countries are failing to investigate.

He says European courts need to overcome geographical¹⁰ and logistical challenges to make sure that justice is done in their country, at least until a future time when the suspects can be extradited to Rwanda for trial.

"Ideally these cases take place in the countries where the crimes have been committed, as this is where most of the evidence is located and as this is where the trial will have most of the impact on the society most affected," Schurr explained. "And if it is possible for Rwanda to guarantee a fair trial of these suspects they should be sent back to Rwanda."

Onesphore Rwabukombe was formerly¹¹ mayor of a town in northeastern Rwanda. He moved to Germany more than a decade ago.

Rwanda's Prosecutor General Martin Ngoga has said he welcomes the trial

1 massacres   

大屠杀( massacre的名词复数 )； 惨败

参考例句：

• The time is past for guns and killings and massacres. 动不动就用枪、动不动就杀、大规模屠杀的时代已经过去了。 来自教父部分
• Numberless recent massacres were still vivid in their recollection. 近来那些不可胜数的屠杀，在他们的头脑中记忆犹新。

2 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

3 incitement   

激励； 刺激； 煽动； 激励物

参考例句：

• incitement to racial hatred 种族仇恨的挑起
• Interest is an incitement to study. 兴趣刺激学习。

4 prosecutor   

n.起诉人；检察官，公诉人

参考例句：

• The defender argued down the prosecutor at the court.辩护人在法庭上驳倒了起诉人。
• The prosecutor would tear your testimony to pieces.检查官会把你的证言驳得体无完肤。

5 Christian   

adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒

参考例句：

• They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
• His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。

6 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。

7 advisor   

n.顾问，指导老师，劝告者

参考例句：

• They employed me as an advisor.他们聘请我当顾问。
• The professor is engaged as a technical advisor.这位教授被聘请为技术顾问。

8 redress   

n.赔偿，救济，矫正；v.纠正，匡正，革除

参考例句：

• He did all that he possibly could to redress the wrongs.他尽了一切努力革除弊端。
• Any man deserves redress if he has been injured unfairly.任何人若蒙受不公平的损害都应获得赔偿。

9 haven   

n.安全的地方，避难所，庇护所

参考例句：

• It's a real haven at the end of a busy working day.忙碌了一整天后，这真是一个安乐窝。
• The school library is a little haven of peace and quiet.学校的图书馆是一个和平且安静的小避风港。

10 geographical   

adj.地理的；地区(性)的

参考例句：

• The current survey will have a wider geographical spread.当前的调查将在更广泛的地域范围內进行。
• These birds have a wide geographical distribution.这些鸟的地理分布很广。

11 formerly   

adv.从前，以前

参考例句：

• We now enjoy these comforts of which formerly we had only heard.我们现在享受到了过去只是听说过的那些舒适条件。
• This boat was formerly used on the rivers of China.这船从前航行在中国内河里。