How former Government forces coordinated mass killings across Rwanda

APRIL 8, 1994: GENOCIDE WAS SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY, MILITARIES AND INTERAHAMWE EXTERMINATING TUTSI

April 8, 1994 is the second day of the week of mourning. All Rwandans and friends of Rwanda, we commemorate for the 26th time the Genocide perpetrated against the Tutsi which took away more than a million in the space of only 100 days. In the context of remembering the victims of the Genocide perpetrated against the Tutsi, the National Commission for the Fight against Genocide (CNLG) continues to recall the history of the Genocide, how it was implemented on a daily basis, and here- after how he was executed nationwide on April 8, 1994.

1. Members of the Presidential Guard and the Interahamwe joined forces to kill the Tutsi who resided in Nyamirambo

On April 8, 1994, Interahamwe and members of the Presidential Guard killed Tutsi in Nyamirambo, in the various places where they had taken refuge, in particular at the Catholic Parish of Saint Charles Lwanga, the convent of the Josephite brothers and the Saint André College. On the same day, the Interahamwe began to massacre the Tutsi who had taken refuge in the Catholic parish of Ruhuha, in Bugesera.

2. The massacre of Tutsi who had taken refuge at the place called "Kiryamocyinzovu", in the locality of Taba

The massacres in Taba Commune, in former prefecture Gitarama began on April 8, 1994. The Interahamwe installed barriers at various locations including Rwabashyashya, Buguri, Gishyeshye and around the Remera hospital in Rukoma. Kubwimana Silas, chairman of the MRND in the Taba commune and very influential person, organized a meeting in Kiryamocyinzovu, and declared that the Tutsi is the enemy, that he must be denounced; he continued with the lie that the Tutsi had dug pits into which they were going to throw the bodies of the Hutu. Since April 8, the Tutsi have been gradually brought to Kiryamocyinzovu, which now bears the nickname CND, to be massacred there.

Kubwimana Silas was the head of the killers and coordinated the massacres, it was he who designated who should die: "Kill this one, save this other that I will kill myself later." The killers came to the commune to wait for Kubwimana's orders to go and kill. Many Tutsi came to take refuge in the commune but found there Interahamwe who were waiting for them and who had received instructions to bring them to Kiryamocyinzovu to massacre them. Some of them had been designated to kill, while others were to bury the bodies of the victims huddled in a long ditch. The weapons used to kill were clubs, hoes and rifles.

3. Bourgmestre Mubiligi Jean-Napoleon of the Kamembe Commune had Tutsi killed at the Parish of Nkanka.

In the old Kamembe Commune, currently in Rusizi District, Tutsi were killed in the Parish of Nkanka, in the Kamembe Commune and in the locality of Busekanka. From April 8, the Tutsi began to take refuge in the Parish of Nkanka because the massacres and the burning of the houses had started in Gitwa and Murambi.

The Tutsi took refuge in the Parish of Nkanka because they had become used to finding a safe refuge there, and that the Mayor of the Kamembe Commune, Mubiligi Jean Napoléon, had declared that the Tutsi had to go to take refuge in the parish and even sent police there to protect them. But that was not what he wanted, because he wanted to know how many Tutsi there were and prevent them from being able to flee to Zaire

Bourgmestre Mubiligi Jean-Napoléon and the parish priest of Nkanka, Ngirinshuti Thaddee, organized a meeting with the leaders of the Interahamwe of Kamembe Commune and planned the extermination of the Tutsi. The day after the Interahamwe attacked the Tutsi and killed them with grenades, clubs called “nta mpongano” ie "Merciless", machetes, swords and other weapons.

So that the Tutsi could not defend themselves during the attacks, Father Ngirinshuti Thaddee took from the Tutsi all the weapons (spears, machetes, sticks and bows with arrows) which they had carried with them, and said to them: "All refugees must not carry weapons ”. He wanted to take away all of their defenses. The police officers supposed to protect them had in a room made available to them by the parish priest, numerous rifles, grenades, which were then used by the Interahamwe who came to kill the Tutsi. In Kamembe commune, 60 Tutsis who had taken refuge there were killed.

4. Yussuf Munyakazi and Marcel Sebatware, who ran the CIMERWA cement factory, exterminated the Tutsi who had taken refuge in this factory.

In the Rusizi district, Muganza sector, Shara cell, in the former Bugarama commune, Muganza sector, the Tutsi were killed at a place called "Specialized cell". It was the place where the infamous Yussuf Munyakazi was born. The Tutsi in this locality were unable to flee and join others with whom they could have confronted the Interahamwe and defended themselves, but rather, as of April 8, 1994, removed from their homes and brought CIMERWA to be killed there.

The director general of CIMERWA, Marcel Sebatware, originally from the Mukingo Commune and currently residing in Belgium, and the Ntawumenyumunsi technical director Jean Marie Pascal, originally from Rubavu and currently residing in Holland, have drawn up the list of Tutsis who were employed there for let them be killed, and ask the other employees to take them out and give them to the Interahamwe. This factory employed some 80 Tutsi who were almost all killed, except a few who had escaped before. It was at CIMERWA that the most terrible barrier in the Muganza Sector was installed in 1994.

