Editor, RE: “Tribute to Cyatarugamba, the man who saved a family from extinction” (The New Times, July 17). What an extraordinary courageous man! In 1959 there were many Cyatarugambas in different parts of the country. Some people stood by their friends and neighbours. But as time went on the then governments’ machinery propaganda divided Rwandans until the Hutu were made to believe that the Tutsi were animals, cockroaches and snakes, people who had nothing in common with the rest of society. The remnants of this machinery still exist; they particularly air their venomous views through various social media platforms. However, the Cyatarugamba’s spirit has returned in full force. It is evident that today in Rwanda the vast majority of men and women believe in our common values. Butare ****************** This story sinks deep into my nerves. Good for us and the new generation. However, it should be clearly stated that 1959 killings and mass exodus of Tutsi was not in any way linked to differences between Hutu and Tutsi because, among those who escaped, were a handful of well known Hutu families. During 1959 extermination of Tutsi, there were no helicopters for the Rwandans, but it is ubiquitous information that Belgian pilots supervised all killings in helicopters. Otherwise, this is a curtain raising story to what men of courage did and it remains a heritage our ancestors bequeathed us. JK
