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Kinyarwanda
The Kwibuka Flame (Flame of Remembrance) today travelled to Gisagara District, the seventh stop on its nationwide tour. The Flame had been at the University of Rwanda in Huye District. The Kwibuka Flame will tour Rwanda’s thirty districts before returning to Kigali on 7 April 2014, the start of the national mourning period.
Today’s community event in Kabuye featured the Urumuri Rutazima song, testimonies from genocide survivor Kampororo Francine and rescuer Sebazungu Emmanuel. A poem was read by Uwambayikirezi Beatrice. Special guests included the Mayor of Gisagara Karekezi Leandre and Member of Rwanda’s Parliament Hon. Mukandutiye Speciose. The Kwibuka short film ‘Remember, Unite, Renew’ was shown.
Gisagara was chosen for its particular history. In the years before the 1994 genocide, Gisagara district was home to a large number of Tutsi. It was also a place where marriage between Hutu and Tutsi was common. Because of this, the killings did not start immediately. It wasn’t until former President Theodore Sindikubwabo on 21 April 1994 visited the district saying that the mistakes of 1959 must not be repeated – referring to the fact that Tutsi survived the massacres by fleeing the country. He called on Hutu to kill Tutsi wherever they were.
After the meeting around 50,000 Tutsi fled to Gisagara where they took refuge on Kabuye hill. The hill was attacked numerous times and the genocidaires initially failed to carry out the planned massacres. Later, with the help of the ex-FAR, the Interahamwe installed guns on mounted positions surrounding Kabuye. The fired at the Tutsi until their numbers were so low that they could kill those remaining alive with machetes.
At the beginning of the genocide, many Hutu men hid their Tutsi wives in an attempt to save their lives. When it was discovered that this was occurring, Minister Kalimanzira Callixte visited the region and told the people that “no one can clean their home but still leave the ash inside”. This call led to many Hutu killing their Tutsi partners. By the end of the genocide, more than 120,000 Tutsi had been murdered in Gisagara.
Speaking at today’s event, survivor Francine Kampororo recounted the events of that time.
“On April 21, 1994, interim genocidal President Sindikubwabo visited this area and instructed Hutu to hunt and kill Tutsi. The next day, massive killings started and thousands of Tutsi were ruthlessly killed. The militias used machine guns, and those who escaped were murdered with traditional weapons,” she said.
Despite her horrific experiences, Kampororo is hopeful about the future.
“Twenty years down the road, we have gone through difficult times but emerged successful. There are of course tough challenges, but we are working hard to improve our livelihoods,” she said.
The Kwibuka Flame will tomorrow travel to Kansi Sector in Gisagara to share its message with all before reaching Kibeho in Nyaruguru on 30 January 2014.
The Flame of Remembrance 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.
Source:kwibuka.rw
