KAMONYI - Residents of Karama Sector in Kamonyi District have collected Rwf3.7million towards compensation of survivors who lost their property during the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi. The sector leader J.M Vianney Rwiririza, announced this during community celebrations to mark the achievements made in resolving third category of genocide cases over the weekend. Rwiririza said the idea to contribute money was conceived to mitigate conflicts emanating from failures to compensate survivors. “The community devised a means of having some sort of a solidarity fund to help the offenders repay damages caused during genocide and this has been one way of ensuring that everyone makes a contribution towards unity,” he said. Olive Uwamaria, an official of the National Unity and Reconciliation Commission, (NURC) in the province, observed that the Karama-mechanism of resolving genocide related problems was ‘unique’ and worth being emulated by other areas. Karama sector had 4064 cases in the third category. 3473 property cases worth Rwf50.1m have been resolved.292 offenders were pardoned and 299 are being assisted to compensate those who lost property. Survivors in the area say the achievement made in solving the third category cases has fostered unity and solidarity efforts. “The social tension among survivors and their offenders is no longer an issue because we all decided to contribute to efforts of forgiveness and supporting those affected. This has helped us to meet and resolve the conflicts outside the courts,” Fabien Nsabimana, one of the survivors said. Assumani Uwineza, one of the offenders, noted that the religious aspect inspired him to ask for forgiveness to the offended families and urged other genocide criminals to repent and seek forgiveness for their past crimes. The sector officials pointed out that they have achieved unity and reconciliation because survivors have accepted to forgive their offenders. The solidarity fund has led to reduction in genocide ideology cases, conflicts and deaths of survivors, the officials added. At the celebrations, leaders also commended survivors for embracing reconciliation drives. They also urged residents to continue helping survivors and children of parents convicted of genocide crimes. The Unity and Reconciliation officers said that all other genocide cases in the 1st and 2nd category have been completed in the area. Ends
