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The Kwibuka Flame (Flame of Remembrance) today travels to Murambi in Nyamagabe District (formerly known as Gikongoro), the ninth stop on its tour of Rwanda’s thirty districts. The flame will return to Kigali on 7 April 2014, the start of the national mourning period.
Mass killings in the Gikongoro area took place in 1959, 1961 and 1963. In 1963, 14,000 Tutsi were massacred in just four days.
At the beginning of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, people were told by the genocidal authorities to flee and take refuge together at ETO Murambi (Technical School) which was under construction at the time. It was a strategic and planned decision by the authorities. The victims were fleeing massacres that had begun on 7 April 1994 including at the Parish of Mushubi in Muko Commune and at Gasarenda in Mudasomwa Commune.
Located on an isolated but visible hill, ETO Murambi was chosen so that the killers could gather the victims and kill them systematically. Local officials and soldiers established a network of roadblocks to control the movement of Tutsi and many were murdered or raped before they reached the school. The authorities also organised the militia, supplying arms, ammunition and transport to those charged with exterminating all Tutsi. They held meetings with local residents to ask for “a hand in the war against the Tutsi.”
At the same time, those taking refuge at the school were denied water and food. The water pipes were disconnected and those who brought provisions were turned back. Weak from fatigue, hunger and thirst, the victims managed to mount a resistance to the attacks. After repelling an attack on 18 April 1994, preparations for a final onslaught intensified.
On 19 April 1994, interim President Théodore Sindikubwabo met with local officials and military officers at Gikongoro and guns and new machetes were distributed. On that day Hutu living in the area were taken to safety in nearby schools to clearly demarcate those who should live and those marked to be killed.
When the assault started at 3am on 21 April 1994, those who had taken refuge tried to fight back with stones but most were killed under a hail of bullets and grenades. There was a short respite at 6am when the attackers’ ammunition ran out but twenty minutes later the killing resumed. Those wounded and still alive were finished off with machetes. Fifty thousands were killed, only 20 survived. Victim’s possessions were then looted. At 11am, the Prefect Laurent Bucyibaruta thanked the killers “for the work well done.” After 1994 Bucyibaruta fled Rwanda and now lives in France.
The genocidaires were not alone. Protected by the French-led Operation Turquoise, genocidaires continued the “work” in the Gikongoro area for longer than in other parts of Rwanda. Dubbed a humanitarian intervention, Operation Turquoise created a safe haven for the genocidaires. French troops built a volleyball court on top of mass graves and, as the genocide continued, regularly gathered there to play.
The Rwanda Patriotic Army liberated the area at the end of August 1994.
Speaking about the events in Murambi, Suzanne Nyirasuku, whose husband and eight children perished at Murambi, has said, “The Tutsi who took refuge at Murambi were killed with extreme cruelty, but they were brave. They perished after having struggled against killers who had come from all regions of Gikongoro Prefecture.”
Today’s community event to welcome the Flame of Remembrance will reflect on what happened in 1994 and the journey of the area and Rwanda since. Testimony will be given by survivor Simon Mutangana who took refuge in Murambi in 1994. At that time he was a teacher at Ecole Primaire Nyamigina. Today Simon is the President of IBUKA in Tare Sector.
Genocide perpetrator Emmanuel Nyirimbuga will also speak. He was head of the Hutu militia that carried out the slaughter at Murambi. He worked to distribute grenades, traditional weapons and machetes. Emmanuel was convicted of committing genocide and has since been released from prison after also completed community work.
Today’s event is hosted by the Mayor of Nyamagabe Filbert Mugisha. The special guests are the Minister of Youth and ICT Jean Philbert Nsengimana and Senator Jean Damascene Bizimana. The flame will be received from Nyaruguru District by young Nyamagabe residents Faith Uwimbabazi and Dieudonne Bigirinkana. A choir of students from Village SOS Nyamagabe singing Urumuri Rutazima will welcome the flame. The Master of Ceremony for today’s event is Alphonse Nkomezamihigo.
Kwibuka Flame Tour Event Program for Nyamagabe District
When: 2:00 – 4:00pm, 3 February 2014
Where: Murambi, Nyamagabe District
Welcoming Remarks from the Master of Ceremony Alphonse Nkomezamihigo
Children’s Choir signing Urumuri Rutazima as the Kwibuka Flame arrives
Remarks by Nyamagabe Mayor Filbert Mugisha
Kwibuka20 Short Film – Remember, Unite, Renew (Kwibuka Twiyubaka)
Testimony from genocide survivor Simon Mutangana
Poem and song from AERG Nyamagabe School of Science
Testimony from genocide perpetrator Emmanuel Nyirimbuga
Explanation of how to be involved in Kwibuka20 by the MC
Remarks by Senator Dr Jean Damascene Bizimana
Remarks by Minister of Youth and ICT Jean Philbert Nsengimana
Final performance of Urumuri Rutazima
Background Information on the Kwibuka Flame of Remembrance
The Kwibuka Flame symbolises remembrance as well as the resilience and courage of Rwandans over the past twenty years. Carried in a simple lamp, it will be used to light other lamps in communities around Rwanda. To mark the 20th commemoration of the Genocide against the Tutsi, all memorial fires throughout the country will stem from this single Kwibuka Flame.
On returning to Kigali, President Paul Kagame will use the Kwibuka Flame to light the National Flame of Mourning. This will take place on 7 April 2014, marking the official beginning of the national mourning period. The flame will also be the source of the fire used at the candlelit vigil at Amahoro Stadium on the evening of 7 April 2014.
Learn more about the Kwibuka Flame of Remembrance here
Source: Kwibuka.rw
