Editor, RE: "CNLG lauds Germany for extraditing Genocide suspect” (The New Times, August 22).

Genocide perpetrators can flee justice but can never hide forever. They may change names and hop from one country to another but as the saying goes, you can’t run from yourself.

It is commendable that Germany recently extradited Jean Twagiramungu, this is a path in the right direction and we can only hope they will keep the pace to fighting impunity.

I would like to call upon other countries to borrow a leaf from Germany, starting with her immediate neighbours.

As stated in article 1 of the 1948 international convention on prevention and punishment of the crime of genocide, all countries party to the convention have an obligation to punish the crime of genocide.

Thus, if countries like the United Kingdom—that have recently ruled out extradition of Célestin Ugirashebuja, Charles Munyaneza, Vincent Bajinya, Emmanuel Nteziryayo and Célestin Mutabaruka who are masterminds of the Genocide against the Tutsi and crimes against humanity; and France, that systematically rejected all requests for extradition made by Rwanda, including those concerning Agathe Kanziga Habyarimana, Callixte Mbarushimana, Father Wenceslas Munyeshyaka, Father Marcel Hitayezu, Colonel Laurent Serubuga, Colonel Marcel Bivugabagabo, Dr Eugène Rwamucyo, Dr Sosthène Munyemana, Hyacinthe Rafiki Nsengiyumva, Isaac Kamali Muhayimana, Claver Kamana, Innocent Musabyimana, Joseph Habyarimana, Venuste Nyombayire, Pierre Tegera, Charles Twagira, Paul Kanyamihigo better known as Camy, Fabien Neretse, Manassé Bigwenzare, Enock Kayondo—cannot learn from the best practices of Germany, they should at least look up the judicial obligation enshrined in the 1948 Convention.

In the interest of justice and laws, all State Parties to the 1948 Convention should comply with obligations provided for under the Convention to apprehend, try or extradite suspects of the Genocide against the Tutsi wherever they may be.

Bemba