Govt calls for Munyakazi’s extradition

KIGALI - The Office of the Prosecutor General Friday called for the “timely extradition” of Leopold Munyakazi, a genocide fugitive who was living in the USA. A statement signed by Prosecutor General Martin Ngoga said that Munyakazi was indicted for his involvement in the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi. He later jumped bail in 1999 and fled to the USA and got a teaching position at Goucher College. Munyakazi recently accused the Rwandan Government of collaborating and using the media to tarnish his name and falsely accuse him. Ngoga, however, refuted these remarks saying that Munyakazi was not indicted because of his criticism of the Government of Rwanda but because of his participation in the Genocide. “He was indicted because he has publicly denied that this genocide occurred and this cannot be mistaken for politics. His defenders should be forthright enough and have the audacity to quote him directly,” Ngoga said. He further dismissed the comments in the press by the Human Rights’ Watch that there was no evidence for pinning Munyakazi. “The statement by the Human Rights’ Watch is based on insufficient evidence of war crimes which are unfounded because they have neither reviewed this evidence nor provided alternative information in this regard,” he explained. Ngoga further pointed out that accusations regarding recent press reports of collaboration between the Government of Rwanda and a media group in exposing Munyakazi are untrue. “Any information on wanted fugitives is provided to whoever seeks it by the Fugitive Tracking Unit and there is nothing wrong with a member of the unit being present when a media organisation is present while interviewing a subject for a news report,” he stated. He also encouraged any interested parties including the authorities at Goucher College to go through records and evidence on Munyakazi’s case. He said that they were also free to carry out independent investigations on the ground. Ngoga revealed that this was previously communicated to the President of Goucher College in a telephone conversation with the Prosecutor General. Ends