The responsible for the 1972 atrocities called to ask for forgiveness

On Wednesday January 11, 2023, senators visited the sites of Mashitsi and Mutobo, in thecommune Giheta of Gitega province, where the remains of the victims of 1972-1973 were dug up in mass graves by the Truth-Reconciliation Commission (CVR).

This visit was led by the Speaker of the Senate, Right Honorable Emmanuel Sinzohagera, and these elected representatives of the people subsequently visited the building of the CVR housing these human remains in the town of Gitega province.

At the end of this visit, the Second Deputy Speaker of the Senate, Honorable Cyriaque Nshimirimana, at the same time Spokesperson of this Institution, recalled that the Senate has always accompanied the CVR in the search for the truth, by organizing visits for sensitize the population to reveal the reality of the 1972 events.

“The atrocities of 1972 constitute the genocide against the Hutus in particular and other crimes committed against the Tutsis and Twas of Burundi”, he insisted.

Among the consequences linked to these tragic events, Honourable Nshimirimana underlined among others the loss of a large workforce. He then called on those who have lost their relatives to be compassionate and avoid revenge.

The Second Deputy Speaker of the Senate asked the descendants of the sponsors of these crimes not to constitute obstacles to the search for the truth and called on perpetrators of the atrocities of 1972 to ask for forgiveness.

In order to avoid the repetition of such events, he called on parents to teach children messages of unity and forgiveness.

Honourable Nshimirimana advised the TRC to organize visits for other categories of Burundians to immerse themselves in the truth.

In addition, he asked the Government to erect a national monument in memory of all Burundian citizens who are victims of the various atrocities that the country has experienced.

This visit was guided by the team of members of the Truth and Reconciliation Committee led by its Vice-President, Reverend Pastor Clément-Noé Ninziza.