Hello. In the name of all the escaped victims of Gatumba who now find themselves in America and in the name of my family, we are grateful for the actions of United States government. We deeply thank you for your great generosity in allowing us to come and live in your country.
We thank the International Refugee Commission, the IRC, for helping us to get settled and begin getting accustomed to life in the US. Last but not least, thank you to the Cathedral for giving us this opportunity to commemorate this day. Finally, our sincere thanks are addressed to the various volunteers who have helped us during these past four months.
Our people were massacred. At the Gatumba Refugee Camp in Burundi, where my family and I lived, one hundred sixty six people were killed and 117 were wounded.
On the night of Friday the 13th of August, 2004, at 10:00 pm, we were attacked by the Mayi -Mayi, or the FAC, the Congolese Armed Forces, the Interahamwe of Rwanda and the FNL, the National Front for Liberating Burundi. They came beating drums and singing "Hallelujah"
They then threw exploding grenades, fire bombs, and other explosives which set fire to the canvas tents. One hundred and sixty six refugees were massacred and one hundred and six were wounded, children, women and men alike. The majority of the victims were killed by being burned alive. It is especially tragic that these men, women, and children lost their lives in a country where they were refugees, a place of supposed safety where they were being protected. We will never again forget the night of August 13, 2004.
To end, we ask:
-To give justice to all the survivors of Gatumba by creating an International Tribunal to bring those responsible AGATHON RWASA for the massacre to justice.
-That the international community intervene for the survival of the Banyamulenge minority from Congo who remain there at this time.
-To officially name August 13 or 14th as an International Day of Remembrance each year, and as a memory of a great violation of human rights in the Gatumba camp, a crime against humanity.
-To morally assist the escaped victims that now find themselves in the USA, because they have lost almost all their foundations for life.
We thank the International Refugee Commission, the IRC, for helping us to get settled and begin getting accustomed to life in the US. Last but not least, thank you to the Cathedral for giving us this opportunity to commemorate this day. Finally, our sincere thanks are addressed to the various volunteers who have helped us during these past four months.
Our people were massacred. At the Gatumba Refugee Camp in Burundi, where my family and I lived, one hundred sixty six people were killed and 117 were wounded.
On the night of Friday the 13th of August, 2004, at 10:00 pm, we were attacked by the Mayi -Mayi, or the FAC, the Congolese Armed Forces, the Interahamwe of Rwanda and the FNL, the National Front for Liberating Burundi. They came beating drums and singing "Hallelujah"
They then threw exploding grenades, fire bombs, and other explosives which set fire to the canvas tents. One hundred and sixty six refugees were massacred and one hundred and six were wounded, children, women and men alike. The majority of the victims were killed by being burned alive. It is especially tragic that these men, women, and children lost their lives in a country where they were refugees, a place of supposed safety where they were being protected. We will never again forget the night of August 13, 2004.
To end, we ask:
-To give justice to all the survivors of Gatumba by creating an International Tribunal to bring those responsible AGATHON RWASA for the massacre to justice.
-That the international community intervene for the survival of the Banyamulenge minority from Congo who remain there at this time.
-To officially name August 13 or 14th as an International Day of Remembrance each year, and as a memory of a great violation of human rights in the Gatumba camp, a crime against humanity.
-To morally assist the escaped victims that now find themselves in the USA, because they have lost almost all their foundations for life.
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