Dutch minister vows to track Genocide suspects

The Dutch Minister for Migration, Security and Justice, Fred Teeven, has pledged his country’s continued support in bringing to trial Genocide suspects on the European country’s soil.The minister was yesterday addressing the media after his meeting with Justice minister Johnston Busingye in Kigali as part of his three-day official visit to the country.“Our visit is about reinforcing our cooperation in the justice sector and how we can help. As one of its development partners, we are happy to see Rwanda making good progress in rebuilding the (justice) system,” Teeven said.‘Dozen cases’He said currently there are more than a dozen cases involving fugitives accused of participating in the 1994 against the Tutsi, who are on his country’s territory, adding that they are willing to have these suspects extradited to Rwanda for trial.“Concerning one suspect, lower courts have already decided on extradition and we are now waiting for the decision of the Supreme Court. After that, the Dutch Government will also have to decide, but as government we are very willing to extradite people to Rwanda where possible,” he said, referring to the case of Jean Claude Iyamuremye.In a subsequent telephone interview, Jean Bosco Siboyintore, the head of Genocide Fugitives Tracking Unit at the Rwanda Public Prosecutions Authority, said up to 20 cases are currently being investigated in The Netherlands.However, the Dutch minister said the issue of extradition is always made more complex by the fact that some of the fugitives have already been naturalised as Dutch citizens.“Some of them have lived in The Netherlands for almost 20 years and have in the process acquired citizenship; of course we have judicial problems to extradite them to Rwanda,” said Teeven.But Siboyintore said some of the possibilities that can be looked at include revoking the citizenship, to pave way for extradition.“Prior to extraditing them, the country may consider scrapping their citizenship among other procedures,” said Siboyintore.In most cases, citizenship for such people is scrapped premised on the fact that a suspect is found to have lied about their past while processing the citizenship.Minister Busingye said in case a person obtained nationality through legal means, the issuing country cannot be blamed, “though it sometimes hinders the extradition exercise.”“Extradition is our wish, but in case it is not possible, we would be reassured when countries try these suspects, because justice is our ultimate target.”The Dutch courts have so far tried and convicted several suspects, including Joseph Mpambara, who is serving a life sentence. Last year, Yvonne Basebya, 66, was also sentenced to eight years for her role in the Genocide.Field of cooperationBusingye commended the Dutch, saying they have been some of the key development partners in the implementation of the reforms within the justice sector which began in 2004.He said they supported the Gacaca jurisdictions which closed shop in 2012, and also helped in building the capacity of judges, court clerks and prosecutors, among other staff, within the Judiciary.Currently, he said, the Dutch government supports in building capacity of community mediators, commonly known as Abunzi, and the judicial clinics that are based at the district level, known as Maisons d’Accès à la Juctice.Teevens and his delegation arrived in the country on Sunday for a three day visit.They will visit different institutions including the immigration and emigration department, the prosecutor general office, the Rwanda National Police and the prisons, and the visiting minister is also expected to sign a memorandum of understanding on bilateral cooperation with Foreign Affairs minister Louise Mushikiwabo.