156 Genocide survivors and witnesses killed

At least 156 Genocide survivors and witnesses were killed between 1995 and 2008, a general survey on crimes against Genocide survivors has indicated. The survey results which The New Times has seen, indicates that the victims include those who were supposed to give evidence on perpetrators of the 1994 Genocide against Tutsis. Information available also indicates that the Southern Province registered the highest number people killed with 56, followed by the Western Province with 49. The Northern Province recorded 10 people. The survey indicates that of those killed; 79 were men, constituting the highest percentage of 51 percent, followed by 63 women (49%). The rest were children. It also singles out 2006 as the worst year of killing Genocide survivors and witnesses when 40 people were killed. A pattern also emerges in all the years since 1995 to 2008, in which the report establishes that March, April, July, August and October as the worst months to claim more lives. Meanwhile in an interview with The New Times, Jean De Dieu Mucyo, the Executive Secretary of National Commission against Genocide (CNLG), said killing of innocent persons in relation to the 1994 Genocide is still an issue of concern. It was after a consultative meeting, yesterday organized by CNLG with representatives of media houses on how best the media can participate in the 15th Commemoration’s of the 1994 Genocide. “The killing of the 1994 Genocide survivors and witnesses is still a security concern much as Genocide ideologies can not be under-looked,” said Mucyo in an interview. He said that the media can play a big role in preventing 1994 Genocide survivors and witnesses from being killed by informing, educating and warning the public on the dangers of Genocide ideologies. “We need to build a concrete and permanent relationship with the media because fighting genocide is a responsibility of all Rwandans,” Mucyo noted. The CNLG recently called on media practitioners, to play a role in the up coming commemorations. According to the commission, while some neglect to participate in the national commemoration week, the more people participate in the commemoration, the more healing will be attained in the society. The 15th commemoration will be held in Nyanza, Kicukiro District under the theme; “Let us keep alive the memory of Genocide against Tutsis by fighting its revisionism as we build our country.” An international conference of genocide scholars will take place in Kigali between April 4 and 6 as part of this year’s commemorations. Ends