Student leaders honour Murambi Genocide victims

NYAMAGABE — Student leaders drawn from different tertiary institutions under the association –FAGEUR over the weekend visited the Murambi Genocide Memorial site to pay their respects to Genocide victims. At the memorial, where over 50 000 victims are buried, the student leaders were briefed on the Genocide at Murambi, how it was organised and executed. “Tutsis did not seek refuge here, they were mobilised from all the surrounding areas by local administrative and church leaders with a promise to protect them,” recalled Francois Rusanganwa, the chief guide at the memorial site. “After two weeks, all Tutsi had come out of their hiding places, a search for weapons was conducted and on the night of April 21 1994, the school was attacked leaving thousands dead.” “It was a bloody scene,” recounted Emmanuel Murangira, whose entire family of 30 was killed at Murambi. “Charred bodies could be seen all over the place as the Interahamwe hurled grenades at us.” Innocent Ngabo, the President of the association of FAGEUR, said the visit was meant to show student’s leaders a true picture of what happened during the Genocide and to draw lessons. “Student leaders have a big role to play in rallying students against genocide ideology. Visiting Murambi Genocide memorial will further revitalise this commitment,” he said. The students also visited the Genocide memorial at the National University of Rwanda where they paid their respect to the staff and students who were killed during the 100-day massacres. Ends