(THEME MUSIC PLAYS)
BEN DOHERTY: Two men accused of participating
in one of the worst atrocities of the 20th century
in one of the worst atrocities are believed to be in Australia.
Is that Frodouard Rukeshangabo are believed to be in Australia.
Is that Frodouard Rukeshangabo speaking?
(ON SPEAKERPHONE) This is Frodouard. How are you?
One of them is living in suburban Queensland.
The other is a ghost.
It's better we leave it. It's better stop this conversation.
More than half a million people were killed
during the genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.
Do you know who this man is?
30 years later, hundreds of alleged perpetrators are still at large.
Survivors want justice.
If you could speak with Celestin Munyaburanga,
what would you say to him?
Genocide is not a crime that grows over.
The two men, believed to be in Australia,
have been convicted in absentia by traditional courts...
Yeah, very heavy.
..part of a truth and reconciliation process.
Now the Rwandan government wants them back to face justice in new trials.
PHIL CLARK: Extradition is the best response
if there is sufficient prima facie evidence
to suggest that a trial is necessary.
Rwanda has sent indictments to Australia for both men.
We invite the Australian police, together with the prosecution,
We invite the Australian police, to come to Rwanda.
Is the Australian government doing enough
to bring alleged perpetrators to justice?
GRAHAM BLEWITT: It's just a lack of a political will
to do something about it,
and, frankly, that has to change.
We go back to Rwanda in search of answers.
Oh, hi. This is Frida Umuhoza.
Frida Umuhoza is visiting a school in Melbourne
to talk to teenagers about genocide.
(HUBBUB)
Oh, we've got to connect you (HUBBUB)
Oh, we've got to connect you to the internet.
At just 14
she was the only member of her family
to survive Rwanda's 1994 genocide she was the only member of her family
to survive Rwanda's 1994 genocide against its Tutsi minority.
Can you please put your hands together and welcome Frida?
(APPLAUSE)
Good afternoon.
Frida first learned the Tutsis were hated when she started school.
Every three months, every time the beginning of the term,
the principal of the school will come into every class
and count how many Tutsis and how many Hutus are in that class.
and count how many Tutsis and And we were made fun of.
We were called snakes. We were called cockroaches.
So, really, we were less than human beings to them.
(TRADITIONAL MUSIC PLAYS, CHATTER)
Belgium, the former colonial power,
favoured Rwanda's minority Tutsi ethnic group
over the majority Hutus,
and there'd been long-standing tension and violence between the two.
ARCHIVE REPORTER: Rwandan officials say the plane was shot down.
The assassination of Rwanda's Hutu president Juvenal Habyarimana
The assassination of Rwanda's in April 1994
was the catalyst for genocide.
Hutu militia and civilians murdered their Tutsi neighbours
as well as many moderate Hutus.
Nothing and nowhere was sacred
in this state-sponsored genocide.
(EXHALES HEAVILY)
(GADGET BEEPS) OK.
Four Corners was reporting on the massacres.
It's very, very hard to... Four Corners was reporting on the massacres.
It's very, very hard to...
..to comprehend what it's like to be here.
It's... It's very, very hard
to be here.
You do not know what feeling you have
knowing that few hours from now
knowing that you're gonna die.
They finished killing our neighbours
and then they got to us.
You could choose.
"Do you want to be killed with a machete, a club or a knife
"or a big tree with nails?"
And I picked a young man with a club
and I said, "Please, don't use a machete on me."
The one image that tormented me for years
was my mother's head being chopped off.
Once he hit me, I lost my consciousness.
I didn't wake up until everybody had died and they are burying.
Long story short,
I made it out on my own.
So, ladies and gentlemen, that's my story.
So, ladies and gentlemen, And God bless all of you.
(APPLAUSE)
At least two-thirds of Rwanda's Tutsi population -
At least two-thirds more than half a million people -
were killed in just over 100 days.
It only ended when a Tutsi rebel army took control of the country.
Survivors had to rebuild their lives
knowing that some of the people who committed these crimes
escaped justice.
Are these people...do they watch us? Do they know where we are?
So, a lot of people live with monsters
in their...in their lives, in their sleep,
in their everyday life.
After the genocide ended in July 1994,
up to two million people fled Rwanda,
including an unknown number of the killers.
