Stop impunity in Rwanda!
The Spanish Platform to Stop Impunity in Rwanda, PBIR, is preparing to deliver the following letter requesting the South African government to accept the extradition petition issued by the Spanish government and to hand over the indicted Mr. Kayumba Nyamwasa to the Spanish authorities. This week is the anniversary of the Feb. 6, 2010, Spanish court decision on Rwanda by Judge Fernando Andreu. To add your organization to the list of signatories to the letter, email Susana Sanz Guardo at susana@bastadeimpunidadenruanda.org.
Mr. President:
The Platform to Stop Impunity in Rwanda is a group of organizations who have been involved in the field of human rights for a long time, more specifically against impunity in central Africa and very particularly in Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. These organizations have come together, backed up by the great social and media impact achieved after our action on July 16, 2010, when our Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero canceled the official reception for President Paul Kagame of Rwanda.
The Platform to Stop Impunity in Rwanda wishes to provide the following information regarding a man accused of being a war criminal who, as you might be aware, is currently in South Africa, and the judicial process against him monitored by Spanish courts: That man is Mr. Kayumba Nyamwasa.
The Spanish courts have legal authority to prosecute international crimes – genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes, among others – even if they are alleged to have occurred in other countries, as long as there is a clear connection to Spain.
Former Rwandan Gen. Kayumba Nyamwasa is being charged by the Juzgado Central de Instrucción number 4 de la Audiencia Nacional (Judge Fernando Andreu) of crimes of genocide and the murder of a Spanish missionary and three Spanish aid workers, among other victims, like Rwandan and Congolese victims. The competent judicial authorities for international crimes proposed to the Spanish political authorities the extradition of Mr. Nyamwasa, in accordance with the national criminal procedure laws and international laws. In September 2010, as you may as well know, the Spanish government requested officially the extradition of Mr. Kayumba Nyamwasa to the competent authorities of South Africa.
Extradition treaties
As there is currently an extradition treaty ratified by Spain and the Republic of South Africa, the procedure will be based on this treaty: the European Convention on Extradition (Paris, Dec. 13, 1957). South Africa ratified and joined the Treaty on Feb. 12, 2003, with all legal purposes as Adhered Party pursuant to Articles 30 and 6.2 of the Convention; Spain did the same in 1982. Article 1 forces the extradition of individuals prosecuted for a criminal offense, especially if it is an international crime, and there is no reservation or statement limiting the obligation of the Republic of South Africa today.
According to the petition of extradition request issued by the Spanish authorities, the Platform to Stop Impunity in Rwanda asks you to follow through the international laws defined in the Convention mentioned above and to proceed with the extradition of Mr. Kayumba Nyamwasa to Spain.
Convention on the Status of Refugees
Moreover, in the occurrence that the former Gen. Mr. Kayumba Nyamwasa has requested political asylum in the Republic of South Africa, we wish to remind you that in 1996 South Africa ratified and joined the Convention on the Status of Refugees (Geneva, July 28, 1951).
This Convention states in Article 1F that:
“The provisions of this Convention shall not apply to any person with respect to whom there are serious reasons for considering that:
“(a) he has committed a crime against peace, a war crime, or a crime against humanity, as defined in the international instruments drawn up to make provision in respect of such crimes;
“(b) he has committed a serious non-political crime outside the country of refuge prior to his admission to that country as a refugee;
“(c) he has been guilty of acts contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations.”
Furthermore, South Africa is also part of the OAU Convention Governing the Specific Aspects of Refugee Problems in Africa since December 1995. Article 1.5 of this agreement prohibits the application of refugee status for the same reasons that the Geneva Convention as follows:
“The provisions of this Convention shall not apply to any person with respect to whom the country of asylum has serious reasons for considering that:
“a) he has committed a crime against peace, a war crime, or a crime against humanity, as defined in the international instruments drawn up to make provision in respect of such crimes;
“b) he committed a serious non-political crime outside the country of refuge prior to his admission to that country as a refugee;
“c) he has been guilty of acts contrary to the purposes and principles of the Organization of African Unity;
“d) he has been guilty of acts contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations.”
Under these international conventions Mr. Kayumba Nyamwasa cannot be granted asylum status and should be extradited to Spanish courts.
Petition
The Platform to Stop Impunity in Rwanda requests the South African government accept the extradition petition issued by the Spanish government, on the basis of all the legal issues explained above, and hand over the indicted Mr. Kayumba Nyamwasa to the Spanish authorities.
Yours sincerely,
Platform to STOP IMPUNITY IN RWANDA, formed by: Comités de Solidaridad África Negra (UMOYA); Fundación SUR; África Tumaini; INSHUTI; Drets Humans de Mallorca; Veritas Ruanda Forum; Fundació S’Olivar; Red Africa-Europa, Fe y Justicia (AEFJN) Antena de Madrid; Justica y Paz MC; Campaña “África, cuestión de vida, cuestión debida” de Red de Entidades de Desarrollo Solidario (REDES)
For more information and to add your organization as a signatory to the foregoing letter, contact Susana Sanz Guardo at susana@bastadeimpunidadenruanda.org and visit www.bastadeimpunidadenruanda.org.
When shall you people think and analyse rather than hating Rwanda and Rwandans for no reason
You are protecting killers in your country and listen to their excuses they give for them to be seen innocent, Spain as a country has its own problems remaining unsolved, but is thinking of planning where one has to be extradicted, bring him in Rwanda. by the way all crimes were in Rwanda why shoulnt yu bring him and others for sentences.
Live Rwanda alone, you hate Kagame for progress administered in the country.
Our Paul-Rwanda still needs you to plan.
Vive Kagame-Vive le Rwanda
Rwanda is a country which has good leaders who will never tolerate everyone who want to be biased about corruption and insecurity.
Some persons who are not honest are leaving the country I hope that it's a good opportunity to show the world that our country will never imitate white's bad habit of taking African countries like their own land.
We're proud of our country………………………………………………
Rwanda – (Kayumba+Karegeye+Gahima) = Organized country
Why should Kagame be hated in the first case? Lets let the spanish case for Spain but any Rwandan who hates who hates Kagame hates Rwanda and all Rwandans in general,All that he is doing is the benefits our country and our people unlike Generals who run away accountability. So if spain want Mr.Nyamwasa let it not invole Rwanda and talk about its own issues with him.There is no doubt that Rwanda never asked for Spain's help. We as Rwandans are living a good life and we request thoes who call it bad life from out abroad to come and experince it them selves other that spreading romours!!!
Many of us would very much like to "leave Rwanda alone," in that we would like to stop supporting the Kagame government financially and militarily, and, we would like to stop using its soldiers to serve the U.S. military agenda in Africa.
I hope you leaving Rwanda is your choice not every body's, do not talk on behalf of the fellow rwandase and you stop financing Kagame Goverment but it will continue to prosper with out your support and leave alone the soldier they are just helping fellow Africans to stop violance and the idealogies of genocide which might happen as it did in our country so it should not be encouraged even if it is to sent our soldiers to do so please be a panafricanist and have mercy to your fellow africans facing the genocide problems like in Darfur is that human
@Ann which soldiers are you talking about and who are do you speack on of that is supporting our government with an aim of destroying it? All Rwandans should be muximumly carefull with people who speack from outside our lovely Rwanda that is peacefull more that it has ever been before.
Interesting article – others in South Africa share your concern No good reason to protect Rwandan fugitive: http://www.businessday.co.za/articles/Content.asp…
wow very interesting this makes me want to help but i know my girly self cant do anything lol