International
C’wealth countries urged to help arrest genocide fugitives
Activists
and survivors of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda are urging
leaders in Kigali for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) to
help arrest all suspected perpetrators of the genocide hiding in their
countries.
Their
call came on Wednesday, June 22, a day after the Prince of Wales and his wife,
The Duchess of Cornwall, arrived in
Kigali.
Egide
Nkuranga, acting president of Ibuka, the umbrella organisation of Genocide survivors
associations, said: “There are many perpetrators of the 1994 Genocide against
the Tutsi who are still at large in some of the Commonwealth countries such as
England, Australia, and others.
“What
we request the leaders (in those countries) is that they arrest those suspected
of committing genocide and send them to Rwanda for trial or take the court in
their own countries.”
Egide
Mutabazi, 46, a genocide survivor from Ngoma District, said: “It’s great they
paid tribute to the victims of 1994 genocide against the Tutsi at the main
memorial in Rwanda. However, it’s a shame for UK to still harbour the
perpetrators of that genocide.
“It’s
unbelievable that the UK can neither try them nor transfer them [to Rwanda] for
justice. Justice delayed is justice denied.”
A
decision is still pending on five extradition cases of Rwandan genocide
suspects – Dr Vincent Bajinya, Célestin Ugirashebuja, Charles Munyaneza,
Emmanuel Nteziryayo and Célestin Mutabaruka – living in the UK.
Speaking
at an event to mark the 28th commemoration of the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi,
earlier in April, Rwanda’s High Commissioner to the UK, Johnston
Busingye, called
on the country’s government to invest more efforts in bringing to
court Genocide fugitives who are at large.
According
to Ibuka, it also does not serve justice when the fugitives
die before they have their day in court to answer for what they did.
Egide
Gatari, President of the Association of Former Students Survivors of the
Genocide (GAERG), told The New Times that all they request for is to see all
suspected genocidaires who are fugitives face justice.
Niwegaju
Sinzi Greiner, an activist who recently initiated a petition to the Speaker of
the Legislative Assembly of Queensland, urging him not to give a platform
to Genocide deniers in the state is distressed that a genocide
deniers and fugitives are roaming free in Australia.
A
genocide suspect called Froduard Rukeshangabo, lives in Australia. He is
alleged to have directed mass murder and torture of the Tutsi in the Eastern
Province during the 1994 Genocide.
Niwegaju
said: “Many Commonwealth countries pride themselves on their values, their
respect for the rule of law, and core principles such as justice and equity.
“But
to turn a blind eye to the genocidaires in their midst is a betrayal of the
very principles they are founded upon.”
Yolanda
Mukagasana, president of the Yolanda Mukagasana Foundation, whose objectives
include fighting against denial and revisionism of the 1994 Genocide, said:
“Thank you Prince Charles and Madame for laying flowers at the Gisozi Memorial
where rests victims of the genocide perpetrated against the Tutsi, including my
husband and all my children.”
“But
I would like to see you pledge to bring justice to them because some of their
killers live a good and quiet life in the world, even in England.”
Besides
the Royals, UK Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, will lead his country’s
delegation at the upcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).
Globally,
there are more than 1,400 arrest warrants issued by the government of Rwanda.
Source:
www.newtimes.co.rw