Remains of nearly 85,000 genocide victims buried in Rwanda
KIGALI: The remains of nearly 85,000 people murdered in Rwanda’s genocide were laid to rest Saturday in a sombre ceremony in Kigali, a quarter of a century after the slaughter.
Mourners sobbed as 81 white coffins containing the remains of 84,437 victims of the 1994 mass killings were buried at the Nyanza Genocide Memorial in the capital.
They were among more than 800,000 people, mostly Tutsis, massacred over 100 days by Hutu extremists and militia forces determined to eradicate the Tutsi minority in Rwanda.
Rwanda begins 100 days of mourning every April 7 – the day the genocide began. But this year has witnessed particular commemorations to mark the 25th anniversary.
“Commemorating the genocide against the Tutsi is every Rwandan’s responsibility – and so is giving them a decent burial,” said Justice Minister Johnston Busingye at the mass burial.
Some mournaers broke down wailing as survivors spoke of the pain of losing their loved ones so brutally. A number were escorted from the funeral by ushers.
Emanuel Nduwayezu said the discovery meant he finally had somewhere to come each April 7 and lay a wreath in memory of his murdered family.
“Right now I am very happy because I have buried my dad, my sister and her children, and my in-law. Twenty-five years have passed and I had not known where they were,” he told AFP.
“Everyday I was thinking and getting confused (about) where my dad was but now I found him and I have a buried him.”
The remains of those interred on Saturday were only found early last year, when 143 pits containing thousands of bone and clothing fragments were discovered beneath homes on the outskirts of Kigali.
Those exhumed for burial on Saturday came from just 43 such pits – leaving 100 more to go. — AFP