KAYONZA / NYAMASHEKE — At least remains of 300 victims of the 1994 Genocide were last Sunday afternoon given decent burial at Mukarange memorial site in Kayonza district. This was part of the activities of the Genocide mourning week that ended Sunday. The week commenced on April 7. Addressing the mourners, MP Charles Kamanda said that commemoration must be integrated in Rwandan culture, and stressed the need to support genocide survivors to improve on their living conditions. Kamanda took mourners through the history of Rwanda explaining how the genocide was planned. He warned residents against the vice, saying it was a crime against humanity punishable under the jurisdiction of the United Nations (UN). Damas Muhororo, the district Mayor warned people still harboring genocide ideology to drop it. He said that like the government, the district would not tolerate anyone still possessed by ‘genocide ideology’. He urged survivors not to relax but to work hard for development. Védaste Uwizeye, speaking on behalf of area survivors, said the commemoration should not just be a ceremonial event, but it should live a significant lesson. Meanwhile, in Nyamasheke district in the Western Province, at least 163 remains were re-buried at Birogo Genocide memorial site in Gihombo sector. Out of the 163 remains, 143 of them were collected within Gihombo sector while 20 were collected from Mahembe sector. The ceremony presided over by Mayor Vincent Muragwa, was attended by thousands of mourners. In his address, Muragwa warned residents against genocide ideology and ethnic divisionism, saying they hinder development. “I urge you all as residents and Rwandans in general who are here to always take part in up rooting the existing genocide ideology in your respective places of work and residence. We can not achieve any development if we still have divisionism in our country,” Muragwa said. The Mayor appealed to residents to help genocide survivors at all times and warned those who still harass, intimidate and torture genocide survivors and Gacaca witnesses in the region. Speaking on behalf of survivors, Jean-Damascène Kamanzi of Ibuka, said that there are more remains of genocide victims that have not been given a decent burial. He appealed to district leaders and the government to arrange for their burial. Kamanzi also appealed to the district authorities to build more houses for genocide survivors, saying some of them still lack shelter. He also asked the government to build more genocide memorial sites and to renovate dilapidated genocide memorial sites. He cited Rwamatamu, Butembo, Nyagahinga and Jarama genocide memorial sites among those in poor state. On genocide ideology, he observed that such cases are still rife in the area and urged the government and all Rwandans to encourage genocide suspects and their accomplices to reveal where they dumped bodies. Ends