I've been told that two alleged perpetrators are here in Australia.
You say you don't drink any...no milk, nothing?
You say you don't drink No milk, no...
One came from the same district No milk, no...
One came from the same district in southern Rwanda as Frida,
One came from the same district and I want to ask her about him.
Thank you very much.
Frida, we've obtained a copy Thank you very much.
Frida, we've obtained a copy of this 2017 indictment.
This was sent by the Rwandan government Frida, we've obtained a copy of this 2017 indictment.
This was sent by the Rwandan government
This was sent to the Australian government.
It's an indictment and an international arrest warrant
for a man called Celestin Munyaburanga.
for a man Yeah?
Celestin Munyaburanga was from Nyanza.
Yep. Which is the district...
Where I come from. ..in Rwanda where you are from.
Where I come from. Yeah.
It says now that he's in Canberra.
We can't find him.
We're interested, if you could look at that document
to see if anything in there is familiar
and if anything you recognise.
The indictment alleges
that Munyaburanga set up a roadblock The indictment alleges
that Munyaburanga set up a roadblock with soldiers
that Munyaburanga set up a roadblock in a neighbourhood called Hanika,
where at least 20 Tutsis were killed
with traditional weapons where at least 20 Tutsis were killed
with traditional weapons like machetes and clubs.
Yeah, I know Vanessa Rugero because they're extended family of mine.
Yeah. That's a family member of yours?
Yeah.
(QUIETLY) Yeah.
I appreciate it's very difficult to read. I'm sorry.
It is.
Frida didn't know Munyaburanga.
He wasn't involved in the attack on her family.
(PHONE LINE RINGS)
But she knows many other survivors (PHONE LINE RINGS)
But she knows many other survivors who come from Nyanza.
She's speaking to a school friend's mum.
She wasn't an eyewitness, but she's heard the allegations.
Frida's told that Munyaburanga
used to be the headmaster Frida's told that Munyaburanga
used to be the headmaster of a local school,
and that he may have absconded
while waiting for his trial in a community court,
which later sentenced him to life imprisonment.
I want to learn more about the allegations,
I want to learn more so, we're going to Rwanda.
Pursuing justice for crimes committed by tens of thousands of people
Pursuing justice for crimes committed hasn't been straightforward.
How do you plead to count one genocide?
The major players were hunted down and prosecuted
at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda.
It took two decades to convict 61 people.
In Rwanda the justice system simply couldn't cope
with tens of thousands of alleged perpetrators
held for years without trial in overflowing jails.
Over there are lavatories, perhaps two of them,
and I'm told there's two more upstairs.
and I'm told There's for 8,000 people.
It's the most extraordinary scene I've ever seen in my life,
and I hope I never see anything like it again.
So, it adopted a radically different approach to justice
based on its own system of traditional community courts.
based on its own system (SPEAKS IN LOCAL LANGUAGE)
They were known as 'Gacaca', or 'grass courts',
and they emphasised forgiveness and reconciliation
and they emphasised as much as justice and punishment.
There were no lawyers
and anyone could speak up There were no lawyers
and anyone could speak up for or against the accused,
and anyone could speak up with frequent interruptions.
The verdict was decided by a panel of lay judges
elected by their own communities.
(SPEAKS IN LOCAL LANGUAGE)
By the time they concluded in 2012,
more than 12,000 Gacaca courts
had tried over a million cases.
Critics in the West
argued it was Critics in the West
argued it was often rough and rushed justice.
argued it was (ONLOOKERS EXCLAIM)
But Rwandan president, Paul Kagame,
doesn't think much of foreign critics.
They don't care about what happens to you,
as they didn't care during the genocide.
So, when someone starts to lecture you on the international as they didn't care during the genocide.
So, when someone starts to lecture you on the international
standards of justice... I cannot...
I cannot accept any lecture from any of these people.
Rwanda's search for justice
is complicated by its history and its president.
We've been saying if the ceasefire doesn't have any meaning...
In 1994 Paul Kagame was seen as Rwanda's saviour.
He commanded the rebel Tutsi army that ended the genocide.
Ever since, Rwanda has been a de facto one-party state
ruled by the Rwandan Patriotic Front
and its leader.
(CHEERING, MUSIC)
He's been accused of imposing a so-called victor's justice...
