SOUTHERN PROVINCE MUHANGA — The unity and reconciliation drive is bearing fruit in Nyarusange Sector, Muhanga district. It is easy to find genocide survivors working together with former genocide criminals. These were the remarks made on Monday during the launching of the Sector unity and reconciliation week in the area. Jeanne Izabiliza, the Executive Secretary of the Southern Province, commended the residents for forging unity, saying they have managed to leave issues of genocide ideology behind them. The week runs from November 12 to 23, 2008, it was recently adopted by the National Unity and Reconciliation Commission (NURC). According to NURC, the idea of a reconciliation week was conceived during the formulation of the national policy on reconciliation and the event will be marked annually. It is aimed at evaluating progress on unity and reconciliation among other things. The highlights of the week include discussions and debates on unity and reconciliation, celebrating the current unity and reconciliation process and showcasing exemplary unity and reconciliation initiatives. Izabiliza, attributed the unity in Nyarusange to the efforts of area local leaders and the positive attitude of residents. The Sector was reportedly previously tainted with genocide ideology, probably the reason the function was held there. “Nyarusange Sector has been chosen because of its outstanding commitment to fighting the genocide ideology. Today, we stand as one people to denounce genocide forces and foster peace, unity and reconciliation in our country,” she said. Patrick Gatwaza, the Sector leader, attributed the success of their reconciliation drive to several strategies. These include education, setting up unity clubs in schools and communities, counselling residents suspected of harbouring genocide ideology, and visiting genocide memorial sites. At the function, survivors also acknowledged the efforts of the leaders in forging unity, noting there is remarkable peace and harmony in the area. Commending the leaders for the prevailing peace, they observed that security for area genocide survivors is a bit guaranteed. For Nyarusange residents, the debates will be held in five cells, and local leaders called upon residents to embrace cultural values of unity. As part of the launch, the residents and genocide criminals currently serving their sentences by doing community work (TIG), also celebrated the value of unity-during which the latter asked the community to reaccept them in the society after serving their respective sentences. In the meantime, the leaders together with residents planted a symbolic tree at Musonagti cell offices-which will be acting as a reminder of their commitment to strive for oneness. Later, other unity trees were exchanged amongst different people including former genocide perpetrators and survivors. At least 300 genocide convicts serving their sentences in the community have so far constructed over 30 hectares of terraces in Nyarusange sector, and participated in other environmental protection activities in the area. Meanwhile, Izabiliza on the same day led residents in protesting the arrest in Germany, of Rwanda’s Director of State Protocol, Rose Kabuye. The protestors demanded for Kabuye’s immediate released. Ends
