Genocide: Southern Province remembers fallen employees

THE SOUTHERN PROVINCE on Friday paid tribute to its former staff members who were killed during the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi.Addressing mourners, the provincial Governor Alphonse Munyantwari reminded them that commemorating the Genocide is a sign of respect to the many innocent victims of the Genocide.“Those who committed the Genocide did not only take innocent lives but also destroyed our nation,” Munyantwari said.“Commemorating the Genocide is a testimony that we respect and dignify those victims. We shall continue to remember them.”Munyantwari said Genocide was a result of bad leadership and urged current leaders to always champion for a society free of discrimination and genocide ideology.He noted that it was a collective responsibility to fight genocide ideology and genocide denial.Prof. Jean Pierre Dusingizemungu, the president of Ibuka, said 19 years after the Genocide took place survivors continue their struggle to overcome its effects.He called on the community to continue supporting them. He noted however that survivors have moved a long way in rebuilding their lives.Ibuka is the umbrella organisation for Genocide survivors associations.A total of 93 employees of the former Butare, Gikongoro and Gitarama prefectures-which make up the current Southern Province- are known to have perished during the Genocide. But efforts are still ongoing to gather the full list, according to officials.Jean Baptiste Habyarimana, the former prefect of Butare, tops the list of the victims which also includes former mayors (bourgoumestres), deputy prefect as well as other leaders and employees.Habyarimana is known to have actively opposed the Genocide. Due to his stance, Butare remained untouched when killings broke out elsewhere in the country after April 6 and the calmness remained for about two weeks until Habyarimana was removed from his position, arrested and eventually killed.

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Genocide: Southern Province remembers fallen employees