He's been accused of imposing (CROWD CHANTS)
..pursuing genocide suspects
while consistently failing to prosecute crimes
committed by his own army.
(CHEERING)
Tens of thousands of Hutus were also killed
by Kagame's troops in retaliatory attacks,
such as the infamous Kibeho massacre in 1995,
photographed by Australian artist George Gittoes.
(CAMERA SHUTTERS CLICK)
Kagame's government (CAMERA SHUTTERS CLICK)
Kagame's government has brought stability
and significant economic development to Rwanda.
and significant economic development (CAMERA SHUTTERS CLICK)
Kagame, Paul.
But elections are marred Kagame, Paul.
But elections are marred by intimidation and fraud,
But elections are marred journalists have been jailed...
Do you hold any hope that you will see your brothers alive?
..and dissidents say they're being pursued
even on the other side of the world.
Again, I don't think there's any hope to find them alive.
Again, I don't think (BIRDS TWITTER)
So, we're treating the allegations (BIRDS TWITTER)
So, we're treating the allegations against both men in our investigation
So, we're treating the allegations carefully.
Local journalist Michee Urinzwenimana
is helping with our investigation
into the alleged perpetrators believed to be in Australia.
So, this school is called Hanika.
It's the school where Munyaburanga was headmaster.
This is the school here? Yes.
These buildings? Yes.
This is the area where Munyaburanga live.
We're on our way to meet a woman who once attended Munyaburanga's school.
Yeah, this is where Golithi family live.
Hello, Golithi.
Sorry we are late to keep you waiting. I apologise.
Sorry we are late It's nice to see you. How are you?
Hi. You look very well.
Hug. Yeah.
Hug. (BOTH SPEAK IN LOCAL LANGUAGE)
Marie Golithi Uwisenga was only 12 years old when the killing started.
She says 14 members of her family were murdered during the genocide.
She says 14 members of her family (INDISTINCT CHATTER)
She's invited her mother, her aunt and her cousin
She's invited to talk about the former headmaster.
(BOTH SPEAK IN LOCAL LANGUAGE)
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
Golithi recognises many of the names in many Munyaburanga's indictment.
This is your father? Yes.
Golithi claims Munyaburanga was in charge of the nearby roadblock
Golithi claims Munyaburanga and personally led attacks.
This isn't something and personally led attacks.
This isn't something that's mentioned in the indictment.
Can you tell me how Munyaburanga did this?
How did he make these people do what he wanted them to do?
Golithi's cousin Chaliroti
says she also witnessed Munyaburanga giving orders.
If you could speak with Celestin Munyaburanga,
If you could speak what would you say to him?
If Munyaburanga was brought back to Rwanda
If Munyaburanga and went before a court,
would you be prepared to give evidence against him?
Yes.
(BIRDSONG)
I want to meet one of the perpetrators named in the indictment,
a man who was involved in the killing of Golithi's family.
Manasse Musabyimana says he didn't see his former headmaster kill anyone
but it was Munyaburanga who recruited him to man the roadblock
but it was Munyaburanga who where most of the killing took place.
OK. We sit here? Yeah.
OK.
This is a document sent to the Australian government.
This is a document sent Mm.
And they say your name here.
Mm.
Manasse. Yes.
And they say that you, with Celestin and other Interahamwe...
Mm.
..looked for Tutsis. There...
Do you remember these people? Yeah. Of course.
What do you know about these people?
This is Golithi's family?
And you participated in killing these people?
Did you personally kill any of these people?
Manasse says he spent 20 years in prison after being tried in Gacaca.
Thank you, sir. Murakoze.
Murakoze. Murakoze. Murakoze.
Murakoze. Murakoze.
Thank you so much.
Munyaburanga isn't the only wanted man
we've come here to investigate.
Rwanda is seeking another alleged perpetrator in Australia.
And it's someone Michee has already reported on for a local news outlet.
And it's someone Michee has already How did you first find out
there was an alleged genocidaire How did you first find out
there was an alleged genocidaire living in Australia?
There's someone, uh... living in Australia, there was an alleged genocidaire living in Australia?
There's someone, uh... living in Australia,
There's someone, uh... one community in Australia...
