Rwanda’s Ambassador to Switzerland, Marie-Chantal Rwakazina, has appealed to the countries concerned to follow up on charges and international arrest warrants for 1,145 people living in 33 countries around the world.
He appealed Wednesday, April 7, on the occasion of the 1994 international day of reflection on the Genocide against Tutsi in Rwanda held at the Palais des Nations.
Apart from serving as an envoy to Switzerland, Rwakazina also serves as the Permanent Representative of the United Nations Office and other International Organizations in Geneva, Switzerland.
“I want to remember here that, Between 2007 and 2020, Rwanda issued indictments and international arrest warrants for one thousand one hundred and forty-five cases (1,145) of people living in 33 countries around the world, “he said.
“We once again call on all the countries concerned for urgent implementation.”
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Memorial is being held in a hybrid format with participants watching the ceremony on their screens, while several people gather for the event.
The memorial begins in the morning with the laying of a wreath at the Stele Memorial in the Place des Nations which was built in collaboration with the City of Geneva to commemorate the victims of the 1994 genocide against Tutsi in Rwanda.
The consequences of the 1994 Genocide against Tutsis were enormous and had an impact beyond Rwanda’s borders, the envoy said. More than two million civilians were forced by defeated genocide to flee Rwanda to neighboring countries, especially in Tanzania and the former Zaire where they were used by the latter as human shields in the former’s tightly controlled military refugee camps.Rwandan Armed Forces (FAR) and the Interahamwe militia.
It should be remembered that, he said, UN resolution 955 of 1994 establishing the International Criminal Court for Rwanda (ICTR) which aims to prosecute those responsible for genocide and urges all States to cooperate with the Court in the investigation and prosecution of persons who accused of genocide. Genocide.
The Appeal Chamber of the same Court ruled that between 6 April 1994 and 17 July 1994, Genocide was committed against Tutsis in Rwanda.
“Unfortunately, some of the suspects are still alive and traveling freely around the world, especially in western countries, some of whom are called or call themselves human rights defenders,” said Rwakazina.
“The arrest of Félicien Kabuga in June 2020 by France is a strong message to the fugitives who are still at large, that they cannot escape justice. Thus, it reminds the countries that are still holding fugitives to bring them to justice.”
In doing so, he noted, they would emulate the International Residual Mechanism for the Criminal Court and the International Criminal Court for Rwanda (IRMCT) in its decisions earlier this month on denying Théoneste Bagosora’s early release.
Genocide escape in New Zealand, Australia
Nearly six hours earlier, at a memorial service at the Rwanda High Commission in Singapore, which is also accredited for Australia, New Zealand and Indonesia, the Rwandan envoy to Singapore, Amb Jean de Dieu Uwihanganye, raised the issue of fugitives and genocide deniers roaming free. .
He observed that Kwibuka27 came at a time when Genocide deniers against Tutsi and defenders of the double genocide theory were on the rise, and called on participants to fight against Genocide deniers and the spread of misinformation.
Uwihanganye said: “The Kwibuka period is an opportunity to remind the world that it is only through the cooperation of every country that the genocide suspects, who are still hiding in various countries around the world, including in this region, will be brought to the books to provide justice to victims and prevent Genocide from happening again. anywhere in the world.
“Banning genocide deniers as a safe platform and haven to peddle misinformation and collaborating on arresting Genocide suspects is the only way to make ‘Never Again’ mean ‘Never Again’ for Rwanda and the rest of the world.”
According to sources, known Genocide fugitives in New Zealand include Eugene Uwimana, Enock Ruhigira, Thomas Kigufi, and Pheneas Nzaramba.
Nzaramba was charged with Genocide – his participation in the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi especially in Nyakizu, in the former Butare Prefecture, now Huye District.
In Australia and many other places, Genocide fugitives change names and nationalities to disguise themselves.
The only known fugitive in Australia is Celestin Munyaburanga but someone else lives there with a new identity.
Many Congolese and Burundian citizens were illegally wanted before they moved to Australia under a third country relocation agreement between UNHCR, their host country and Australia.
Tatiana Valovaya, Director General of the United Nations in Geneva, laid a wreath on a commemorative inscription to pay tribute to the victims of the 1994 Genocide of Tutsi.
Leon Saltiel, Representative and Coordinator of Counter-Antisemitism at the World Jewish Congress, paid tribute to the victims of the 1994 Genocide of Tutsi.
Frédérique Perler, Vice President of the Municipal Administrative Council of Geneva, paid tribute to the victims of the Genocide of the Tutsi.
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