Canada is the latest country to deport a Genocide suspect to Rwanda. Henry Jean-Claude Seyoboka, a former military officer, is the second suspect - after Leon Mugesera - ordered to leave Canada after lying to their immigration system when applying for asylum. In Rwanda, he accused of a multitude of crimes against humanity committed in Kigali at the height of the Genocide. Seyoboka’s deportation comes hot on the heels of two other suspects; Jean-Claude Iyamuremye and Jean-Baptiste Mugimba who were deported from the Netherlands just last week.They are not the first suspects to be sent to Rwanda to face trial and are definitely not the last. Other European and African countries have done the same and no one is complaining, other than the suspects who were plucked out of their cozy hideaways. The International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) paved the way when it ruled that Rwanda was capable of holding fair trials that met international standards. A special chamber was set up at the Supreme Court to that effect and is up and running. So, it comes as a big surprise when courts in the United Kingdom fall prey to lame accusations that five suspects it is holding will not get a fair trial in Rwanda. Dr. Vincent Bajinya, Célestin Ugirashebuja, Celestin Mutabaruka, Emmanuel Nteziryayo, and Charles Munyaneza, have been fighting extradition for the last decade and are now enjoying the fruits of impunity. Genocide is not a simple crime that can be swept under the carpet as it touches the very core of humanity. Therefore, hiding behind the shroud of upholding the ethos of “fair trials” while Genocidaires are left to roam free is injustice in itself. It is high time the UK courts acknowledged the gravity of the alleged crimes and did more to ensure the suspects face the law.
