The genocide perpetrators asked for forgiveness yesterday in Rukumberi, Ngoma district where over 600 people were counseled and trained in different aspects of life skills including the promotion of unity and reconciliation. Among the trainees are 150 survivors, 150 self-confessed genocide perpetrators, 150 with relatives in prison and 150 returnees
One of the trainees, Baragata John admits that he killed Tutsis during the 1994 Genocide against Tutsis and was released. He also asked for public forgiveness.
“I am standing before you and asking for forgiveness because I played a role in killing some people during the genocide against Tutsis.”
Many other people that participated in genocide followed suit with some saying that much as they had been released out of prison, they lacked inner peace for being at parallel with families whose relatives they had killed but had failed to apologize for reconciliation.
A family-based evangelist organization preached to them the values of reconciliation which they have come to embrace and came out to publicly apologize.
The president of Ibuka in Rukumberi Sector, Habimana Raymond, said he was pleased with the request for forgiveness from genocidaires but said there was still one important aspect that the killers should confess.
“We want them to tell us where our loved ones are buried because in this sector we still have many survivors who have never seen where their loved ones are buried.”
The Governor of Eastern Province Mufulukye Fred, thanked those that asked for forgiveness and those that forgave them, saying it was a special day for the people of Rukumberi.
He urged the residents to live in peace with others and asked those who know where the remains of the victims are to reveal the places so that they can get a decent burial.
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