UN pursues justice on Rwanda's 16th commemoration of genocide

Apr 7, 2010, 16:46 GMT

New York - The United Nations vowed Wednesday on the 16th commemoration of the genocide in Rwanda that the remaining 11 fugitives responsible for the deaths of 800,000 people will not escape justice.

The International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda will continue to 'deliver justice and ensure accountability,' UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said in a message to mark the day when the Hutu government in Kigali in 1994 unleashed the violence against Tutsis after a plane crashed killed the country's president, a Hutu.

'I salute member states for their continued support and urge cooperation with the tribunal to arrest and hand over the remaining fugitives,' Ban said.

The tribunal in past years has sentenced to long-term imprisonment some of the former Kigali officials who incited the massacre.

'The countries in the region have also made important progress with the historic Pact on Security, Stability and Development for the Great Lakes Region, which includes a protocol on the prevention and punishment of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity,' Ban said.

Ban said the UN is working to advance implementation of pacts to prevent genocide 'as the best way to remember those who lost their lives so tragically in Rwanda.'