A recent media report highlighting the presence of two men accused of major roles in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi living freely in Australia should ignite a sense of both outrage and solemn responsibility. The two men identified as Froduald Rukeshangabo and Celestin Munyaburanga were uncovered through a report by a joint investigation by two media houses - Guardian Australia and ABC Four Corners. ALSO READ Rwanda renews call for Australia to extradite two Genocide fugitives The idea that individuals implicated in orchestrating and executing one of the darkest chapters in recent history find sanctuary in a nation that touts itself as a human rights champion is a stain on collective justice. Three decades ago, the world looked on as the Genocide against the Tutsi unfolded with appalling speed and brutality. For 100 days, over one million innocent Tutsi men, women, and children were slaughtered by their fellow citizens in a campaign of hate fueled by extremist ideology. ALSO READ: Where are the 1,100 Genocide fugitives? Now, reports indicate that the two men – one a former school headteacher and the other a former inspector of schools – complicit in this wave of mass murder, reside comfortably in Australia. Survivors of this genocide continue to endure the immeasurable pain of their loss, while the architects of their trauma roam free, far from the reach of accountability. This cannot stand. ALSO READ: Rwandan Genocide fugitive, 64, arrested in The Netherlands While countries like the United States, Canada, and a number of European nations have actively pursued individuals suspected of genocide crimes, the lack of action from countries like Australia and the United Kingdom is troubling. It sends a dangerous message that the passage of time offers some sort of absolution for such heinous acts. It undermines the very foundation of international justice and emboldens those who believe they can escape the consequences of their crimes. Australia, in particular, has a moral and legal obligation to act. As a signatory to the Genocide Convention, the country has committed to preventing and punishing the crime of genocide. Allowing accused perpetrators to live freely within its borders is a direct violation of this commitment. The choices are clear: Australia must immediately arrest these men and either extradite them to Rwanda to face trial or prosecute them under Australian laws. The wheels of justice may grind slowly, but they must not stop for those who bear the weight of involvement in the genocide. To do otherwise would be a grave disservice to the victims, a betrayal of those who survived, and a stain on Australia's commitment to upholding the principles of human rights.
