Ombudsman advises Genocide perpetrators to come clean

GISAGARA – The Ombudsman, Tito Rutaremara, has advised Genocide perpetrators to admit their participation in the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi and ask for forgiveness. He was speaking in Mugombwa Sector during a burial ceremony of the remains of 40 Genocide victims at Mugombwa Genocide memorial site on Tuesday. The site hosts the remains of 30,000 Genocide victims. “Someone who has killed innocent people will always remember the horrifying scene if he/she does not step forward to recognize his involvement and ask for forgiveness,” Rutaremara said. He named trauma as one the dangers of failing to acknowledge crime. During the ceremony, survivors asked local leaders to set up a mechanism for the trial of Burundians said to have massively participated in the Genocide. “Burundian refugees participated massively in the Genocide, they were the first to get involved in the killings even before others in this area,” said Jean Damascene Ntihemuka, a survivor. The Gisagara district Mayor, Leandre Karekezi, told mourners that authorities are working with Burundian counterparts to arrest and try Burundians who were involved in the killings. “Genocide is a crime against humanity that can be tried anytime and anywhere. We have already established lists of Burundians who are implicated, the government is in contact with the Burundian authorities to have these people brought to book,” Karekezi said. Ends