NORTHERN PROVINCE A Catholic priest heading Kinihira Central Parish, in Byumba district was last week arrested allegedly over genocide denial. Edward Sentarure allegedly uttered remarks during a sermon in which he said there was a double genocide. He also undermined the genocide memorial period by baptising children and holding other related church activities during the commemoration week. According to police, father Sentarure while conducting a mass at Burehe Church told Christians that he will never recognise the Genocide unless other Rwandans who died in Mugunga refugee camp in D.R. of Congo and his brother whom he claimed he never buried are recognised too. Sources said the priest compared the genocide to soot on a cooking pot saying the cooking pot can not have same amount of soot. His message contained kinyarwanda sayings like Inkono Zisumbanya Ibyiro which portrayed that there was need to recognise those who died in exile as having been genocide. Tharcisse Rutayisire, and one Kamanzi who were among the Christians who attendd the mass say the priest’ remarks were intended to create divisions in society. According to the duo, Sentarure uttered similar remarks during last year’s genocide memorial period. Upon his arrest, the priest asked for forgiveness. He reportedly admitted in writing the mistakes, saying he did it out of ignorance of the truth of the 1994 genocide in Rwanda. However, sources say other fellow priests at the parish had earlier warned him about his genocide ideology especially when he ordered his parish priest, father Népo Harerimana to baptise during the genocide commemoration week. Ends
