Author: Tim

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Genocide arrests

Five genocide suspects were recently arrested in the UK, where they had fled and were seeking asylum.

Among the five, who were all senior leaders of the Hutu militia during the Genocide, is one Vincent Bajinya, who has been allegedly working for a London-based charity as a doctor; Emmanuel Ntezilyayo, Charlesall Munyaneza and Celestin Ugirasebuja. Contacted Saturday, Justice Minister, Tharcisse Karugarama told The New Times that the five suspects were arrested by British police and would appear in court to determine their deportation.

Rwanda had previously asked that the UK and other European countries hand over suspects for trials, but the process has been slow as the majority of nations don’t support the death penalty.

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North Carolina divests

My one time home — North Carolina — has become the latest in a series of states to divest from companies that have ties to Sudan. Treasurer Richard Moore, who oversees the state’s pension funds, arranged to pull support from nine different foreign companies who have ties to the conflicted region, totaling $24 million.

“Our state pension funds should not be used to invest in companies that profit from genocide,” Moore said Wednesday. He was addressing about 2,000 members of the General Baptist State Convention of North Carolina, which met in Winston-Salem.

“As the ninth-largest pension fund in the nation, we have both the clout and the resources to make a difference,” Moore said.

If you’re interested in finding out more, or would like information on how to help your state divest from Sudan, visit the Sudan Divestment Task Force.

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France sued over Rwanda

Four survivors of the Rwandan genocide are suing the French Government for being complicit in the murder and rape of Tutsis in 1994. The charges will require that the government release 105 documents pertaining to the case.

The four survivors say French troops committed crimes themselves, and also let Hutu killers enter refugee camps under their protection.

I don’t think they’ll have any trouble establishing that French Troops (and UN workers) allowed Hutu genocidaires to enter the refugee camps as its already been well documented.

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Jason Miller (Sudan Divestment Taskforce)

Jason Miller, the national policy director of the Sudan Divestment Taskforce, talked with Jerry Fowler of the Committee on Conscience about the process and impact of the taskforce’s aim of divesting from companies that do business in Sudan. You can either download the podcast or read a transcript of that interview at the CoC’s website.

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Genocide trials go unnoticed

If you only watch the mainstream media, you might think that Saddam Hussein’s trial is not only unique because of the defendant, but also because of the charges. After all, how often do you hear of someone facing genocide and crimes against humanity charges?

Like much of the media in this country, however, the approach to journalism has less to do with informing and more to do with selling papers — Saddam is a sensational character that repeatedly defies judges in headline grabbing ways. It also gives a slight nod of accomplishment to our failed policies in Iraq (a dim happy note behind the cacophony of disgust).

Yet, throughout Saddam’s trial, there have been dozens of verdicts against genocide perpetrators and accomplishes that have gone completely unreported.

Aloys Simba (Oct 2, 2006)
Found guilty of genocide and crimes against humanity and sentenced to 25 years imprisonment.

Paul Bisengimana (Oct 1, 2006)
Sentenced to 15 years of prison after having pleaded guilty.

Momcilo Krajisnik (Sept 27, 2006)
Sentenced to 27 years imprisonment.

Biljana Plavsic (Sept 27, 2006)
Biljana Plavsic was sentenced to 11 years imprisonment and is serving her sentence in Sweden.

Tharcisse Muvunyi (Sept 12, 2006)
Muvunyi was sentenced to 25 years in prison for genocide.

Radislav Krstic (June 22, 2006)
Sentenced to 35 years imprisonment.

Mikaeli Muhimana (April 28, 2006)
Sentenced to life in prison.

Elizaphan Ntakirutimana (April 27, 2006)
Sentenced to 10 years imprisonment for genocide. Ntakirutimana was a pastor with the Seventh Day Adventists and was arrested in Texas and extradited in 1996.

Keep in mind this is a mere snapshot from two of the busiest tribunals (Rwanda and Yugoslavia), neither of which are receiving even a tenth of the press coverage that Saddam’s trial is currently fueling.

Did Saddam commit acts (or an act) of genocide? Sure he did. We don’t even need to ask, cause he was our ally against Iran when he did it, and we gladly sold him arms throughout the entire campaign (not unlike France did in Rwanda). The point is, genocidal leaders have been on trial continuously throughout Saddam’s trial, without so much as a mumble from the press.

In fact, key architects in the Rwandan and Yugoslavian genocides (eighteen and six respectively) remain at large today. The press doesn’t cover that either.