IPRC Karongi commemorates the former ETO Kibuye staff and students victims of the Genocide Against the Tutsi
Karongi on June 18, 2021: Today, following measures to prevent COVID-19, IPRC Karongi community commemorated the staff and students of former ETO Kibuye who were killed during the Genocide perpetrated against the Tutsi in 1994.
The event was started with IPRC Karongi management and visitors laying flowers on the monument constructed in IPRC Karongi, and on which it is written names of thirteen victims, recognized so far, including 2 staff and 11 students who were killed in former ETO Kibuye during the 1994 Genocide committed against the Tutsi.
In his testimony, Mr. Vianney NKURUNZIZA, a Genocide survivor and a neighbour of former ETO Kibuye said that in this area the Genocide against the Tutsi did not start immediately in 1994 when the former President's airplane was fired, actually it started after three days.
He said, "On 9th April, 1994, KAYISHEMA who was an Administrator of Kibuye prefecture called a meeting which brought together all his fellows and representatives of different service at prefecture level, and after the meeting the Genocide started immediately in this area."
"They continued killing Tutsis who fled in Karongi and Bisesero mountains, killers were very cruel to the extent they had no pity for kids, elderly women and men [. . . ] their only target was to chase Tutsis and eliminate all of them, that is why Karongi District has the most wiped out Tutsis families," added Vianney.
The Principal of IPRC Karongi Mrs. Dominique INGABIRE acknowledged all participants for joining the Institution in the Commemoration for the 27th the former ETO Kibuye staff and students, and wished them to be strong especially the survivors of the Genocide against the Tutsi.
She said that IPRC Karongi will keep on supporting the Genocide survivors and trying to discover all Tutsis who were in ETO Kibuye during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. "We want you to be strong, you are not alone as we are together as a family and we will always be there any time you call for," said the Principal.
The Principal added that IPRC Karongi continues searching for information in a bid to know all Tutsis, either victims or survivors, who were in former ETO Kibuye during the Genocide as so far 70 names of students registered as Tutsis were found in registration books belonged to the former ETO Kibuye.
The Vice Mayor in charge of Economic Development of Karongi District, Theophile Niragire, the guest of honour thanked IPRC Karongi management for the fact that they were neither discouraged by COVID-19 nor gave up on commemoration of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi as it happened to some of other institutions.
Every year, IPRC Karongi organizes commemoration activity whereby the Institution remembers staff and students, of former ETO Kibuye, victims of the 1994 Genocide particularly with reference to the guidance by the National Commission for the Fight against Genocide (CNLG), and supports the needy Genocide survivors in various means such as building and renovating their houses, giving them cows, among others.