The request was part of the message Catholic Church bishops in Rwanda delivered to Christians for the 25th commemoration of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi on 7th April 2019 as commemoration activities began. The message was read in all churches across the country.
“Older and sick convicts are among people jailed for role in the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi. These people need help. Then seeking how their punishments can be reduced. But they also have to be integrated under the program of seeking an apology and reconciling with people they offended,” reads part of the letter.
The request was not welcomed by genocide survivors. Commenting on the request, IBUKA, the umbrella organization of genocide survivors observed that such a message should not be released during commemoration period requesting to respect laws for further actions.
Jean Damascène Ndabirora Kalinda, IBUKA’s legal advisor told IGIHE that inmates were convicted by courts of law and their release should be done through a legal process.
During the vigil night to remember victims of the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi held in Nyanza, Kicukiro on 11th April 2019, the president of IBUKA, Prof Jean Pierre Dusingizemungu said the request should be strictly assessed because there are genocide convicts with persistent genocide ideology.
The Catholic Church released the statement as Rwanda closed the commemoration week on 13th April 2019.
“There are clauses from the letter that hurt people especially the ones concerning the request for commuting sentences of old and sick genocide convicts,” reads part of the statement signed by the President of Episcopal Conference in Rwanda, Bishop Philippe Rukamba.
“We regret that the message hurt people especially considering the period during which it was communicated. This was not our intention. We apologize for having communicated the message during the commemoration period,” adds the statement.
The Catholic Church assured of its commitment to keep solidarity with genocide survivors and Rwandan community to commemorate the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi.
The apology has been welcomed by the Minister of Local Government, Prof. Anastase Shyaka.
“The Catholic Church has sought an apology from people hurt by the message communicated in its letter written on 25th March that was read on 7th April 2019. Let us remember and renew,” he said in a tweet.
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