Members of the ADEPR congregation have requested forgiveness for role played by some of its leaders and Christians during the 1994 genocide against Tutsi.
The spokesperson of ADEPR made the apology yesterday as the church paid tribute to Tutsi victims of 1994 genocide buried at Kinazi memorial in Kinazi sector, Ruhango district of Southern province.
At the event, 568 bodies of genocide victims retrieved from two holes from Rubona parish and Kibanda village were accorded decent burial at Kinazi memorial.
Kinazi was in former district of Ntongwe from Gitarama province where 70,000 victims were killed in 1994 genocide against Tutsi.
The spokesperson of ADEPR in Rwanda, Jean Sibomana said that some members and leaders of ADEPR played a role in killing Tutsi during the 1994 genocide which prompted him to request for forgiveness on behalf of the church and promised ‘genocide never again’.
“That is the reason why I express my apology for committed offenses since we, as church believers didn’t effectively accomplish our duties leading to involvement in genocide against Tutsi in 1994,”he said.
Rev. Pastor Sibomana has talked about Léonce Utazirubanda who was pastor in Kareba parish and got involved in killing 50 ADEPR Christians and fled the country in 1998.
He said that it is good to share such experiences since it facilitates getting the truth of what happened.
Rev. Pastor Sibomana called on church members to reveal whereabouts of bodies of genocide victims scattered to be accorded decent burial. He also appealed to them to join efforts in the fight against genocide ideology.
“We request ADEPR Christians and all Rwandans in general to reveal whereabouts victims are scattered since it helps in healing wounds left on hearts of some of us,” he noted.
Some of genocide survivors commended the act of expressing apology on behalf of ADEPR church saying it is a way towards healing wounds and a good step towards unity and reconciliation among Rwandans.
568 victims were accorded decent burial and adding to 60,118 victims already buried at Kinazi memorial.
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