Author: IGIHE

British police announced at the beginning of this week that it is carrying an investigation on five genocide fugitives including Célestin Mutabaruka, Vincent Bajinya who was living under the alias Vincent Brown, Célestin Ugirashebuja, Charles Munyaneza na Nteziryayo Emmanuel in response to the government of Rwanda’s request.

They are accused of role in the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi and crimes against humanity.
Jean Damascene Ndabirora Kalinda, IBUKA’s legal advisor said they have been requesting foreign countries to sue hiding genocide fugitives.

“We have increasingly talked about cooperation between countries to bring to book perpetrators of the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi. We welcome the initiative if it goes into effect. We also call on other countries to give in their contribution to seize errand genocide fugitives,” he has told IGIHE.

“We assume that justice is the most important thing a genocide survivor needs. To obtain justice through different processes but seeing a genocide fugitive handed a punishment is great to a genocide survivor,” added Kalinda.

Célestin Mutabaruka, 63, is a pastor in Community Church. He currently lives in Kent while Vincent Brown [Bajinya],59, living in Islington is a doctor.

Other genocide suspects in Britain include Célestin Ugirashebuja,66, living in Essex, Charles Munyaneza, 61, living in Bedford and Emmanuel Nteziryayo, 66, living in Manchester.

They were arrested for the first time in 2006 but the trial stopped five years later.
Some fugitives are still wondering in different countries 25 years after the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi.

These include Félicien Kabuga, Augustin Bizimana, Protais Mpiranya, Fulgence Kayishema, Pheneas Munyarugarama, Aloys Ndimbati, Ryandikayo, and Charles Sikubwabo among others.

Bonanza Trading Ltd is a Chinese company specialized in trading of minerals, investment in lottery games and construction sector among others.

The Chief Operational Officer of Bonanza Trading Ltd, Andy Zhang Rian has told IGIHE said the visit was meant to get increased knowledge on bad history that characterized Rwanda during the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi.

“We have visited this memorial to understand and get a lesson from Rwanda’s history during the genocide,” he noted.

Zhang Rian also encouraged the world population to be on alert and prevent re-occurrence of the genocide anywhere.

Steve Sebera, 29, an employee of Bonanza Trading Ltd also highlighted that visiting the memorial ‘enables us to understand the consequences of bad politics and adopt strict measures on preserving achievements.’

Paying tribute to former MINISANTE employees was preceded by a visit to Ntarama memorial in Bugesera district where over 5000 victims of the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi are laid to rest.

They also visited Aheza Healing and Career Center where they received explanations of services offered at the center.

Nshimiyimana Emmanuel, the Executive Secretary of Groupe des Anciens Etudiants et Elèves Rescapés du Genocide (GAERG) explained that the center handles trauma cases, especially among genocide survivors.

GAERG is an organization founded by Rwandan graduates Genocide survivors with a mission of creating a world in which the memory of genocide is preserved and a self-sustaining genocide survivor’s community.

A recent research by the Ministry of Health revealed that one of 3 genocide survivors always has depression while only one of ten among the rest of the population is depressed.

“All these are problems affecting us. We wonder how we can address them with partners. Over the past 25 years after the genocide, the government of Rwanda has been closer to Rwandans especially genocide survivors in building resilience, but the trauma cases are persistent,” he said.

The Minister of Health, Dr. Diane Gashumba has said that MINISANTE and related institutions have allocated Rwf 6.3 million of need Rwf 63 million to help genocide survivors suffering from trauma.

The decent house was constructed to replace the existing old one that was about collapsing.

Xaverine Kankuyu, the beneficiary who received the house is one among people who survived in former Muhazi commune. She survived with two children while five others and her husband were killed during the genocide.

Her new house is built in Akanogo village, Bwinsanga cell of Gishari sector in Rwamamgana district. It is constructed with cooked bricks, has three wide rooms and a sitting room.

The Chief Finance Officer of Bella Flowers, Muganga Walter said the idea of building the house emanated from close collaboration with Gishari sector which selected the beneficiary.

“They led us to this old woman who survived the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi. He was living in a seriously destroyed house. It was likely to fall in case it rained. Then we decided to build another house and demolished the old one,” he said.

Muganga explained that the company is committed to contributing to the welfare of the community where it pays Mutuelle de Sante for its 600 workers and 300 residents in Gishari sector.

Kankuyu has thanked FPR-Inkotanyi for rescuing her and continuous support from the government comforting her from the dark past she passed through. She explained that the previous house had been built by Caritas and was damaged that it would collapse one day.

“I sought support from sector officials. The conducted advocacy leading to building this house. I have a thankful heart because I had never dreamt sleeping in such a house,” she revealed.

