Genocide victims’ remains still missing 19 years later

Remains of hundreds of victims of the1994 Genocide against the Tutsi are still missing in several sectors of Ngoma communities, 19 years after the Genocide.

Tuesday, April 02, 2013

Remains of hundreds of victims of the1994 Genocide against the Tutsi are still missing in several sectors of Ngoma communities, 19 years after the Genocide.This was disclosed by residents of Kibungo sector in Ngoma district, while preparing for the upcoming 19th commemoration of the Genocide yesterday. The commemoration week is scheduled to begin on Sunday, April 7. According to Clarisse Kabaliza, a Genocide survivor, those who participated in the Genocide are still adamant to reveal where they buried their victims’ bodies."It is a shame that people who killed our relatives and neighbours cannot show us where they dumped them. Most of them live with us today, after serving time in jail,” she complained.Another survivor, Claude Mbonimana, said this means they have been denied the chance to accord their loved ones a decent burial."If only they could show us where they dumped the bodies then we can try to give them a befitting burial,” she said.But Samson Gihana, the Ibuka chairman in Ngoma district, said they remain optimistic that at some point the whereabouts of the remains would be revealed."We begun preparations in advance so that some remains can be identified and given decent burial and we are optimistic some perpetrators will speak out in due course,” he said.