English
Kinyarwanda
The government of Rwanda in conjunction with the Arusha-based Mechanism of International Criminal Tribunal (MICT), Interpol and the United States Office of Global Criminal Justice, on July 24, re-launched the international programme to join efforts to track down and bring to justice nine top fugitives wanted for planning, organizing and executing the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.
The launch of the campaign was held at Kigali Memorial Centre and presided over by the Minister of Justice, Johnston Busingye.
It was also attended by the US Ambassador-at-Large for War Crimes Issues, Stephen J. Rapp; Stefano Carvelli, head of Interpol’s Fugitive Investigative Support (FIS) unit and the Chief Prosecutor for MICT, Hassan Bubacar Jallow.
The nine big figures are genocide bankroller, Felicien Kabuga, Protais Mpiranya, Augustin Bizimana, Ladislas Ntaganzwa, Fulgence Kayishema, Pheneas Munyarugarama, Aloys Ndimbati, Charles Ryandikayo and Charles Sikubwabo.
Kabuga, Mpiranya and Bizimana will stand trial at the ICTR/MICT while six others will be tried in Rwanda following the transfer of their case files by the ICTR in 2012.
Minister Busingye said that even after twenty years after the genocide which claimed over one million Rwandans, the country and the justice sector in particular will never relent and all those responsible are brought to justice.
He reaffirmed Rwanda’s fair trial and called upon states and the international community to heed the arrest warrants issued against wanted genocide fugitives.
He thanked states and other institutions that played a great role in apprehending and bringing to justice some of the genocide fugitives, who include 93 already tried by the ICTR.
Jallow also pledged the Mechanism’s continued support to ensure that the ‘top nine’ who are wanted for genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity, are located, arrested and transferred to stand trial.
“It’s of course an matter of ongoing concern that we still have nine fugitives at large all of whom are top level…and the mechanism is committed to seeing them arrested and brought to trial as a matter of priority,” Jallow said.
“The apprehension and trial of these remaining fugitives is essential for securing justice for the victims of the genocide; is essential for building peace and stability in the region, and also sending the message more broadly that impunity will not be tolerated and our efforts to search, find and bring them to justice will not relent,” he added.
He noted that it is the responsibility of every member state of the United Nations to ensure that these fugitives are found and arrested and sent for trial in Arusha and Rwanda.
“It is a struggle we should continue to ensure that we do justice to the victims and peace,” he noted.
“Twenty years have passed, and we want to make it clear; we will search the globe to bring these remaining fugitives to justice for the sake of the victims and survivors. There is no expiration day on justice for these crimes. We call on anyone who has information about the whereabouts of these nine fugitives to contact any of our four organizations,” Ambassador Rapp said.
“We want to remind the public around the world that the US government has outstanding reward offers of up to US$5 million for information leading to the arrest of these fugitives in any country. As long as those responsible for crimes of this magnitude continue to enjoy impunity, those on the side of justice must strive to hold them accountable.”
Rapp also called upon institutions and states to strengthen ties with the Rwanda genocide fugitives tracking unit and Rwanda National Police to locate and bring to justice the fugitives.
