Rwandan genocide survivors angered by France's refusal to extradite suspect

Survivors of the 1994 Rwandan Genocide have expressed anger over a French court decision not to extradite a suspect in the genocide.

The court on Tuesday ruled Joseph Habyarimana, who is wanted in Rwanda, won't be extradited on the grounds that "the crimes were not offences at the time and laws cannot be applied retroactively."

Habarimana faces charges of inciting the murder of monks in the monastery where he worked during the genocide.

More than a million people of the majority ethnic Tutsi and minority Hutus were slaugtered within a 100-day period in the genocide.

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Dr. Jean Pierre Dusingizemungu, president of IBUKA -- an organization representing the genocide survivors, said the court decision was a "mockery" to the survivors and victims.

"We have to continue fighting against the people who want impunity for genocide fugitives. We appeal to the French authorities to cooperate with our country towards extraditing suspects to Rwanda to stand trial," he noted.

He said France never reacted positively to the extradition applications -- which has "sabotaged justice for genocide survivors and victims."

Rwanda last month condemned a French prosecutor's decision to drop genocide charges against Wenceslas Munyeshyaka, a Rwandan Roman Catholic priest who was found guilty of involvement in the genocide.

Another French court in May released Dr. Charles Twagira who is suspected of participation in the genocide, riling the Rwandan government and genocide survivors.

Rwanda's laws give the authorities the retroactive mandate to arrest suspects in the 1994 genocide.

At present, seven people accused of committing genocide have been extradited from Uganda, Canada, U.S. and the Tanzania-based International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) back to Rwanda.

More fugitives are being tracked, including Felicien Kabuga, a wealthy Rwandan businessman accused of bankrolling the genocide. Enditem