Back in 2020
Michee says he got a tip-off about a man called Frodouard Rukeshangabo.
Michee says he got a tip-off about Look - this is my story. Look.
This is the photo of him before genocide. Look - this is my story. Look.
This is the photo of him before genocide.
Mm. And this the recent one.
We've obtained even more recent pictures of Frodouard Rukeshangabo
We've obtained even more recent in Australia.
Michee learned that he used to be a district school inspector -
another educated and respected man
who's now accused of being involved in several murders in his community
during the very first days of the genocide.
In Brisbane he's now a driving instructor.
We know he emigrated to Australia on a humanitarian visa in 2009
and that he's well-known within Queensland's small Rwandan community.
Like Munyaburanga,
we've been told Rukeshangabo was convicted in absentia
by a Gacaca court.
We want to find out what evidence emerged during his trial.
Reverien Iryaruranga was one of the five lay judges
known as 'inyangamugayo', or 'persons of integrity',
who would decide whether Rukeshangabo was innocent or guilty.
He says he oversaw hundreds of trials.
We want to know what he remembers about Rukeshangabo's.
So, this is testimony from survivors or perpetrators
or who is giving this testimony?
These are the original handwritten notes
he took as witnesses testified,
some of them more than 20 years ago.
But the notes are incomplete,
and Reverien sometimes relies But the notes are incomplete,
and Reverien sometimes relies on his memories of the trial.
and Reverien sometimes relies The former lay judge
says Rukeshangabo was accused of six murders during his Gacaca trial.
He heard testimony accusing the former school inspector
He heard testimony accusing of leading attacks.
Did people see him give orders?
How many witnesses gave evidence against Rukeshangabo?
Did anybody speak in Rukeshangabo's defence?
Experts say that's not uncommon for in-absentia cases.
We've tracked down one of the perpetrators
We've tracked down who testified against Rukeshangabo.
(BOTH SPEAK IN LOCAL LANGUAGE)
I'm pleased to meet you. How are you?
Alphonse Hategekimana was convicted over a murder
he says happened on Rukeshangabo's orders
and sentenced to seven years in prison.
Thank you.
Was it important for you
that you took responsibility and accepted what you had done?
Alphonse claims that, after the Hutu president was assassinated,
Rukeshangabo targeted men he accused of spying for the Tutsi rebels.
Two days later
Alphonse alleges Rukeshangabo led a mob
that caught a father and son, Deo and Gilbert,
that caught a father and son, and beat them to death.
When you beat Bizimungu
you hit him with your fists or with a stick?
How did you beat him?
He claims other men in the mob continued to beat Bizimungu.
(RAIN THRUMS)
Yoweri Gatarayiha was Bizimungu's older brother.
He didn't witness the killing.
How many members of your family died in the genocide?
Can I show you these photographs and can I ask you...
Can I show you these photographs ..do you know who this man is?
After months of negotiation
we've finally been granted access
to the official court records from Rukeshangabo's trial in 2007.
The Gacaca archive is kept
in the Ministry of National Unity and Civic Engagement
in the capital, Kigali.
So, this is one of eight rooms,
I have told you that we have more than eight rooms of archives. So, this is one of eight rooms,
I have told you that we have more than eight rooms of archives.
So, this...we have nine districts in this room, including Ngoma.
So, we are looking for Rukeshangabo case,
which is around here.
Yeah. This is the box.
This one? Yes.
Rukeshangabo's file is in here? Exactly. File's here.
OK. We can take it down? We can take it down.
It's very heavy. OK. OK.
And then you go up there. Ooh, yeah. Very heavy.
OK.
Alright, so, the case could be in any of these files?
In any of these books. Yes.
We have to go through all the books.
So, we search. You search, you read.
You'll be looking for the name Rukeshangabo, Frodouard, yes.
It's not easy. It's not easy.
I can see why this would take a long time.
I feel like the yellow ones were early.
Where are you? Where are you?
You get a very strong sense of the history...
You get a very strong sense ..of a first draft of history
reading through these books.
And somewhere in these pages,
somewhere in this box,
is the record of the alleged activities
of a man who now lives in suburban Brisbane.
We are going well. We have found...
You remember... (SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY)
..was the one... Yeah. Yeah. We just haven't found...
Rukeshangabo. Oh, we find it!
