Rwanda seeks genocide fugitives from Britain
Source: Reuters
(Adds Home Office comment, paragraphs 5-6) KIGALI, Nov 7 (Reuters) - Rwanda is seeking extradition of four suspected masterminds of the country's 1994 genocide, including a medical doctor, who are living and working in Britain, the Justice Minister told Reuters on Tuesday. Rwanda says the wanted men have changed their identities which is hampering efforts to have them arrested and extradited to the tiny central African country to face charges related to the massacre of about 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus. Rwanda said it was seeking Munyaneza Charles, Celestin Ugirasebuja and Emmanuel Ntezilyayo, all former mayors accused of genocide related crimes. "All these fugitives are living a comfortable life in the United Kingdom but are surely key planners of the 1994 genocide," said Tharcisse Karugarama, Rwanda's Justice Minister. Britain's Home Office said it would investigate any such allegations but would not comment on whether an extradition request had been received for a particular individual. "No one suspected of genocide in Rwanda can expect to enjoy impunity or to find haven in the UK. Where such allegations are made, the government will establish the facts and, in the light of those, take whatever action is appropriate," a Home Office spokesperson said. A fourth suspect, Vincent Bajinya, worked for London-based charity Praxis until last month. Praxis Director Vaughan Jones said he had not seen Bajinya since Oct. 19, when he received a letter from the BBC asking about the Rwandan. He has now been suspended by the charity. "He was a medical doctor and he was employed by us to run training courses for health professionals who wished to work in the UK, particularly nurses," said Jones. DEATH PENALTY According to officials at the Attorney General's office, Bajinya had changed his name to Dr. Brown while Munyaneza, who is still at large, now goes by the name Muneza Charles. "The dilemma we have is that most of these fugitives have changed their identities which makes it difficult for us to track them," Karugarama told Reuters. Jones confirmed that Bajinya had changed his name to Brown after starting work at Praxis. A charge sheet seen by Reuters showed the four faced charges such as conspiracy to commit genocide and crimes against humanity. Britain opposes the death penalty and the British government requires guarantees from countries that deportees will not be mistreated at home before granting extradition. The death penalty is part of Rwandan criminal law, but Rwanda's cabinet and the ruling Rwandan Patriotic Front party have recommended that it be scrapped. Authorities are seeking support across the country, and especially from survivors of the genocide, before a motion to do away with the death penalty is presented in parliament. "The topmost masterminds of the Rwandan genocide are still at large and are mainly living in Europe and some parts of West Africa," Karugarama said. "We can only bring them to stand trial in Rwanda if we abolish the death penalty." The International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR), a U.N. court based in Tanzania which is trying genocide suspects, winds up its work in two years' time. The remaining fugitives will stand trial in Rwanda. (Additional reporting by David Clarke in London)
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