US PLEDGE TO HUNT GENOCIDE FUGITIVES SHOULD BE EMULATED

The US Ambassador-at-Large for War Crimes, on Friday, pledged his country’s commitment to Rwanda’s efforts to bring to justice Genocide suspects, and individuals bankrolling the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), a terrorist organisation based in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Many Genocide perpetrators and FDLR apologists are currently engrossed in efforts to deny the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. This in a way is a continuation of their genocidal agenda. However, it is perturbing that as we commemorate the Genocide, they continue to enjoy succour from some quarters in the international community and lobby groups. A number of governments have taken steps to apprehend the fugitives, but more needs to be done. What is necessary, is a global commitment to ensure that Genocide fugitives are arrested and those still bent of the extermination of the Tutsi are stopped in their tracks. Seventeen years after the Genocide, it is not going to be very easy to track down all Genocide fugitives out there, since many have assumed new identities and live in places where it may not be simple to get their true identity and background. However, efforts by different countries and particularly ordinary citizens, who may have come in contact with people suspected of genocide crimes, by way of informing relevant authorities It is, therefore, crucial that people in their individual capacities everywhere, take lessons from the efforts by the US and make a small but significant contribution to humanity by helping to bring to justice genocide fugitives. Ends