Inmates urged to tell the truth about Genocide crimes

Genocide convicts have been urged to continue revealing the truth about the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, especially the places where bodies of victims were dumped. Huye District mayor Eugène Kayiranga Muzuka made the appeal during the 21st Genocide commemoration event at Huye prison on Wednesday. “Most inmates at Huye prison are Genocide convicts. They are the ones who know where they dumped the bodies of Genocide victims. That’s why we are asking them to tell us where the bodies were dumped so that they can be exhumed and accorded a befitting burial,” he said. He said, last year, several inmates volunteered information leading to recovery of remains of some victims in the sectors of Kinazi, Tumba and Mukura. Muzuka noted that revealing the truth relieves the inmates the burden of guilt. “When inmates are released after serving their sentences, they get integrated into the community thanks to these discussions,” he said. He urged prisons authorities to allow inmates interested in seeking forgiveness access those they want to seek forgiveness from. Last year, during a similar discussion about the Genocide, about 1,000 inmates resolved to set up a unity and reconciliation club in the prison. At least 400 inmates also resolved to seek forgiveness from Genocide survivors whose relatives they killed. Superintendent John Mukono, the director of Huye prison, said about five inmates had showed willingness to give information regarding the whereabouts of some Genocide victims. Huye Prison has 9,451 inmates, of which over 8,000 are serving sentences for Genocide-related crimes. editorial@newtimes.co.rw

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Inmates urged to tell the truth about Genocide crimes