WESTERN PROVINCE

KIBUYE — Genocide survivors and local authorities at the weekend cleaned up genocide memorial sites in preparation for this year’s genocide commemoration that began yesterday.

They started at Gatwaro Memorial Site near Gatwaro Stadium where over 1,000 remains of victims of the 1994 Genocide were buried.

An official said that the cleaning was part of paying homage to the victims.

"I appeal to everyone to participate in this voluntary exercise," he said.

The official castigated people who have deliberately refused to reveal information concerning genocide remains which have not been discovered. He also criticized residents who normally fail to turn up for the burying of genocide remains in the area.

"We used to get cases of people who knew where bodies of genocide victims were dumped but kept quiet," the official who declined to be named said.

"In Bupfune, residents claimed that only two Tutsis were murdered there, but we later came to find the remains of more than 50 people," one woman fondly called Mama Uwitonze said.

During the cleaning exercise, residents were urged to comfort survivors and learn how to handle trauma cases.

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