Here he is.
Rukeshangabo, Frodouard - born in 1956.
Oh, we find it! Here it is.
Extraordinary.
Vincent, we have found him.
I'd been warned not to expect anything
that reads like an Australian court transcript.
It's not always a complete record of a trial
and the evidence often emerges over several years
and the evidence often emerges and across different trials.
This is a witness and across different trials.
This is a witness giving their statement?
This is a witness Yes, they give the statement...
In the two pages we find about Rukeshangabo
I don't see any mention of Alphonse or Bizimungu,
the man he says Rukeshangabo ordered him to attack.
But many of the names we've been told about ARE here,
But many of the names including Deo and Gilbert,
the father and son including Deo and Gilbert,
the father and son allegedly killed before Bizimungu.
That is Reverien, the one who talk to us.
That is Reverien, Ah, here's Reverien.
We can't find any reference
to Rukeshangabo leading the genocide in his community,
but at least 10 alleged victims are listed here,
several more than the former lay judge mentioned.
We're still looking for the verdict.
Here we go.
I got it. You got it?
Yes. Got the judgement. Well found.
Yes. Got the judgement. What does the judgement say?
Yes.
They say that after the seating,
after the bench seating,
they found that Rukeshangabo was guilty
and they have sentenced him, uh...
..30 years of imprisonment.
30 years. Yeah, we are done.
In November 2007
Frodouard Rukeshangabo was found guilty in the Gacaca Court of:
The conviction does not record which deaths he was held responsible for.
Rwandan prosecutors say that anyone already convicted in Gacaca
will be entitled to a fresh trial if they're extradited.
Rwanda's National Public Prosecution Authority
says it has pursued more than 1,100 genocide suspects
across 33 countries.
What have they done about the two Rwandans we're investigating?
Yes, hello? Mr Siboyintore.
Thanks so much for making the time to meet with me today. Much appreciated.
Welcome. Welcome. Thank you very much.
Prosecutor John Bosco Siboyintore
has led Rwanda's Genocide Fugitive Tracking Unit
has led Rwanda's for more than a decade.
I asked him about Celestin Munyaburanga,
whose indictment for at least 21 alleged murders
whose indictment was sent to Australia in 2017.
We invite the Australian police, together with the prosecution, was sent to Australia in 2017.
We invite the Australian police, together with the prosecution,
to come to Rwanda
because it's where the crime scene is located,
because it's where it's where witnesses will be found.
This is an issue of an international nature.
This is genocide.
What ultimately happened in his Gacaca court trial?
So, his case was tried in his absence.
And the...
..uh...he was actually..
On 13 May 2008
he was convicted to life imprisonment
by the court of Busasamana.
So, we have identified another fugitive in Australia
in the names of Frodouard Rukeshangabo,
and we did...
..we did our thorough investigations,
we came up with a decision of indicting him.
Four Corners has confirmed that an indictment for Rukeshangabo
was received by the Australian government in January.
We haven't seen it.
We will leave no stone unturned until justice is done.
When a country is not prosecuting a genocide case...
..when it has been asked to do so,
it should know that it is giving ..when it has been asked to do so,
it should know that it is giving safe haven to other perpetrators
it should know that it is giving to come and enjoy that safe haven.
It beats every sensible person's understanding.
It beats every sensible person's And they need to face the law.
But President Kagame has been accused
of using the search for genocide suspects
to attack his political enemies abroad.
We've learned of two Rwandan men living in New Zealand,
both significant political players in the pre-genocide regime,
who've been accused of crimes by Rwandan prosecutors.
But, according to documents we've seen,
when authorities in New Zealand investigated,
they found there was no case to answer.
Before I head back to find out
what the Australian government knows about these cases,
there are a couple of people I want to meet here in London.
Has the Rwandan government politicised, even weaponised
allegations of genocide
to pursue political enemies?
The fact that we've also seen Rwandan government assassinations to pursue political enemies?
The fact that we've also seen Rwandan government assassinations
The fact that we've also seen of political opponents abroad,
the sometimes violent infiltration
of diaspora communities,
that activity alongside the pursuit of genocide fugitives
I think raises all sorts of concerns about the justice process.
And, actually, I tend to think that the justice process is quite robust.
