The United Nations Special Advisor on the Prevention of Genocide, Alice Wairimu Nderitu, has called on all suspects of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi who are still at large to surrender themselves for justice to be served.
Nderitu made the call on May 25 as she welcomed the arrest of one of the most wanted genocide fugitives, Fulgence Kayishema in Paarl, South Africa.
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She pointed out that she welcomes the news of Kayishema’s arrest, arguing that it is a good move and good news for survivors and families of the victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in general.
"Holding perpetrators accountable for their actions is an essential step towards progress in a post-genocidal context,” she said, adding, "Impunity destroys the social fabric of societies and perpetuates mistrust among communities or towards the state, consequently creating conditions that undermine a lasting peace.”
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She stated that, if the perpetrators of past killings are not held accountable for their actions, there is a likelihood that history will repeat itself, and there is a need to end impunity.
"Accountability serves not only as a deterrent for future crimes, but it is also helping advance reconciliation and the healing of societies from the trauma of genocide and other atrocities. It also contributes to ensuring respect for the dignity of the victims of their families,” she added.
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Kayishema, one of the fugitives wanted for their role in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, was arrested on Wednesday, May 24, in a joint operation by the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (IRMCT)’s Office of the Prosecutor and South African authorities. He had a $5m bounty on him.
The former head of the judicial police in the former Kibuye prefecture has been on the run for over 20 years. Kayishema was indicted by the United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) in 2001 and charged with genocide, complicity in genocide, conspiracy to commit genocide, and crimes against humanity for killings and other crimes committed in Kivumu Commune, Kibuye Prefecture during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.