{"id":42408,"date":"2023-05-21T16:03:50","date_gmt":"2023-05-21T16:03:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/rwanda\/all-news\/rubavu-genocide-victims-thrown-in-sebeya-river-remembered"},"modified":"2023-05-21T16:12:39","modified_gmt":"2023-05-21T16:12:39","slug":"rubavu-genocide-victims-thrown-in-sebeya-river-remembered","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/rwanda\/photo\/rubavu-genocide-victims-thrown-in-sebeya-river-remembered","title":{"rendered":"Rubavu: Genocide victims thrown in Sebeya River remembered"},"content":{"rendered":"

Africa-Press – Rwanda. <\/strong><\/span>Victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi who were killed or thrown alive into the Sebeya River were remembered on Saturday, May 20, in Rubavu District.<\/p>\n

The event is part of the ongoing commemoration for the 29th anniversary of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, which was organized by the \u2018Dukundane Family\u2019, an association of former student survivors from College Saint Andre.<\/p>\n

The association was also joined by Rubavu officials and local residents to commemorate the victims who had been dumped in various water bodies earlier or during the massacre.<\/p>\n

For Sebeya, the victims who were killed or thrown in alive came from areas such as Kanama, Nyabirasi, Nyundo, and other parts of the region surrounding the river.<\/p>\n

Marie Aimable Umuhoza, 62, is one of the Genocide survivors in Nyundo Sector whose relatives, including her mother, were dumped there.<\/p>\n

Hon. Jean-Pierre Hindura (second from right) and De\u0301ogratias Nzabonimpa (middle), the Rubavu District Vice Mayor in charge of Economic Development and Acting Mayor, graced the commemoration event.<\/p>\n

\u201cLaying a wreath here makes me feel calm in my heart, I feel happy that I am with them today,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Need for a monument<\/p>\n

According to many Genocide survivors in Rubavu District, including Umuhoza, there is a need for a monument at Sebeya River to help families better commemorate their beloved relatives who were killed there.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe monument will help us remember that tragic history so that when we pass by and look at their names, we will see that our parents are honoured,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n

According to Dukundane Family\u2019s Coordinator, Sixbert Habimana, commemorating the victims of the Genocide who were thrown into various water bodies is \u201ca part of preserving the country\u2019s history\u201d and also a part of \u201cremembering and fighting against genocide ideology.\u201d<\/p>\n

Speaking at the event, Hon Jean Pierre Hindura, who was the guest of honour, called upon parents to tell their children the history as it is.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are some parents who still do not tell the truth about the Genocide against the Tutsi and what happened. It is beneficial to learn from past history so that it can help young people to govern this country,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

In his address, Hon Hindura urged Genocide survivors to forgive the perpetrators who had the mission of eliminating all Tutsi within the country and outside, including the communities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Burundi.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is painful, but you should forgive them in order to become relieved in your hearts. It is true that they killed your relatives, but we have to remember and move on,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

He promised to do more advocacy for a monument at Sebeya to be put in place for generations to come and for the next commemoration events.<\/p>\n

Marie Aimable Umuhoza is one of the Genocide survivors in Nyundo Sector whose relatives were dumped in the river.<\/p>\n

Students from College Saint Andre, where the ‘Dukundane Family’ originated, were also invited.<\/p>\n\r\n