Dutch MPs to push for extradition of Genocide fugitives

Members of Parliament of the Kingdom of Netherlands will today conclude their five-day official visit aimed at learning about the current political, social and economic situation in the country. The group of eight politicians paid a courtesy call to President Paul Kagame yesterday afternoon at Village Urugwiro in Kigali. Addressing the media after meeting the President, members of the delegation said they had assessed the national judicial and legal systems, among other things, with the intentions of informing the Dutch system on possibilities of extradition in the near future. Their assessments involved visiting a prison and holding meetings with stakeholders in the justice sector to learn about the state of the legal system. Sharon Gesthuizen, a Dutch member of parliament who was part of the delegation, said Netherlands, having shared warm relations with Rwanda for decades, would play their role to see Genocide fugitives brought to justice. She said that her country prided itself in peace and justice and does not want to be a haven for fugitives from justice. “The decision on the way forward should, however, not be rushed, it may take time but it is important to see that we make the right decisions,” Gesthuizen told the press. The Netherlands allowed its first and only extradition to Rwanda in 2013, of Jean-Claude Iyamuremye. As of now, there is no extradition treaty between the two countries. The Dutch delegation at Village Urugwiro yesterday. (Courtesy) However, Dutch courts have tried and sentenced Genocide suspects arrested on their soil, including Yvonne Basebya, who was in 2014 sentenced to six years for inciting Genocide against the Tutsi and Joseph Mpambara who was sentenced to 20 years in 2009. There are at least three other key Genocide fugitives suspected to be living in the country. During their five-day visit that began on August 15, the Dutch parliamentarians also took time to assess impacts of projects funded by their government. They also held meetings with authorities of both public and private institutions, including the civil society. Among projects visited include, Gigawatt Global solar energy field in Rwamagana District that was funded by Dutch Development Bank and ENAS fertiliser project in Kicukiro District. They also visited the Mahama refugee camp that hosts Burundian refugees, Kigali Genocide memorial centre and emerging enterprises owned by young entrepreneurs. Gesthuizen said they would work to foster trade ties of the two countries. The Dutch and Rwanda parliaments have had close ties in the past characterised by exchange visits with the aim of strengthening bilateral cooperation. editorial@newtimes.co.rw

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Dutch MPs to push for extradition of Genocide fugitives