The International Federation for Human Rights (IFHR) and several human rights bodies in Europe have issued a statement calling upon the EU to put on trial 37 suspects of the 1994 Rwandan genocide who are currently living in Europe.

"For the past 13 years, we have been calling on the International Community to take legal action against these Genocide perpetrators. We are interested in them being extradited rather than them standing trial abroad," the minister of Justice Tharcisse Karugarama reacted.


Speaking on the Government's position on the issue, Karugarama said that some countries have showed no interest in taking legal action against Genocide suspects living within their territories.

Among the countries listed by IFHR that are still harbouring Rwandan Genocide perpetrators include Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands and Norway, among others.

Karugarama said that Belgium has tried to make some of the genocide suspects face justice while other European countries do not have the will.

Over five people have been implicated and taken to courts of law in Belgium for taking a prime role in the Genocide.

Meanwhile, media reports quotes Alain Gauthier, a human rights campaigner representing Rwandans in France, as saying that there is still 'political brakes' in France that stops them from putting Rwandan genocide suspect on trial.

In their statement, IHRF says that European Governments have an obligation to investigate these allegations and where sufficient evidence exists, to bring these persons to justice.

Report sights France

The report says that many countries have failed to conduct investigations into the presence of genocide suspects living in their territories.

"This failure is most evidenced in France where not a single trial has resulted despite numerous investigations and prosecutions," the report states in part.

Currently senior genocide perpetrator like Father Wenceslas Munyeshyaka, Laurent Bucyibaruta, Laurent Serubuga, Cyprien Kayumba and Sosthène Munyemana are still living under the French government's protection.

Since last year, the European Court of Human Rights has continuously condemned France for its inexcusable delays in arresting genocide fugitives in Paris.

Europe failing Justice

Pundits allege that European countries have failed to prosecute Genocide suspects in their countries.
In some European countries, their domestic laws often don't allow for genocide prosecutions. Recently, the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda refused to transfer Michel Bagaragaza to Norway because of the absence of genocide legislation in that country.

However, the UK government is currently considering extraditing of Charles Munyaneza, Celestin Ugirashebuja, Emmanuel Nteziryayo and Dr Vincent Bajinja (a.k.a. Brown) to face trials in Rwanda because of some difficulties in their law.

In May last year, Rwanda issued a list of 93 most wanted genocide suspects living abroad. 37 of them are said to be lining freely in European countries.