A VISITING DELEGATION of young French leaders and their European colleagues has reiterated the need for the truth about France’s involvement and the role played by some French leaders in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

The youth, who are on a weeklong visit, were speaking yesterday after touring Murambi memorial site in Nyamagabe District.

The delegation comprises leaders of youth wings of political organisations, student unions, anti-racist movements and civil society organisations under their umbrella, the European Grassroots Antiracist Movement (Egam).

The young activists heard chilling tales of how over 50,000 Tutsi were forced to gather at Murambi, a hill outside the current Nyamagabe town where a technical school was under construction.

Almost all Tutsi who had been lured to seek refuge in the place were killed.

The youth honoured the victims with a minute of silence, a remembrance song and laid wreaths on a tomb.

In solemn mood, the youth toured various parts of the site, including where semi-mummified remains of about 1,000 men, women and children are stacked on wooden frames as a reminder of the killings in the area and mass graves where victims’ bodies had been dumped.

They were also shown the place where the French flag was hoisted and where French choppers flew over during the Operation Turquoise. 

The youth also got a taste of Rwanda’s history through a visit to a museum that details the country’s history from the pre-colonial era.

Quest for truth

Benjamin Abtan, the head Egam, told The New Times after the tour that the tragedy that befell Rwanda is heartbreaking and hard to accept.

He said it is regrettable that some individuals within the then France’s leadership were involved in the Genocide and sadly continue to remain silent.

"For the past 20 years, there has been a regrettable silence on the fact that some individuals collaborated with the genocidal government before, during and after the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi,” he said.

"What is important for us, the people of France, is to make sure that these individuals answer for their acts before the public, and why not before justice.”

He added: "We also need to know exactly what happened and the individuals who were involved as a way of unlocking everything that played a part in the planning and execution of the Genocide.”

Abtan said their visit to Murambi memorial is an expression of their will to keep honouring the memories of the thousands of individuals who were brutally murdered during the 100-day genocide and ‘an attempt to rebuild what was destroyed’ by pushing for truth.

"It is important for us French citizens to have a relationship with Rwandans, which is based on truth rather than denial and indifference,” he said.

He said the youth will continue to push for the truth about the role of France and individual responsibilities in the Genocide to be known without any further delay, noting that 20 years of wait are long enough.

"We want truth now so we can be able to restore the dignity of those who were murdered,” he said, noting that he has faith their efforts will pay off.

"Rarely do these young activists come together for a common cause and if they are doing it today, it  is because they have understood that this is something that is important for our society and for humankind,” he said.

"This is a historical moment and I am confident nothing will resist the vigour, energy and quest for truth of these youths.”