PASCAL SIMBIBANGWA FORMER ARMY CAPTAIN OF RWANDA ON TRIAL AT FRANCE

Ethnic tensions can arise in various nations leading to the massacre of millions of citizens. In 1994 Rwanda, one of the African countries where Hutus who constitute a majority and Tutsis only a minority witnessed large scale massacrings of almost 800000 citizens most of them Tutsis with the army playing a larger role by listening to the orders of the then ruling Hutu Government which invited international condemnation.

One of the main culprits, Pascal Simbibangwa who was serving as Captain of the Army aided and abetted in butchering lakhs and lakhs of citizens who fled the country before justice was about to catch up with him.

The man was finally traced by the intelligence agencies of France in 2008 and the latter within no time took him a prisoner. His arrest led to the then government of Rwanda appealed France to extradite him at the earliest but was turned down by the French authorities informing the Rwandan govt that he would undergo trial as per the dictates of French govt.

Thus after a lapse of 20 long years he was brought to the court under tight security. His trial began last week. The man was led to the court in a wheel chair since he met with a car accident at Mayote Island in 1986 which was well before the 1994 genocide of Tutsis aided and abetted by him.

Though he was very much in the picture and there was convincing evidence of his active involvement Pascal Simbibangwa denied all the charges leveled against him.

There was not an iota of remorse on his face and denied his active role in the genocide which made the whole world to shudder at the brutal massacre of lakhs of Tutsis who constitute a minority in Rwanda. It was a predominant topic for hot discussion around the world which invited the wrath of everyone. The mounting anger and helplessness were palpable on their faces and they were in the frontline demanding the govt to bring them to justice. In France, death penalty is out of question and Pascal Simbibangwa is certain to be awarded with life imprisonment. 

After the 1994 massacre on large scale today’s Rwanda remains calm under the incumbent dispensation.

While writing about the large scale violence and annihilation of Tutsis, it won't be worthwhile if our attention doesn’t turn to the warlike situation prevailing in various countries like Syria, Egypt, Central African Republic (CAR) where the minority Muslim community members are fleeing the nation seeking refuge elsewhere fearing the majority Christians on the rampage, Ukraine where Russia and the Western nations are on a collision course, are appearing before our eyes  thanks to the growth and spreading of social networking sites.

In the years to come, if we feel like the possibility and probability of war like situations are about to go up we cannot be blamed. On the one side is massive violence and civil wars and on the other even mediators are withdrawing from the scene that which remains is the everlasting flame of quest for peace.