Genocide survivors organise Kwibuka21 activities to support wounded survivors and honour liberation fighters

Genocide survivor organisations AERG and GAERG have organised a month of activities across Rwanda in the lead up to Kwibuka21 – the twenty-first commemoration of the Genocide against the Tutsi. The launch of the campaign takes place onSaturday 7 March 2015 in Rukumbeli Sector, Ngoma District.

Speaking about the campaign, GAERG President Charles Habonimana said:

“Through our associations, AERG and GAERG, we have organised activities to support vulnerable genocide survivors, especially those wounded, and honour the liberation fighters of the Rwandan Patriotic Army who stopped the genocide.”

The main activity planned is supporting survivors handicapped during the genocide, as well as liberation war casualties. In doing so, the survivor organisations wish to recognise their bravery and heroism. Other activities include cleaning and maintaining genocide memorials and recording the names of completely perished families.

Association members will also visit the former houses of genocide victims and survivors, which were destroyed in 1994 in an attempt to remove any trace of their existence. Members will plant trees at these sites to preserve their history and the memory of victims.

The Coordinator of AERG, Jean Bosco Milindi, added:

“This campaign will show how grateful we are to those who rescued Tutsi during the genocide. We want to bring genocide survivors together, share the history of the genocide and teach young Rwandans about the genocide, how to build themselves and the country, as well as about genocide prevention.”

After the massacres of Tutsi in 1959-1963 in Gikongoro, the survivors were forcibly moved to Rukumbeli. The first killings in Rukumbeli took place during Christmas of 1963. Many Tutsi attempted to resist the killings but were unable to.

When the 1994 genocide started, many Tutsi were living in the region. Militias were mobilised from neighbouring communes to kill those living there, some of whom had been able to resist previous attacks.

Backed by government soldiers, militia killed the Tutsi who had taken refuge in Rukumbeli. Because of the geographical location of Rukumbeli (surrounded by militia and two lakes), there was little chance of survival. Of the approximately 35,000 Tutsi in Rukumbeli at the time, only 720 survived. They were rescued by the Rwanda Patriotic Army which arrived in the region on 5 May 1994.

In Ngoma District, mass killings also took place in Zaza parish in Birenga and Bare parish in Kigarama. The region has seven memorials where today around 60,000 victims are buried.

UM– USEKE.RW