Rwanda continues to take actions to seek out and prosecute those involved in the 1994 Genocide of Rwanda. The UN-backed International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda was founded in 1994 in Tanzania. Since then 28 genocide suspects have been convicted and five acquitted.
This past Friday, a former Rwandan mayor, Juvenal Rugambarara, plead guilty to committing crimes against humanity. Although Rugambarara, a Hutu, did not actively participate in the genocide, he admitted his failure to take measures to punish subordinates involved in the massacre of Tutsis in his community.
In response to Rugambarara’s guity plea, prosecutors of the Tanzania-based court have dropped eight of his nine charges and have elected to seek a reduced sentence of nine to 12 years.
Also on Friday, Interpol, the world’s largest police organization, held a conference in Arusha, Tanzania. The organization urged all countries to provide whatever assistance necessary to arrest the remaining fugitives of the Rwandan genocide. The request comes after the arrest of fugitive Isaac Kamali in France.
Rwandans and researchers have criticized France for supporting and training Hutu extremists involved in the genocide. President Paul Kagame, the Tutsi rebel leader that led the end of the massacre, has challenged France to study official documents that exposes the country’s involvement in the genocide.
The book, Silent Accomplice by British researcher and author, Andrew Wallis, claims that French troops advised Hutu extremist how to hide the massacre of nearly one million people from spy satellites.
France has denied any involvement and refuses to apologize for its inactions even though many countries such as the United States have.
For more information please see:
AllAfrica – Rwanda: Interpol Steps Up Pressure on Genocide Fugitives – 16 July 2007
Yahoo – Rwandan Former Mayor Pleads Guilty to Genocide – 13 July 2007
Reuters – Rwanda Says France Must Probe ‘Genocide Papers’ – 10 July 2007
CNN – Amanpour: Looking Back at Rwanda Genocide – 06 April 2004