I think the Genocide Fugitive Tracking Unit
I think the Genocide Fugitive tends to act more often than not
when it has pretty robust tends to act more often than not
when it has pretty robust evidentiary reasons
when it has pretty robust to pursue certain suspects.
Australian, Dr Phil Clark, is a professor of international politics
and has spent two decades studying the Gacaca courts.
His wife, Dr Nicola Palmer, teaches international criminal law
and tracks the Rwandan government's pursuit of genocide suspects
and tracks the Rwandan government's around the globe.
How robust are these trials around the globe.
How robust are these trials from a legal point of view?
I think the information that they provide
is as robust as any other testimony.
If you spoke in Gacaca, you spoke under your own name,
If you spoke in Gacaca, you were immediately recognised,
and, so, you really had to be able you were immediately recognised,
and, so, you really had to be able to defend what it was that you said.
and, so, you really had to be able (SPEAKS IN LOCAL LANGUAGE)
But critics, including Human Rights Watch,
have argued that a fair trial wasn't guaranteed at Gacaca.
They focused on the lack of legal representation for the accused,
the potential for corruption and the use of hearsay evidence.
I think one of the interesting things here
is that international lawyers and international human rights groups
is that international lawyers and hated Gacaca at the outset,
and yet almost every international trial
that relates to Rwandan genocide cases
has ended up using Gacaca evidence.
This was a system that tested evidence
that led to a 30% acquittal rate,
uh...that was in some ways often heavily skewed
uh...that was in some ways towards the genocide suspect
because most of the judges in question were Hutu.
because most of the judges Even in those in-absentia cases,
it didn't guarantee that these individuals would be found guilty.
it didn't guarantee that these In fact, we have plenty of evidence
to suggest it was possible to defend In fact, we have plenty of evidence
to suggest it was possible to defend yourself even from a distance.
Australia has received one indictment from the Rwandan government.
Australia has received one indictment It may receive more in the future.
How should Australia, It may receive more in the future.
How should Australia, how should countries like Australia,
How should Australia, respond to those indictments?
My own sense is that extradition is the best response in these cases
if there is sufficient prima facie evidence
to suggest that a trial is necessary.
But, if that is not possible for all sorts of reasons,
then I think it's the responsibility
of those host countries, like Australia,
to find a way to deal with these cases through their own courts.
to find a way to deal with these I think one has to be cautious,
as we've said,
around the evidence
that is initially presented in the indictment,
but I do think it prompts and warrants further investigation.
but I do think it prompts (SPEAKS IN LOCAL LANGUAGE)
If you were a poor peasant farmer
accused of genocide crimes on the Rwandan hills,
you got prosecuted through Gacaca.
But there's been a completely different process
for those who were wealthy enough to escape the country.
Most of them have avoided scrutiny completely.
Many of these individuals undoubtedly are innocent,
but they should have their day in court
and they should have to answer for the accusations against them,
just as genocide suspects who were caught inside Rwanda
just as genocide suspects had to do so in front of Gacaca.
(PHONE LINE RINGS)
We first reached out to Rukeshangabo back in November.
(ON SPEAKERPHONE) Hello?!
Uh... Good afternoon. Is that Frodouard Rukeshangabo speaking?
Uh... Good afternoon. Is that This is Frodouard. How are you?
Mr Rukeshangabo, This is Frodouard. How are you?
Mr Rukeshangabo, my name is Ben Doherty...
Mr Rukeshangabo, The allegations have been around
since articles first appeared online a few years ago,
dismissed by some in the diaspora as politically motivated.
Australia's small Rwandan community is deeply divided.
What... What is your position in this matter?
Uh... Mr Rukeshangabo, I don't have a position in this matter.
I'm making no judgements, um... about this.
But these are very serious matters, um...
..and I wanted to put those to you, if that was possible.
Mr Rukeshangabo, are you there?
(PHONE LINE BEEPS)
He's hung up.
Last month, after our visit to Rwanda,
we sent him a detailed list of the allegations against him
and repeated our request for an interview.
He replied:
In an earlier message he said:
So, I've put together this timeline on Rukeshangabo.
We're not making any assumptions about the truth
We're not making any assumptions of these allegations,
but how did someone accused of genocide in Rwanda
manage to become an Australian citizen?
