Judiciary pays tribute to colleagues slain during the Genocide

KIMIHURURA-Members of the judicial fraternity on Friday evening gathered at the National Public Prosecution Authority (NPPA), to pay tribute to all judicial personnel who died in the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi. The custodians of law were joined by the families and friends of the deceased. “This is a time to disassociate ourselves from those we share the same profession but failed to give justice to those deserving it,” Martin Ngoga the Prosecutor General said in his opening remarks. He added that it was also a time to remember former judicial employees who fought for justice in the terrible time where justice was lacking. He called upon all law enforcers to strive towards giving back justice to Rwandans who did not get it at a time it was needed. Chief Justice Aloysia Cyanzayire said the tribute should also challenge the judicial fraternity on how best they can positively develop the country. “No one knows better the impact of the Genocide than us…we should take the first step in fighting it.” Cyanzayire said the list of the deceased employees has not yet exhaustively been compiled, saying that an exercise of coming up with all the names is still underway. She also announced that the commemoration will be annual and that the Supreme Court and NPPA were in discussions to see how widows and orphans of their fallen colleagues can be helped. Both Theodore Simburudari, the president of the survivors association (IBUKA), and Jean de Dieu Mucyo the Executive Secretary of the National Commission to Fight Genocide (CNLG) asked the Judiciary to erect a monument with a list of names of their former employees at their premises. Mucyo called upon all government institutions to do the same which will help to find more remains that need to be exhumed and given a decent burial. “Researchers have always noted that Genocide is a State crime well organised and this is a sign to keep the light burning and fight those denying that Genocide happened in Rwanda,” Mucyo said. He also called upon writers to write as many books about Genocide in Rwanda, adding that discussions were underway with the Ministry of Education to see how best Genocide can be included on the syllabus. Ends