Genocide survivors want memorial sites guarded for 24-hours
Genocide memorial sites across the country may get extra protection to ensure their safety 24-hours daily.
Genocide survivors have appealed to concerned authorities to help attach security guards on all genocide memorial sites.
Currently, all memorial sites across the country are guarded by night patrols, with no proper safety during the day.
In January this year, residents of Nyakibanda cell, Gishamvu sector in Huye district in Southern Rwanda woke up in shock after two men were arrested in connection with staining a genocide memorial with human faeces.
The suspects reportedly vanished after smearing faeces on the plaque with names of the victims.
Elsewhere in the country, some suspects have been arrested for exhuming victims from memorial sites.
Now that genocide survivors are worried over the continued mocking of victims across memorial sites, Jean Pierre Nsabimana – head of Ibuka- an umbrella organisation of genocide survivors in Huye district appealed for authorities to help survivors hire security guards at the sites.
Speaking during commemoration of genocide victims #Kwibuka23 today in Rwanira sector, Nsabimana said, “our genocide memorial sites are not safeguarded in a sustainable way.”
But for Sen. Chrysologue Karangwa who attended the commemoration event, “The prime guards of genocide sites should be those living around them. If we are building sustainable reconciliation of Rwandans we should not let anyone mock the death of victims.”
Huye district mayor Eugène Kayiranga Muzuka supported the Senator’s statement.
