Police pay respect to Nyamata Genocide victims

NYAMATA - The Rwanda National Police yesterday paid tribute to victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi who were killed in Nyamata, Bugesera District. Headed by the Commissioner General of Police, Emmanuel Gasana, the officers were taken through several parts of the memorial site and given a brief history of the place. A former Catholic Church, Nyamata memorial contains about 45,000 remains About 10,000 of them were killed inside the church during genocide where they had sought refuge with the hope of protection by the priests. Bugesera was known as a home of Tutsis after they were repatriated from other parts of the country in 1959 and taken there. Gasana laid a wreath and a moment of silence was observed in honour of the victims. The police chief also handed over a cheque of Rwf 1m to help in the maintenance of the site, and said that the national police sympathized with all those who were affected by the genocide and was working for a better future. “Our duty is to ensure security of the country, citizens and their property. It is our responsibility that it does not happen again.” Gasana said “Protecting the survivors, fighting Genocide and its ideology, and uniting Rwandans are part of our duties”. Ends