The New Times (Kigali)

Rwanda: France Must Bring to Justice Genocide Fugitives On Her Soil

editorial

Photo: News of Rwanda
Burial for genocide victims (file photo).

THE Prosecutor General announced that Rwanda is considering legal action against France for its inaction when dealing with Genocide fugitives living in the backyards of the European country.

One wonders how it is possible that key fugitives such as Agathe Kanziga Habyarimana, the former First Lady, Laurent Bucyibaruta, former Prefet of Gikongoro, and Wencelas Muyeshyaka, the head priest at the St Famille church in Kigali, are still able to move about freely yet the committed and or masterminded the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi?

What is extremely shocking is that the last two have had their criminal files transferred to France from the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda so that they can be prosecuted.

Others include, Dr Sosthene Munyemana, Lt. Col. Marcel Bivugabagabo, Eugene Rwamucyo, Felicien Barigira, Claver Kamana, Pierre Tegera, Alphonse Ntilivamunda, Enoch Kanyondo alias Pheneas Gakumba, Callixte Mbarushimana, Secretary General of the Congo-based FDLR militia, Stanislas Mbonampeka and Isaac Kamali.

These men and women must be held accountable for their actions. For them to continue living comfortably in exile not only promotes a culture of impunity but also demonstrates unacceptable injustice against the survivors, Rwanda and humanity at large.

What makes this even worse is the fact that their indictments are being labeled 'political motivated'. Have the French authorities come to talk to the witnesses on the ground? Or perhaps their relationship with these genocidaires is more important that the fact that France is obliged, by international law, to try these people.

Rwandans will never give up the fight to obtain justice for those whose lives were cut short. France must wake up and side with the forces of justice.

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Comments Post a comment

  • Aimable
    Dec 29 2012, 13:20

    General Kagame the current president of Rwanda is responsible for more than 6 million deaths in Rwanda in neighboring Congo. He should be added to the list of genocidaires that need to be tried.

InFocus

Rwanda Considers Suing France Over Fugitives

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Rwanda may drag France to court over what it called the European country's reluctance to help prosecute top genocide fugitives. Read more »