Gatwaro stadium: From massacre grounds to a new meaning

WESTERN PROVINCE From a distance, when one is at the hill spot, beautifully colored flowers are viewed beside the Gatwaro stadium. To most who pass by this place, the flowers warm against the sun, and open up to with seductive smells; they are small but noticeable elements of the beauty of the area. For others, however, it is a reminder of the Genocide. Compared to the rest of Kibuye, which is largely underdeveloped for its potential as an art colony and tourism destination, Gatwaro stadium is one of the strong government buildings and it has been there for a long time, and like much of the country, has become defined by its months during the 1994 Genocide. The lives of 140,000 Rwandans were claimed at this site and at least as many people’s relatives who had managed to survive the Genocide during the first days were later tricked into going to the stadium for safety and security where they were brutally killed. “What do you think should be done to make people forget of what once took place right here yet its where we stand to address most problems of Karongi district?” A significant sector leader once commented. Activities from football and basketball, to serious security and local meetings are held here, as well as, most ironically—or fittingly—Gacaca sessions. “The massacres done at Gatwaro stadium are deathless in my mind because I watched many plead for dear lives but all in vain,” says resident Celestine Habyara. Having narrowly escaped, Celestine is counted among the few lucky to have survived Gatwaro stadium, thanks to the corpses then for its where he hid and he was mistaken to be dead as well. “Though my three children were killed under my watch, I thank God I survived for there was no hope for survival, for anyone,” said Hope Mukamurigo also a Gatwaro survivor. In its own unique situation, the stadium was not only used for killing those around Kibuye—the town has the unfortunate designation of being the place where extermination of Tutsis was highest, with close to 90 per cent being wiped away—but where Rwandans from surrounding areas were brought and killed. “At first the soldiers brought us to the stadium under the umbrella of protecting us, we of course didn’t hesitate because the deaths were becoming severe in our area,” says Madallena Mukankunsi. “We later came to know it was a trick when the Interahamwe started slaughtering some of the people we were with on the arrival to the stadium,” she continued. The Gatwaro stadium is like a valley, surrounded by forests that are very hilly. Standing on any of those hills, I am able to witness whatever is going on in the stadium, which shows just how difficult seeking refuge was in 1994. “After all killings made at the stadium, the killers would rejoice about having finished the Tutsi race at last, they would share their cloths, mimic the way they were beseeching for help and made plans for bringing others to the same site for they would never survive,” said Alphonse Kanyenzi. “Anyone who tried to resist would be brought to the stadium. Only dare devils and strong Interahamwes were assigned the stadium job, after several days of killing, the Prime Minister by then came and thanked them for the great work,” says Kanyenzi. There were signs of heroics. At one time during the Genocide, groups in the stadium began fighting back, throwing stones and the killers, but even then they were later shot dead. “What hurts me most are the Gacaca jurisdictions in this place, for in case I have to give any evidence, it reminds me of many things that took place right here,” says Mukankusi. Ends