5. Many Tutsi were killed in the locality of Buhinga, in Cyangugu

Buhinga is located at the intersection of the three main roads from Rusizi, Nyamasheke and Nyungwe. In Buhinga was installed a barrier guarded by many Interahamwe, including the famous Makambira, Damien alias Shitani (Satan), Muhutu who was a teacher, Gitare and Mugenzi.

At this barrier, from April 7, 1994, Tutsis who passed there to pick tea leaves were harassed and beaten, some of them were stripped naked and ordered to dance in front of their torturers. On April 8, 1994, 4 Tutsi were killed there. Tutsis whose houses had not yet been burnt down began to be massacred. The Interahamwe of the Bushekeri Sector began to surround the Tutsi of this locality. The Tutsi from the Ruvumbu, Rundwa and Nyanza cells were also surrounded. All those who were taken were brought to Buhinga, killed and thrown into a quarry dug in Buhinga. The Interahamwe were instructed to kill Tutsis together in large numbers so that they could chase the others who were hiding.

In this career, some were thrown alive, some had been injured in the feet and arms so that once in the career they would not have the strength to rise to the surface, and would die in the worst suffering.

6. Colonel Anatole Nsengiyumva ordered the extermination of Tutsi who resided in Nyundo

Colonel Anatole Nsengiyumva ordered the soldiers and the Interahamwe to exterminate all the Tutsi who were in Nyundo, at the minor seminary, at the hospital, in the schools and among the population.

On April 7, 1994, Tutsi took refuge in the Nyundo seminary and were killed the same day. On April 8, 1994, the survivors went to the Diocese to join others and spent their day fighting against the Interahamwe. A group of killers entered the church with soldiers and killed the Tutsi who had taken refuge there.

A priest by the name of Deogratias Twagirayezu was the first who was killed at the minor seminary by Interahamwe from Kibilira.

Among the Interahamwe who coordinated the Nyundo massacres, there is Nkundabanyanga Fidèle, doctor, Kabiligi Stanislas, Councilor of Muhira Sector, Mpozembizi Marc, Mayor of Rubavu Commune and Father Nturiye Edouard.

7. Colonel Anatole Nseniyumva and LT-Colonel Alphonse Nzungize coordinated the massacres at Adventist University in Mudende

Part of the Adventist University of Mudende was built in the Mudende Sector, while the other was built in the Mugongo Sector, in Mutura Commune, Gisenyi Prefecture. Currently, it is in the Mudende Sector, in the Rubavu district.

During the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, the killers began attacking the Tutsi at their homes, which led them to take refuge in the Adventist University hoping to find a safe refuge there given the presence of foreigners who worked there. Arrived there, an American confiscated their sticks and tried to hide them in different premises. At around 3 p.m. a group of killers attacked the university, and before this event the American hastened to surrender to the Tutsi refugees who tried to defend themselves.

Men fought with their sticks while women and girls threw stones and bricks. They repelled 3 attacks and each time the killers retreated. On April 8, 1994, the attack was carried out by a group of soldiers from the Bigogwe military camp, and the acts of violence increased in intensity. They attacked with grenades and by firing numerous bullets, many Tutsi perished.

The killers included the mayor of the Mutura Commune, Bakiye Jean Berchmans, and other advisers and officials who incited the population to kill the Tutsi. The victims of these massacres at the University of Mudende were buried with dignity at the Kanzenze memorial, in Kanzenze Sector.

8. Many Tutsi were killed at the Mizingo barrier, in Mutura

At the place called Mizingo, in Kanyirabigogo cell, in Kanzenze sector, in Mutura commune, currently in Mizingo village, Kanyirabigogo cell, Kanzenze sector, there was a barrier led by Ntamaherezo, president of the MRND in Mutura commune. The meetings which planned the Genocide were organized at his home. Since the barrier was installed in 1990, Ntameherezo has killed or saved whomever he wanted.

At this barrier, Tutsis were assaulted until around 8 a.m. on April 8, 1994, many Tutsis were killed there, some of whom had escaped the massacres in the church of Bweramana.

9. In Mashyuza, Nyamyumba, and BRALIRWA, the Interahamwe killed many Tutsi

On April 8, 1994, 11 truck drivers were killed there who had come from different parts of the country to take loads of drinks from BRALIRWA. The Interahamwe took them out of the small hotels where they were staying to bring them to Mashyuza and kill them. The killers included Musafiri and Sibomana. The bodies of the victims were buried with dignity at the Kanzenze memorial.

10. Kinyinya is one of the sites where many Tutsi were killed on April 8, 1994

On April 8, 1994, in the Kinyinya sector, nearly 200 Tutsi took refuge on German radio Deutsche Welle because they believed they had found a safe refuge.

Two days later, soldiers from the Kami military camp asked the management of Deutsche Welle to drive the Tutsi who had taken refuge there from their buildings. The Germans were evacuated and left the guard of their buildings to their employee named Uwimfura Callixte. After leaving by plane, this employee quickly called other Interahamwe from Kinyinya to help him kill the many Tutsis who had taken refuge there. They massacred them all and there were only 3 survivors.

