EASTERN PROVINCE

RWAMAGANA — Residents of Gishari Sector, in Rwamagana district over the weekend thronged Ruhunda genocide memorial site in Gishari to mark the end of the 100 days of genocide commemoration.

Mourners gave a decent burial to remains of about 94 genocide victims discovered recently. The remains were recovered in the areas adjacent to Ruhunda. About 4200 remains discovered earlier had been buried there. 

The burial ceremony was preceded by a peaceful march. The march was intended to denounce genocide perpetrators and people who still harbor genocide ideology.

Addressing the mourners, Alphonsine Murekatete, the district vice Mayor of social affairs noted that the Rwandan genocide which claimed close to one million lives is the only genocide on earth that was carried out by people of the same culture.

She said it was  done with the ‘highest brutality’ which was beyond human dignity including drowning people alive into water. She blamed the then poor leadership for instilling a culture of hatred among Rwandans.

Murekatete warned residents who still harbor genocide ideology to drop it. She hailed Rwandan Patriotic Front for stopping the genocide.

Dieudonnée Kayitare, who represented Ibuka, an umbrella organization of Rwandan genocide survivors, criticized genocide suspects for concealing information that would lead to recovery of all genocide remains to give them decent burial.

He described it as quite unfortunate to find bodies of the victims of genocide still scattered in unknown places 14 years after the genocide when those who killed them ‘continue to move freely still propagating genocide ideology’.

Kayitare appealed to genocide survivors not to despair but to have hope for the future. He urged patience among survivors and to learn to live with history.

However, he asked them to work hard and develop instead of spending all their time lamenting on their loved ones who were killed in 1994 genocide. 

Appealing to survivors to live a purpose driven life, Cap. Joseph Gatabazi, RDF representative at the function, reaffirmed the army’s readiness to provide security to all survivors.

The national genocide commemoration started on April 7 to last for 100 of the genocide. 

Ends