My colleague Dunja Karagic
has been looking into the effectiveness of our screening.
OK, so, his conviction happens in 2007.
In 2009 he arrives in Australia.
But, from what you've been told,
it's very likely that Australian authorities
just didn't have any information about his conviction.
But Rwandan prosecutors have shown us a list, a Gacaca fugitives database,
But Rwandan prosecutors have shown us that has his name on it,
and that was accessible from 2012.
That's two years before he becomes a citizen.
That's two years Yeah, so, in theory,
his name should have been on the Central Movement Alert list,
that list used by immigration authorities
that list to flag people of suspicion
from entering the country or from getting citizenship.
So, why wasn't he picked up on that list then?
I mean, we don't know for certain if he was or he wasn't,
but I've spoken to several former immigration staff
who've raised problems with this list.
And they're saying people just slip through the net?
And they're saying Sometimes, yeah.
The man I'm going to meet
knows that, in the past, suspected war criminals
from conflicts such as the Balkans, Sri Lanka and Cambodia
have found sanctuary in Australia.
Graham Blewitt was the deputy prosecutor
at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia,
but before that he ran the Special Investigations Unit,
but before that he ran established in 1987
to investigate the presence of alleged Nazi war criminals
in Australia.
The final chapter today
in Australia's war crime investigations.
Conducted over seven years
at a cost of $17 million,
not one conviction was secured.
Well, you've put seven years of your life into this, Mr Blewitt.
Well, you've put seven years How do you feel tonight?
Well, it's been a long road,
and I'm very...
..disappointed that the cases ended the way they did.
Hello, Graham. Ben Doherty.
G'day, Ben. Nice to meet you. Nice to meet you too.
Come in, please. Thanks so much for the invitation.
Australia has no permanent investigations unit,
and that's why these allegations Australia has no permanent investigations unit,
and that's why these allegations
that there are war criminals and that's why these allegations
that there are war criminals living in Australia
um...are not attended to.
Graham points out
that countries like the United States, Canada and Great Britain
do have permanent war crimes investigations units.
And if allegations arise within their country,
And if allegations then they, uh...
..are able to investigate and bring prosecutions.
..are able to investigate And these are happening.
You've seen these allegations
made against two men believed to be living in Australia.
What do you make of these two cases?
Just looking at the material,
the allegations are certainly serious
and I believe the Australian government
and I believe should do something about it.
We should be part of this team, international team,
We should be part of this team, bringing war criminals to justice.
The Attorney-General declined our interview request,
The Attorney-General but a spokesperson said:
And a spokesperson for the Home Affairs Minister said:
I'm still the same person in the first bit of the film with no hair
I'm still the same person in the and now I just bought hair!
That's the way it works.
You wake up in the morning, you've got big hair.
Frida Umuhoza understands how important justice is to survivors.
It's why she's been helping us look into Celestin Munyaburanga,
the alleged killer from her hometown.
(PHONE RINGS)
Hello?
Hello. Hello?
Hello. Frida, it's Ben Doherty calling.
Hello. Oh, hi, Ben. How are you?
I'm well, thank you. Well, thank you.
For months we've been searching for I'm well, thank you. Well, thank you.
For months we've been searching for traces of Munyaburanga in Australia.
But I'm afraid we've reached a dead end.
I think, you know we identified a house in Queensland
I think, you know where his family lives.
There's also a man where his family lives.
There's also a man of about the right age
who was seen at the house. Yep.
But we don't... Yep.
We don't know for sure. We can't confirm that it's him.
But we just don't know. And I'm not sure we'll ever know for sure.
It is disappointing, but at the same time it's not surprising to me
It is disappointing, but at the because it's...it's, um...
..it's just even, like, my... because it's...it's, um...
..it's just even, like, my... the guy who killed my father,
I don't really know where he lives, I really don't.
Nobody knows where he is.
It's 30 years since the genocide against the Tutsi.
It's still really important to you that they are held to account?
I think it doesn't matter what age you are
I think it doesn't matter because there's a lot of survivors
who are still living with their scars and wounds.
We're all connected, we all of us are connected
and what the other person felt we have all felt.
Genocide is not a crime that grows out.
(THEME MUSIC PLAYS)
Captions by Red Bee Media
Copyright Australian Broadcasting Corporation