In her statement commending the verdict by French court against the genocidaire Philippe Hategekimana, the UN Special Adviser on Prevention of Genocide, Alice Wairimu Nderitu reiterated her ‘call to all the remaining fugitives of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi to surrender for justice to be served.’
Nderitu made this call after the Paris Court of Assises sentenced notorious genonice perpetrator Philippe Hategekimana to life imprisonment.
“This verdict is another strong signal to all those who commit atrocity crimes, incite to have them committed, or who glorify the perpetrators thereof, that justice will prevail- no matter their attempts at hiding, no matter the time that has passed.” UN Special Adviser- Nderitu said.
A former military policeman, convicted genocidaire was found guilty for his involvement in the murder of dozens of Tutsis and ordered Interahamwe to put in place roadblocks to stop Tutsi and kill them. Hategekimana committed genocide crimes in the Southern Province, mainly in Nyanza, Nyabubare, Nyamure and Ntyazo.
Hategekimana was also charged with taking part in the executions of a nun, the Mayor of Ntyazo Commune, who resisted the atrocities by protecting 300 Tutsi refugees on the Nyamugari hill.
UN’s Nderitu also raised a concern that ‘many indicted people are still at large, and some are reportedly living normal lives, without fear of being brought to justice.’
Countries like the UK and the Netherlands have continued to shield genocidaires citing lame excuses that the culprits won’t be given a fair trial in Rwanda; however all genocide perpetrators who were sent to Rwanda have all been accorded fair trials. The excuse is just an ill-advised decision to prevent justice from prevailing.
ellenkampire