afrol News, 13 January - The Rwandan Tribunal in Tanzania has rejected the extradition of genocide suspects to Rwanda, fearing defendants might risk life imprisonment in isolation. It is for the fifth time International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) has rejected the Rwandan call.

According to local media reports, European courts have also rejected requests for extradition of genocide suspects saying Rwandan requests contained many errors of law which are also present at various stages of the trials.

"That reveals the existence of a cultural gap between the legal practices and traditions which does not leave the international community insensitive when it is a question of doing a work of justice and truth in a spirit of memory and reconciliation," local news agency reported.

International courts said the extradition of the suspects would not guarantee human rights of individuals despite Rwanda having pledged its intention to adapt its legal system to the requirements of the international community.

Other international organisations including Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International are also reported to have criticised and rejected extradition of genocide suspects saying Rwanda has no capacity to carry out trials in partial manner to protect victims and witnesses.

Reports said there are about 93 genocide suspects outside Rwanda which the country has issued international arrest warrants, but there are least eleven people who have already been identified in Europe.

Some 800,000 minority Tutsis and moderate Hutus were slaughtered by Hutu militias in just 100 days in 1994.

UN-backed International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) was set up in 1997 to try the most high-profile genocide cases.

By staff writer

© afrol News

Related pages and feature

Current afrol News Top Stories