By Thursday Leo Mugesera a Rwandan living in Canada would have arrived in Rwanda to face criminal charges related to the 1994 Tutsi Genocide.
Mugesera had filed a case in a Canadian court requesting to halt his deportation to Rwanda.
He claimed that he would be tortured once in the hands of Rwandan authorities.
However, the Canadian federal government disputed the warnings of possible torture,saying it has taken all necessary steps to ensure Mugesera would be treated fairly in Rwanda.
Eventually United Nations Committee Against Torture (CAT) intervened in the matter requesting that Canadian government should not deport Mugesera to allow it investigate his claims that he would be tortured in Rwanda.
It’s upon this background that a concerned Rwandan, Kalisa Innocent has written to the UN secretary General Ban ki-Moon expressing his dissatisfaction against intervention by UN (CAT) in the deportation of Mugesera and asking the UN Boss to exercise his powers to reverse the CAT decision.
Below is Kalisa’s letter
Dear Secretary-General
I am writing as a survivor of the 1994 genocide. I know you have visited Kigali and understand the history of our country very well.
We have been shocked by news that a committee which operates as part of the United Nations (the Committee Against Torture) has intervened to delay the deportation of Leon Mugesera from Canada to Rwanda.
Mugesera was first ordered to leave Canada fifteen years ago to face trial for his central role in inciting the genocide that killed countless friends, family members and fellow citizens. Fifteen years of justice denied for his pivotal role in our national nightmare.
We are stunned that a committee of the UN would raise doubts about Rwanda’s capacity to deliver justice in the Mugesera case.
As you know from visiting our country, Rwanda has pursued justice and reconciliation since the genocide in a way that has earned the respect of the world.
The ICTR has started to refer cases to Rwanda’s own courts and a suspect will arrive in Kigali to face trial next week. This reflects the faith they have in our justice system.
Rwanda houses war criminals from Sierra Leone on behalf of the UN. This shows that the UN respects our penal system.
Just last week, the UNHCR invoked the cessation clause lighting the way homeward for the remaining Rwandan refugees.
Courts in Europe, the US and Canada are cooperating with Rwanda every day.
Rwanda abolished the death penalty in 2007. In 2008, we ratified the UN Convention Against Torture.
Leon Mugesera will receive a fair trial, just as hundreds of thousands of genocide suspects before him.
As a people, Rwandans have no interest in vengeance or torture. We passionately believe in the healing power of justice. We know that you do, too.
I am writing to urge that you do whatever is within your power to remove obstacles placed in the way of justice in case of Leon Mugesera.
Kind regards,
Kalisa Innocent
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