Rwanda’s outcry on fugitives echoed

BUJUMBURA - Internal Security Minister Fazil Harerimana has critised most countries for not sanctioning arrests for Genocide fugitives yet Rwanda has sent them a red notice.

Saturday, September 01, 2007

BUJUMBURA - Internal Security Minister Fazil Harerimana has critised most countries for not sanctioning arrests for Genocide fugitives yet Rwanda has sent them a red notice.

Minister Harerimana on Thursday August 30 while attending the annual meeting of East African internal security ministers said Rwanda has called upon all countries to help in bringing the Genocide architects to justice.

The ministers met to discuss resolutions set by Police Chiefs in the region who had met two days before.

Harerimana is optimistic that the partnership in communication and combating crimes by Police in the region is advantageous to Rwanda.

"Some countries are politicizing the problem of the Genocide suspects and this has hindered the arrest of these suspects,” he said adding that, "However, the main issue is the country’s commitment and good will to cooperate.”

Recently, the Interpol, an international police agency, pledged support to arrest or alert countries about genocide fugitives traveling across countries.

The Secretary General of Interpol, Ronald K .Noble told The New Times in an exclusive interview that he had already discussed with Andrew Rwigamba, Police Commissioner General about the remarkable role of Interpol of arresting fugitives.

Noble also appreciates Rwanda’s efforts to push for the arrests. "Rwigamba is a committed professional who has personally lobbied and encouraged the Interpol to play a more active role in arresting the fugitives.”

Interpol member states are now connected to one database system that helps trace criminals and helps police forces nab fugitives around the world.Rwanda is among the 186 countries which are connected.

"Interpol’s perspective of having databases for tracking information about fugitives and suspected terrorists accessible to Africa and the rest of the world is a major achievement,”Noble added.

Police across Africa is undergoing operational capacity and other operating capability and of all police units through specialised trainings which will and has led to the successful conduct of the cross border operations.Ends