In the locality of Kinyinya there were, already before the outbreak of the Genocide, two renowned Interahamwe: Uwimfura who had the Tutsi killed at Deustche Welle and Chief Warrant Officer Zirimwabagabo who was the instructor of the Interahamwe. Zirimwabagabo when he went to a cabaret, made his dog taste his beer before sharing it with a Tutsi. When the latter refused to drink it he was beaten to have his ribs broken and become a handicapped person. Communal police are among those who killed many Tutsi in Kinyinya. So far, the Tutsi from Kinyinya who have been killed and who have been buried at the memorial are 441, but others, apparently 77, have been missing.

11. In Gatonde, Mugunga sector, in Ruhengeri Prefecture, Tutsis were thrown into the Mukungwa river.

The Tutsi who lived in Mugunga, in the former Gatonde Commune, near Ndusu, the Tutsi were thrown into the Mukungwa River at the place called Bukeri, near the Vunga shopping center and market. Bukeri is a bridge over the Mukungwa river which connects the Sectors of Shyira (Nyabihu) and Mugunga (Gakenke). From April 8 until April 22, 1994, Tutsi were gathered, tied up and thrown into the Mukungwa River; their torturers told them they were sending them to Arusha for peace negotiations. Those who were going to die were gathered on the bridge connecting the Gatonde and Ndusu Communes.

Among those responsible for these massacres, there is Councilor Nsanzubukire Ernest, Bourgmestre Nizeyimana Jean Bosco who directed the MRND in Ndusu, Nizeyimana Gaspard alias Kaguta, the Sub-prefect Nzanana Dismas, the Prefect of Ruhengeri Nsabumugisha Basile and FARABARUKA who was a prison guard.

12. Zigiranyirazo Protais at the head of those who exterminated the Tutsi of Kesho, Muhanda sector, in Ngororero.

On the hill of Kesho, called Rubaya, there are tea plantations and a tea factory. It was in the former Gaseke Commune where the Tutsi Bagogwe (near Mount Bigogwe, at the ends of the Ngororero District) defended themselves with stones and spears, until they were killed on the 8 April 1994 by members of the Presidential Guard armed with firearms.

Zigiranyirazo Protais, the mayor of Gaseke Bazubahande Ignace Commune and Djaribu Anastase director of the Rubaya tea factory, coordinated the massacres in this region. On April 8, 1994, the body of the late Habyarimana was accompanied by members of the so-called Abatabazi Government and numerous soldiers who killed Tutsi.

13. Throughout the country, the massacres were committed with the violence of those who wanted to exterminate the Tutsi

Since April 8, 1994, the massacres have spread throughout the country.

In Rwankuba, in the Murambi sector, more than 500 Tutsi were killed by Interahamwe and their neighbors. The killers were led by Councilor Bizimungu Jean who rounded up the Tutsi and burned them alive.

In Kiziguro, in Rukungu, currently Ndatemwa Cell, Kiziguro Sector, in just 2 hours almost all the Tutsi who lived there had been killed. They were killed by the Interahamwe of Bishenyi and Rukunku led by Gakwerere ALoys and Muganga Manasse and others from Rugurarama, and others still sent by Byansi Valens.

On the same day, Tutsis were killed in Kaje, Rwamitereri cell, Murambi sector and in the center of Rugwiro where the Tutsi were gathered under the pretext of protecting them when in reality it was better to kill them together.

The massacres were planned by Gatete Jean Baptiste and Councilor Nkubana Jérôme.

Tutsi were killed at the orphanage, in Gakenke Cell, Kiramuruzi sector. Many Tutsis had taken refuge in this orphanage believing they were escaping death, but they were decimated and some of them were brought to the Kiziguro church to be massacred there.

Among the organizers of the massacres was Gatete Jean Baptiste, who went to his car to incite the Hutu to kill the Tutsi, Councilor Munyabuhoro Pierre Claver and other Interahamwe who were escorting him and who were led by police officers Rusagara and Deo Niyonzima.

On April 8, 1994, Tutsis who had taken refuge at the Mata tea factory in the Nyaruguru region were massacred just like those who had taken refuge on Nyawera hill, Mwiri sector, Kayonza district.

The same day, nearly 5000 Tutsi who had taken refuge in the Adventist church of Cyambara, Bigogwe sector, Gisenyi Prefecture, were massacred just like those who had taken refuge in Shyira hospital in Ruhengeri Prefecture, currently in Nyabihu district.

Also on the same day, the massacres of Tutsi began in Rutsiro Commune, in Kibuye Prefecture.

CONCLUSION

On April 8, 1994, the extermination of Tutsi continued throughout the country, all were killed regardless of age, children, old women and old men, all adults, and they were killed in the greatest suffering.

The genocide perpetrated against the Tutsi was planned, which allowed the speed of the massacres and the multiplication of the sites of the massacres.

The National Commission to Combat Genocide will continue to inform you on the way in which it has been implemented.

By Dr BIZIMANA Jean Damascene, 

Executive Secretary of the National Commission for the Fight against Genocide.