NORTHERN PROVINCE

MUSANZE — Remains of about 22 victims of the 1994 Genocide were last week given a befitting burial at Busogo Genocide memorial site in Musanze district.

The remains were retrieved from a pit in Busogo sector where they had been dumped during the massive killings. According to area genocide survivors, the victims were burnt from a house using wheat before they were dumped.

A genocide convict who completed his prison sentence volunteered information leading to the discovery of the remains, five of which belonged to children. Speaking at the burial, Genocide survivors in their testimonies said the killings in the area started in 1990.

"We grew up with no real hope of having a future, all our parents, relatives had been killed at different times, every time Joseph Nzirorera (a former minister and genocide mastermind, born in the area) had pledged to get rid of the Tutsi in Bigogwe and Virunga areas,’’ Epimaque Sanvura, 70, a survivor said.

On reading out the names of the victims, residents especially genocide survivors wailed loudly with sorrow while others got traumatised.

J Piere Biraro, who represented IBUKA, the umbrella organisation of the genocide survivors said that the area slogan for uprooting genocide ideology should not remain like a song but be put into practise.

He asked the survivors to struggle to live and live a decent life by engaging in all possible economic activities and fighting genocide ideology.

Col. Tom Mpaka, the area RDF commander asked residents to make a logical interpretation and assessment of the Rwandan genocide in order to save young children from harbouring genocide ideology.

Busogo and Gataraga sectors have previously been accused of concealing information that can lead to retrieval of genocide remains, 14 years after the genocide.

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