Vigil for politicians slain in 1994

Leaders of the Consultative Forum for Political Parties, yesterday, honoured the country’s politicians slain during the Genocide against the Tutsi, with a call to present-day political leaders to pursue a more united and prosperous Rwanda.They said, today, politicians who were killed for either being Tutsi or denouncing the killings of the early 1990s, were proud of the Rwanda of today, since it promotes the same values they believed in.The politicians were also urged to play a major role in fighting Genocide revisionism, which is common in western countries.Speaking at a ceremony to mark the end of the Genocide commemoration week at Rebero memorial, Kigali, the Forum spokesperson, Dr Alvera Mukabaramba, stressed that politicians have an obligation to fight any distortion of the country’s history.The event was particularly an occasion to remember politicians who were killed in 1994 for standing against and boldly denouncing the brutality of the Genocidal regime. “There are some foreigners who have made themselves experts on the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, who ignore facts about what happened, and seek to absolve their countries of any responsibility…we have to fight their evil campaign,” Mukabaramba, who heads Party for Progress and Concorde (PPC), said.Relatives, friends and government officials, braved a heavy downpour to pay their respects to the brave men and women buried at the site. Also buried there are the remains of 14,000 innocent victims, especially those murdered at Kigali Central Teaching Hospital.Speaking at the event, Senate president, Dr Jean Damascene Ntawukuriryayo, called on Rwandan scholars to document the country’s history in a clear, proper and right way so as to disarm Genocide revisionists and deniers. “As we commemorate, we have to keep in mind that the Genocide was perpetuated by Rwandans led by brutal and heartless leaders. On the other hand, however, it was stopped by Rwandans who had, for long, been denied their rights,” he said.Some of the politicians buried at the Rebero site include; Landouard Ndasingwa, commonly known as Lando, Venatie Kabageni, Charles Kayiranga, Andre Kameya, Aloys Niyoyita, Augustin Rwayitare, and Jean de la Croix Rutaremara, all from Liberal Party (PL).Others are Joseph Kavaruganda, Frederic Nzamurambaho, Felicien Ngago and Jean Baptiste Mushimiyimana, from (PSD), and Faustin Rucogoza (MDR).“There are people out there who still wish us evil but that will not obstruct us from building a strong nation. Rwanda is what it is today because of those who sacrificed their lives for a better nation. Some of those heroes are these we are mourning today,” he said.The Minister of Sports and Culture, Protais Mitali, commended countries that have either extradited or tried Genocide fugitives. “But there are some which are still reluctant to take action,” he noted.“Those who planned the Genocide also planned how to deny it, that is why there are some negationists and revisionists who try to distort our history, we will never let them succeed. Rwandan scholars should document our history as it is,” said Mitali. One of the senior politicians who were murdered at the time was Agatha Uwiringiyimana, the former prime minister, who is buried at the cemetery for heroes in Remera. “There are those whose remains we have not found, that is why we call on the general public to give us any information that may lead us to exhume their remains,” said Mukabaramba, who is also State Minister for Social Welfare. She said the political parties forum had partnered with Ibuka, the umbrella for Genocide survivors organisations, have the names of all the people buried at the Rebero memorial inscribed on a plaque, and to publish their photos.Those honoured yesterday are remembered for having put the then government of Juvenal Habyarimana under pressure to engage in genuine talks with the opposition, stop violence against the people, and promote peace and reconciliation.The slain politicians had the capacity to flee the country, a mourner said, “But they chose to stand firm, and eventually paid the ultimate price.”The president of Ibuka, Dr Jean Pierre Dusingizemungu, observed that the fallen politicians lost their lives because they had Rwanda at heart. “They had a dream for their country; they dreamed of an all-inclusive nation. They stood firm and died as heroes. They are a light for Africa. Today, they are proud of what Rwanda is. As we commemorate, we must stay the course and continue to shape a bright future as a nation,” said Dusingizemungu.Senior government officials laid wreaths on the graves.

National

Vigil for politicians slain in 1994