OPJDR IS A NON-PROFIT AND APOLITICAL ORGANIZATION. ITS MISSION IS TO PROMOTE THE RESPECT OF HUMAN RIGHTS, CULTURAL, EDUCATIONAL, AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN RWANDA AND IN THE GREAT LAKES REGION OF AFRICA

 

 

 
  REPUBLIC OF RWANDA
Office of Special Representative of Rwanda Government to the
International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR),
Arusha.
 
Ref:  Amb/Rw/ICTR/012/05                                                   Date: 23rd Dec.05
 
 
 
Press release
 
We have received with greatest dismay and concern the information concerning the death of a Rwanda genocide fugitive, Juvenal Uwilingiyimana.
 
 Juvenal Uwilingiyimana is known in Rwanda for his high-level involvement in the 1994 genocide. However, Rwanda recognizes the willingness by this long-time fugitive to co-operate with the arm of justice as manifested by the contacts developed between him and the ICTR Prosecutor.
 
Prior to the disappearance of Juvenal Uwilingiyimana, he persistently reported the danger that he and his family faced from other fugitives living in Belgium. There is no doubt that such a fear was founded on the information he held that links other high-level suspects who took charge of the killings, currently living in Belgium.
 
We observe that some suspects are still determined to remain at large, even at the cost of killing other fugitives who reasonably find that there is no end unless, and until, they come to terms with justice.
 
A significant number of such suspects are known to be hiding in a number of European countries, they are not only in Belgium. Thousands of others are known to be living in certain African countries to-date.
 
Rwanda recognizes the recent efforts by the Belgian Government to arrest and prosecute some of the suspects. But we think that is not enough given such a big number of others still hiding therein.
 
 We call upon the Government of Belgium to squarely deal with the issue of fugitives suspected to be living in the various parts of the country. This is the only way in which Belgium would work with Rwanda to end impunity, uphold justice and ensure security and protection of citizens.
 
If it is determined, through investigations, that Juvenal Uwilingiyimana was a victim of a homicide; that the accomplices of Uwilingiyimana Juvenal are the prime suspects of the homicide, as it is highly probative given the deceased’s own declaration;
 Then impunity will be seen in such a long distance from the crime base, and in such sophiscated security system, as Belgium.
 
The continued presence of such fugitives on the territories of the various states and the states’ unwillingness or inability to arrest, try or extradite them is in itself an  impunity of an international character.
 
 Such unwillingness or inablity is encourag commission of such other crimes as homicide. Indeed, any 1994 genocide suspect has the highest potential to commit other lesser crimes.
 
We hope that the concerned authorities will not only be able to investigate arrest and prosecute the homicide suspects, but also do the same on the fugitives suspected to be on the Belgian territory elsewhere.
 
The responsibility to arrest, extradite and,or prosecute the genocide suspects rests on the entire community of nations.
 
We call upon the UN, the European Union, the African Union, and other regional bodies to put the problem of Rwanda genocide fugitives on the top of the agenda.
 
We re-iterate the need to exert pressure and consider sanctions on individual member states that do not co-operate in the process of fulfilling this international obligation.
 

Arusha, this 23rd day of December, 2005