Youth urged to take lead in reconciling genocide criminals and survivors
By HAKIZIMANA Elias.
As Rwanda marks 28th commemoration of the genocide perpetrated against the Tutsi in 1994, Rwandan youth are reminded to take the lead of reconciliation between genocide survivors and perpetrators.
Though Rwanda has made a tremendous step of teaching the tragedy that the nation has endured through civic education, some genocide perpetrators are not willing to demand mercy to the survivors whose relatives and loved ones were killed and some of the families were wiped out.
Concealing the truth and misleading information to their descendants is a huge challenge that hinders the journey towards sustainable unity and reconciliation.
During the Isibo TV talk show that was broadcasted on the 9th April 2022, with the theme “Healing wounds, relief and forgiveness in helping youth to build the future” experts in Unity and Reconciliation shared important messages and experience to youth about how they can embrace the journey of reconciliation by seeking for truth about the genocide perpetrated against the Tutsi.
The talk show involved Rev. Dr Antoine Rutayisire, Innocent Musore, Founder and Executive Director of Global Initiative for Environment and Reconciliation (GER-Rwanda) and Josephine Murebwayire who is a Guardian of Rwandan pact ‘Umurinzi w’igihango’.
GER Rwanda is a non-governmental Organization supports the process of peace building and community development in Rwanda and the Great Lakes Region.
Recently, GER Rwanda has gathered youth born from genocide perpetrators and those from genocide survivors across the country to truly and openly educate them about genocide against Tutsis.
Innocent Musore, Founder and Executive Director of Global Initiative for Environment and Reconciliation (GER-Rwanda) explained that youth born from genocide perpetrators know little or are misinformed about genocide against Tutsi, which motivated him to hold this conversation whereby old people and youth share the same knowledge on the truth and reality about the 1994 genocide perpetrated against the Tutsi.
“The reason of preparing this discussion was to contribute towards the journey of unity and reconciliation, we normally know the consequences of genocide to our neighbours, relatives, alumni, though genocide took place when I was abroad, in 2013 I had a conversation with a genocidaire from Bugesera district, he was a father and he told me how guilty he is, he killed Tutsis during genocide, and I was interested to have a further conversation with him” Musore said.
“I asked him, do you have children? He said “yes” , how old is the first born? I asked, “He /she is 17 years of age” he replied, I asked him: Do they know the truth of all those years you spent in prison, he told me: “I could not manage to tell them the truth, they think that I was innocently imprisoned” Then I had a deep thought about it and I found out that many youth born from genocide criminals do not know the truth. They are many, if they are misinformed, I thought, as a parent how I should give my contribution” Musore added.
Musore appreciates the Rwandan visionary leadership that has established unity and reconciliation program, which is a room to those who feel guilty and demand clemency.
Musore said that, through different testimonial conversations carried out by GER Rwanda, some genocide criminals failed to reveal the truth to their children.
I remember, last time I asked a child if his father revealed to them why he was imprisoned, then he replied to me “ I asked my father why he was incarcerated, then he warned me “ Please avoid Tutsis, watch out!, I have only stepped on them and they imprisoned me!” He said.
According to Musore, that misinformation abuses the mindset of children while there is an opportunity of some youth who reconcile their parents who committed genocide with genocide survivors thanks to credible information provided by Rwandan government through different platforms.
Musore revealed that, if the current youth embrace the approach of family reconciliation through truth of history, it will be feasible as youth of today are totally different from their parents who committed genocide while they were also young.
“Youth are educated to be Rwandese, to have unity, teamwork, they are indeed different from those who were taught hatred and ethnic segregation” He said.
Rev. Dr Antoine Rutayisire emphasized on the true reconciliation which is a result of positive mentality. He also said that mercy is not meant only for ethnic issues, but it is for every human being daily life.
Commenting on his recent book he said “We are abusing our own life, forgiving is not only for ethnic concerns because we always experience people who do wrong things against us, that is why my book was entitled ‘Reconciliation lifestyle’ because it reflects my own life of wounds, my childhood wounds, my teenage wounds, my youthful wounds, afterwards when I am old, I know how I deal with it, I learn how not only to forgive but to think positively” Rev Dr. Rutayisire said.
Rutayisire advised youth who fight back genocide deniers on social media to avoid disrespectful and insulting words.
“When they pour venomous poisons, do not insult them, instead heal them, let us learn to use appropriate message correcting those genocide deniers!” He advised.
Josephine Murebwayire, a Guardian of Rwandan pact ‘Umurinzi w’igihango’ said “I had never isolated myself, and I had no conflict with anyone at the extent of avoiding living with them harmoniously, I do not even hate those Hutus who killed my loved ones, I only hate what they did, I fight against that ideology, I sued them and some of them were found guilty and were imprisoned, but I have never felt isolating their families.” She said.
She added that she had forgiven some of the perpetrators, she visited them in prisons and urged them to reconcile with their hearts.
“As I was relieved, I advised them to reconcile with God, otherwise, it is their own risk.” She noted.
In order to continue sustaining Unity and Reconciliation, Rwanda has recently established a ministry in charge of fostering and strengthening unity and reconciliation among Rwandans (MINUBUMWE).
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