The mayor of Rwamagana district, Radjab Mbonyumuvunyi lauded Bella Flowers for efforts to support needy Rwandans beyond businesses.

“When we officially inaugurate such house, it means that we restore life to genocide survivors, taking care of them, that government leadership hears their concerns and never forgot them,” he said.

Mbonyumuvunyi called on other development partners to root on current progress to build the desired nation.

Bella Flowers practice agriculture of flowers on 40 hectares with 600 workers.

The court ordered their immediate release after finding no evidence pinning them. The prosecution is allowed to have appealed against the release in no more than 30 days.

The duo was arrested two weeks ago over alleged embezzling of public funds as per the National Public Prosecution Authority (NPPA).

Information from the prosecution indicated that the duo was being interrogated for alleged complicity in the misuse of funds worth Rwf 249 million in One Laptop Per Child Project that is under REB.

John Rutayisire was the first director of REB when the institution was created in 2011, out of merger of different institutions under the education sector including Rwanda National Examinations Council (RNEC), Teacher’s Service Commission (TSC), The National Curriculum Development Centre (NCDC) and Student Financing Agency for Rwanda (SFAR).

He served until 2015 when he handed over to Gasana who served until 2017.

Gasana was replaced in February 2017 by Dr. Irenée Ndayambaje who is still in service.

The ceremony that coincided with the beginning of commemoration week took place in the multipurpose room of Shenyang Crown Plaza Hotel.

It was characterized by talks on genocide history and observing a moment of silence in honor of over 1 million victims killed in 100 days and lighting the flame of hope.

The youth were tasked to consolidate Rwanda’s achievements and put more efforts in learning genocide history to draw lessons leading to re-building the nation.

Participants also watched a documentary depicting the resilience process, unity and reconciliation among Rwandans over the past 25 years.

The president of Rwanda’s diaspora in Shenyang, Medard Mwongereza highlighted that the reconciliation process of Rwandans made Rwanda a role model across the World.

He urged Rwandans to uphold values of forgiveness wherever they are.

“Our parents passed on a good legacy to us. We must always learn to forgive. What we have learned today is the life they passed through. They endured suffering but looked forward to the future of the country and ours. Our daily lives must
be characterized by such great values,” said Mwongereza.

Artistes were part of the cohort of people who were involved in the preparation and execution of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi which Rwanda is commemorating for the 25th time.

One of them is Simon Bikindi who released different songs mobilizing Hutus to kill Tutsi.
Talking to IGIHE, Dominic Ashimwe said that artistes have the power to change people’s mindsets but their message can be destructive if wrongly used.

“The power of an artiste to fans negatively impacts the community if wrongly used and contributes to building the nation if the talent is used well,” he said.

Ashimwe requested fellow artistes to focus on works of arts conveying messages building peace among world population.

“Artistes’ work requires vigilance through their work of arts (music, poems, drawings, and plays among others). The message conveyed should bear good fruits to Rwandan society and the rest of the world and strive to become the right channel enhancing harmony among people,” he advised.

The ceremony took place in the former Camp Kigali where the 10 Belgian soldiers who guarded the then Prime Minister Agathe Uwiringiyimana were killed. It was organized by the Kingdom of Belgium.

The ceremony was attended by the Belgian Prime Minister, Right Honourable Charles Michel, who was accompanied by a large delegation of around 130 persons from Belgium (including family members of the 10 Belgian peacekeepers who were killed in Rwanda) and the Right Honourable Prime Minister, Dr. Ngirente Edouard.

During the ceremony held yesterday, Michel said that by the end of April 2019 Belgium will have voted for passing a law against denial of the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi.
Michel said that there was evidence that genocide was being prepared at the time through his country and the international community never acted against it.

“As we pay homage to our soldiers, we reassure that it won’t happen again. We want to show that the memory of our heroic women and men is kept alive,” he said.

“Denial and trivialization of crimes against humanity in Rwanda must desist. I would like to inform that the Belgium parliament will pass a law against the denial of the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi before the end of this month,” he said.

Rwanda’s Premier Dr. Edouard Ngirente said that Rwandans will always remember the bravery of Belgium soldiers who sacrificed their lives standing against the evil and hailed Belgium contribution to Rwanda in the resilience process. He noted that the relations between both countries are the right honor these soldiers deserve.

“This will always be the memory to honor Belgium soldiers killed during the genocide. However, the great honor we should respect is good relationships between both countries’ citizens,” he highlighted.

Belgium courts in 2007 handed 20 years sentence to Major Bernard Ntuyahaga, senior officer of the former government was in 2007 for being behind killings of Belgium soldiers.
Belgium also remembered 12 citizens who were killed in Rwanda during the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi.