Witness: Rwanda Nuns Helped Burn Genocide Refugees

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - A Rwandan who survived the massacre of thousands of people at a convent during the 1994 genocide said Wednesday two nuns had helped killers burn down a garage where about 500 people had sought refuge.

Jeanne Kabagabe told a Brussels court that she saw Sisters Gertrude -- the convent's former mother superior -- and Maria Kisito carry jerrycans of petrol to Hutu extremists, who then used them to set fire to the garage after locking the doors on those who had hidden inside.

``From the convent to the garage, the sisters carried two small jerrycans full of petrol,'' she said. ``The sisters handed over the jerrycans (to the militiamen). They poured the petrol on dry grass and set fire to it.''

Kabagabe, who lost her mother, two brothers and other relatives in the convent killings in April 1994, said the militiamen used machetes to cut down anyone who tried to flee the fire.

Although the testimony of Kabagabe was contradictory on certain other points, her testimony was the strongest yet against the two Benedictine nuns.

The two are accused of premeditated murder and crimes against humanity over the killings of more than 5,000 Tutsis and Hutu moderates at the convent near the southern town of Butare.

The jury trial is the first outside Rwanda to hear a case concerning the genocide in which about 800,000 Tutsis and Hutu moderates were killed.

The trial involves two other suspects -- university professor Vincent Ntezimana and former government minister Alphonse Higaniro -- who face similar charges.

All four deny the charges.

The nuns, born Consolate Mukangango and Julienne Mukabutera, insist they were powerless to stop the killers despite repeated attempts to persuade their leaders.

The public prosecutor bringing the charges against the nuns said many of the people in the garage were either refused shelter in the convent or forced out of it by Sister Gertrude.

Source:
http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/20010509/wl/rwanda_genocide_dc_1.html


Top


| Badges of the Holocaust | Camp List | Holocaust Discussion Forum | Holocaust Memorium | Holocaust Timeline | Other Links |

Copyright©2003 Christian Churches of God