Genocide perpetrators come clean, seek reconciliation

There is a glimmer of hope for Rwanda’s reconciliation and prospects of a better future, as perpetrators of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi continue owning up and seeking forgiveness. A development observed after The New Times last Friday visited the infamous ‘1930’, the Kigali Central Prison and spoke to some of its over 1,000 genocide convicts who now acknowledge their shame. One of those, Andrea Mugisha, 44, was detained in 1994, and remorsefully does not shy away from his horrific crimes back then. “I participated in an assault that killed one hundred and eighty five people at St. Famille church, here in town,” Mugisha confesses. And now, he says, he has met some of those whose families he killed. “Yes, I know and have met some of those survivors. We met at the sector and talked.” “There is nothing else I would do apart from asking them for forgiveness. And you know, I myself, my guilt conscience was always gnawing at me because those we killed were really our next of kin, they were our neighbours, people we shared many things with.” “Now, we ought to join others in commemorating the Genocide because among those who died were my friends, relations,” Mugisha said, explaining that in 1994, he felt like any gripped lunatic, like an unthinking mad man when he killed people. In prison, there is a sensibilisation programme, and it is this that Mugisha and others say helped them express their shame and guilt. “I at first hesitated and tried to deny. I felt this (being pardoned) would not be possible because of the things I had done, I thought I could never be forgiven. But because of the education we were getting in prison and prayers, I was able to change my mind, and set my mind free,” he said. “I confessed, admitted all I had done and for sure, I now feel very much set free.” And he is not alone.Michel Haragirimana, 53, was also a resident of Kigali when the genocide took place recounted his involvement in the kill of over one million Tutsi. “For me, the genocide crimes fall into three categories – those who planned the genocide, there are those who sensitised and mobilised people to kill and, there are those who implemented it. And, there are others who did all these three all together,” Haragirimana said. “Even though there are people who accuse me of otherwise, I was actually involved in sensitising and mobilising people. This is what I admit to and asked for forgiveness for.” “By then, I was the head of a sector (in Kigali) and whenever I got directives from the province, I would come down and spread the message,” he admitted. He noted that, where matters stand presently, there is hope after the current government stopped the genocide. “I feel that now, every one else should follow suit to the government’s accomplishment in the direction of uniting with our neighbours because this is only what will enable the country to develop.” “The unity of Rwandans is possible. It is possible because even if we are here in prison we hear how people outside are living together after what happened.” Kigali’s main prison, alone, holds over 4,000 prisoners, with some 1,135 of whom are linked to the 1994 Genocide. Last Friday, the prisoners, like all Rwandans, were also seen commemorating the Genocide. Ends

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Genocide perpetrators come clean, seek reconciliation