A French court finally convicted Genocide mastermind Phillippe Hategekimana for his role in the Genocide against the Tutsi, and sentenced him to life imprisonment, the highest sentence that can be awarded by French courts. A former influential police officer in the present-day Nyanza District, Hategekimana was pinned by witnesses for orchestrating the murder of the Tutsi and establishing roadblocks to intercept and execute then in the hills of Nyamure and Nyabubare, as well as the former Ntyazo, Nyabisindu, and Rusatira communes, all in southern Rwanda. ALSO READ Witnesses pin Philippe Hategekimana on role in Genocide He is the fifth person to be convicted for genocide by French courts, something worth commending, especially the new impetus by the French judiciary to bring to book genocide fugitives who have for three decades found safe haven in the European country. However, many more fugitives still continue to roam freely in France including those that were arrested and released on ridiculous grounds, including Laurent Serubuga, a former senior military officer in the genocidal regime. ALSO READ: Genocide fugitive arrested in Cameroon Serubuga was arrested in 2013 on an indictment issued by Rwandan prosecution, but he was after a few months released by a French court on grounds that the crimes he stood accused had been committed over ten years. While we appreciate that such unfortunate rulings were made at a time when political ties between Rwanda and France were probably at their lowest, it is important that such rulings are revisited in the interest of justice. For one, the crime of genocide world over is imprescriptible, meaning that it is not bound by the statute of limitation, and a suspect at any given time can be prosecuted for these crimes, once apprehended. ALSO READ: Survivors welcome trial of Genocide fugitive in France Other masterminds that France should also be pursued expeditiously because they are aging and may never face justice in their lifetime. Take an example of Agathe Kanziga, the former First Lady who was the matriarch behind Akazu, the most virulent and powerful elitist club which was at the heart of organizing and executing the Genocide against the Tutsi. Kanziga, who is now over 80 years, does not have many years ahead of her, which may deny a chance to those that have waited for three decades to witness her being held accountable for her actions, especially survivors of the Genocide. Finally, in the interest of time, and following well established jurisprudence, France should also consider extraditing some of the suspects to Rwanda so that they are tried in Rwandan court, where their victims can witness, first hand, their trial for them for this is very important for their healing journey. ReplyReply allForward
