{The Commissioner General of Prisons (CGP), George Rwigamba has said that some inmates convicted of genocide crimes have refused to apologise to the affected families basing on false promises that there’s a force that will raid prisons and free them. }
He noted this last week as 30 inmates from Bugesera prison apologized to families whose relatives they killed during the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi.
He explained that extremists from outside the country with some subversive people inside Rwanda promise to free genocide convicts.
CGP Rwigamba said that it is not easy to destroy ideologies that people have harboured for a long time but the government of Rwanda is committed to teaching them good values and a positive mindsets.
He said that inmates should strive for social integration and harmonization other than cleavages.
“Inmates hear two voices of which one destroys the society while another builds social cohesion. When both voices are raised simultaneously, it becomes noise.We have had such destructive voice since 1994 up to date even though it’s getting weakened over time,” he said.
“ It is important to note that young generation are discovering the truth.You who have refused to apologize and be freed, it’s high time you heard the good voice of cohesion other than engaging in a conflict you can’t win,” he added.
He promised that inmates that have confessed their crimes will be used as agents to teach fellow inmates from other prisons to listen to the voice of reconciliation.
About 53,000 inmates are detained in 14 prisons in Rwanda with more than a half of them being genocide convicts among which almost 2000 apologized and confessed their crimes.
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