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Rwanda-DR Congo Interpol's National Central Bureau should arrest and extradite Gen. Kabarebe to France (01.10.07)

Press Release

According to different sources, Gen. James Kaberebe arrived in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Capital Kinshasa yesterday to attend an extraordinary Tripartite Plus military chiefs meeting, scheduled to take place in Lubumbashi this week.

Gen. James Kabarebe, currently RDF Chief of General Staff, one of nine military aides to President Paul Kagame targeted by international warrants issued by Anti-terrorist Jean-Louis Bruguière on charges of “assassination, complicity of assassination, criminal conspiracy, in relation with a terrorist act" for the shooting down of Rwanda presidential jet on April 6, 1994, should be arrested and extradited to France.

Former President Habyarimana's plane, with a three member French crew, was hit by a missile as he flew back to the Rwandan capital Kigali after a regional summit in Dar-es-Salam (Tanzania). The terrorist attack triggered 1994 Rwandan genocide. Also aboard the plane were President Cyprien Ntaryamira of Burundi and two members of his government. Their assassination worsened Burundi’s political crisis and the country eventually fell into open civil war.

French judge forwarded a note requesting the assistance of International Criminal Police Organization also known as Interpol, based in Lyon (France) for the purpose of apprehending of James Kabarebe and his eight associates.

Each Interpol member country maintains a National Central Bureau staffed by national law enforcement officers. The NCB is the designated contact point for the General Secretariat, regional offices and other member countries requiring assistance with overseas investigations and the location and apprehension of fugitives. The Democratic Republic of Congo, an ICPO member, which is supposed to maintain an Interpol’s NCB, has the legal obligation to arrest Gen. Kabarebe and to extradite him to France, where he is under criminal investigation since last November 2006.

Also wanted by France jurisdictions are Lt Gen. Charles Kayonga, Land Force Chief of Staff,  Lt Gen. Kayumba Nyamwasa, currently Ambassador to India, Brig. Jackson Nkurunziza a.k.a Jack Nziza, Joint Staff Officer in charge of Political Education (J5), Maj. Gen. (rtd) Samuel Kanyamera, an RPF member of the Chamber of Deputies, Col. (rtd) Jacob Tumwine, a former army officer, Franck Nziza, a presidential guard officer, Eric Hakizimana, an intelligence officer and Rose Kabuye, a.k.a Rose Kanyange, director general of State Protocol in the President’s Office.

Last 24 September 2007, former Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori, the subject of an Interpol international wanted persons notice ('Red Notice'), was arrested and later extradited to Peru with the assistance of INTERPOL.  Police officers from Interpol’s National Central Bureau (NCB) in Chile handed Fujimori over to the Director General of the Peruvian National Police and the head of Interpol’s NCB in Peru accompanied by two other INTERPOL police officials on 22 September 2007.

The UDF-Inkingi urges all concerned police officials from France, DR Congo and Interpol to comply with their national and international legal obligations and to bring to book Gen Kabarebe.

The UDF-Inkingi recalls that President Kagame, who planned and ordered the missile attack but is protected by his current status from investigations in France, is the subject of a procedure in the hands of the UN Secretary General who was asked by French anti-terrorist judge to initiate investigations before the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda located in Arusha (Tanzania).
Gen. Kabarebe led twice RDF invading contingents in DRC territory in 1996-97 and in 1998-2002. They committed serious and massive violations of international humanitarian law against Rwandan refugees and Congolese civilians. In 1996-97, at least 200.000 Rwandans and thousands of Hutu Congolese were killed under James Kabarebe’s direct supervision.  In a report forwarded to UN Security Council on 29 June 1998, a UN Secretary General’s Investigative Team sent to DRC concluded that those killings “constitute crimes against humanity, as does the denial of humanitarian assistance to Rwandan Hutu refugees” and that “ some of the killings may constitute genocide, depending on their intent.”

Between 1998 and 2002, during the second invasion, at least 3.5 millions of Congolese civilians were killed, due directly or indirectly to illegal military activities planned and led by Gen. J. Kabarebe. Since RDF official withdrawal from DRC territory, RDF led units under Gen. J. Kabarebe’s military leadership, are currently conducting covert operations in Norh-Kivu and South-Kivu, using of proxy groups led respectively by renegade FARDC officers Laurent Nkundabatware in North-Kivu and Col. Bisogo in South-Kivu. So far, those covert operations have displaced at least 740.000 Congolese civilians.

The UDF-Inkingi is convinced that there will be no lasting peace and no stability in the Great Lakes Region if all those crimes remain unpunished. The UDF-Inkingi believes that if justice continues to be delayed or denied, no reconciliation will be possible, an unavoidable pre-requisite to reconstruction and shared economic growth in that part of the African continent.

Brussels, October, 01 2007

Dr Jean-Baptiste MBERABAHIZI
Secretary General
        (Signed)