Four Rwandans suspected of genocide may face UK trials after loophole is closed
By Cahal Milmo, Chief Reporter
Wednesday, 8 July 2009
Vincent Bajinya, who is also known as Doctor Vincent Brown, Celestin Ugirashebuja and Emmanuel Nteziryayo were arrested in Britain 28 December 2006 after being accused of involvement in the 1994 Rwandan genocide.
Suspected mass murderers and war crimes suspects living in Britain, including four men accused of taking part in the Rwandan genocide, will face prosecution for the first time after the Government announced the closure of a loophole which had made the United Kingdom a haven from justice.
The Justice Secretary Jack Straw unveiled the biggest change in British laws covering crimes against humanity in 20 years, following an outcry over a High Court decision in April not to send four Rwandans resident in the UK back to their home country to face prosecution.
Under the proposals, the law which bars charges relating to any war crime, act of genocide or crime against humanity committed before 2001 will be changed to allow prosecutions for atrocities committed since 1 January 1991, including the Balkan wars and the 1994 conflict in Rwanda, in which 800,000 people were systematically exterminated.
Mr Straw said the change, which will be put before Parliament in the autumn, could lead to "tens" of alleged war criminals and "genocidaires" who have gained British passports or are resident in the UK facing trial in this country.
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Rwandan genocide on Lucid Magazine
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