CHAPLAINS OF THE MILITIA
The tangled story of the Catholic church during Rwanda’s genocide
Chris McGreal
Notes and sources
Photograph by Adam Jones (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Chapter 1: A small town in France
Wenceslas Munyeshyaka, Marcel Lamanouu, Michel Moran. Interviews with author, Gisors, September 2013
International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) indictment, 20 July 2005. (http://www.unictr.org/Portals/0/Case%5CEnglish%5CMunyeshyaka%5Cindictment% 5Cmuyeshyaka%20indictment.pdf)
Chapter 2: The Chaplain of the Militia
Aimable Uwurukundo. Interview with author. Kigali, 1996.
Details of killing of Belgian troops, from Scott Peterson “Me Against My Brother: At War in Somalia, Sudan and Rwanda”.
Tharcisse Renzaho. Account of actions from ICTR conviction for genocide (http://www.unictr.org/Portals/0/Case/English/Renzaho/judgement%20and%20sente nce/090714.pdf); African Rights “Death Despair and Defiance”; Human Rights Watch “Leave None To Tell The Story”.
Angéline Mukandutiye. Account of actions from Tharcisee Renzaho’s ICTR conviction for genocide (http://www.unictr.org/Portals/0/Case/English/Renzaho/judgement%20and%20sente nce/090714.pdf); ICTR indictment of Wenceslas Munyeshyaka (http://www.unictr.org/Portals/0/Case%5CEnglish%5CMunyeshyaka%5Cindictment% 5Cmuyeshyaka%20indictment.pdf); African Rights “Death Despair and Defiance”; African Rights “Rwanda: Not so Innocent – When Women Become Killers”, August 1995
Odette Nyirabagenzi. Account of actions from Tharcisee Renzaho’s ICTR conviction for genocide (http://www.unictr.org/Portals/0/Case/English/Renzaho/judgement%20and%20sente nce/090714.pdf); ICTR indictment of Wenceslas Munyeshyaka (http://www.unictr.org/Portals/0/Case%5CEnglish%5CMunyeshyaka%5Cindictment% 5Cmuyeshyaka%20indictment.pdf); African Rights “Death Despair and Defiance”; Human Rights Watch “Leave None To Tell The Story”; African Rights “Rwanda: Not so Innocent – When Women Become Killers”, August 1995.
Rose Rwanga. Interview with author. Kigali, 1995.
Accounts of conditions in the St Famille church include author interviews with survivors and African Rights report “Father Wenceslas Munyeshyaka: In the Eyes of the Survivors of Sainte Famille”, April 1999.
Accounts from Willy Ukwishaka and Jimi Rutaganda, “Father Wenceslas Munyeshyaka: In the Eyes of the Survivors of Sainte Famille”, published April 1999.
Gorette Uwimana. Interview with author. Kigali, 1996.
Account of UN evacuations, author interviews with survivors and Hugh McCullum, “The Angels Have Left Us”.
Jérôme Berete quote from and African Rights report “Father Wenceslas Munyeshyaka: In the Eyes of the Survivors of Sainte Famille”, April 1999.
Corinne Dufka. As told to author February 2014
Chapter 3: God has forgotten us
Wenceslas Munyeshyaka actions. International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) indictment, 20 July 2005. (http://www.unictr.org/Portals/0/Case%5CEnglish%5CMunyeshyaka%5Cindictment% 5Cmuyeshyaka%20indictment.pdf)
Célestin Hakizimana. Interview with author. Kigali, 1998
Agnes. Interview with author. Kigali, 1996.
Rose Rwanga. Interview with author. Kigali, 1995.
Accounts of Wenceslas Munyeshyaka reaction to UN evacutions from survivor interviews with author.
Account of Angeline Mukandutiye from survivor interviews with author plus Jean- Claude Rwabakika account from African Rights report “Father Wenceslas Munyeshyaka: In the Eyes of the Survivors of Sainte Famille”, published April 1999.
Aimable Uwurukundo. Interview with author. Kigali, 1996.
Chapter 4: The graveyards of the Tutsis
Accounts of Clement Kayishema’s actions from author interviews with survivors and witnesses in Kibuye including Madalena Mukariemeria and Louis Rutaganira, and former mayor Kibuye, Augustin Karara; trial before the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda. (http://www.unictr.org/Portals/0/Case/English/kayishema/judgement/990521_judgem ent.pdf); African Rights “Death, Despair and Defiance”; Human Rights Watch “Leave None To Tell The Story”.
Accounts of events in Kibuye church from author interviews with survivors, including Louis Rutaganira and Madalena Mukariemeria in 1996, 2004, 2013. (http://www.theguardian.com/world/2004/mar/29/rwanda.chrismcgreal & http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/may/12/rwanda-genocide-20-years-on)
Account of Cardinal Roger Etchegaray encountering Thaddée Rusingizandekwe with a gun from The New Times, 21.9.10 “Cardinal Roger Etchegaray and Bloody Symbolism” (http://www.newtimes.co.rw/news/index.php?i=14390&a=33801)
Athanase Seromba from ICTR trial and conviction for genocide (http://www.unictr.org/Portals/0/Case/English/Seromba/judgement/061213.pdf); African Rights “Death Despair and Defiance”.
Emmanuel Rukundo from trial and conviction by ICTR for genocide (http://www.unictr.org/Portals/0/Case/English/Rukundo/090227.pdf) Thaddée Rusingizandekwe from African Rights “Death Despair and Defiance” and press accounts including “Genocide’s Dark Shadow” by Declan Walsh in The Tablet, 17.7.2004 (http://archive.thetablet.co.uk/article/17th-july-2004/10/d-eclan-w-alsh)
Jean-Baptiste Rutihunza. Vif l’Express 25.5.2007 “Des tueurs parmi nous?”; El Mundo 28/9/2012 (http://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2012/09/28/internacional/1348821251.html)
Emmanuel Uwayezu from African Rights “Death Despair and Defiance” and Reuters, “Priest arrested in Italy over Rwandan genocide”, 20.10.2009, CNN: “Clergyman linked to Rwandan genocide seized in Italy”, 25.10.2009
Athanase Nyandwi from Frontline Fellowship (http://frontline-org- za.win03.glodns.net/news/vol%201%201996/RoleOfReligiousLeadersInRwandanHolo caust.htm) and Interpol international arrest warrant (http://www.interpol.int/en%E0%B8%B0%E0%B8%9D%E0%B8%B0%E0%B8%9D/ layout/set/print/notice/search/wanted/2009-37626)
Conviction of Laurent Ntimugura. BBC radio report 25.1.2001.
Chapter 5: The letter
The letter was provided by a Catholic priest who wished to remain anonymous. Interview with author. Kigali, 1998
André Havugimana. Interview with author. Kigali, 1998.
Augustin Karekezi. Interview with author. Kigali, 1998.
Account of events at Kabgayi, African Rights “Death, Despair and Defiance”; Hugh McCullum “The Angels Have Left Us”; Human Rights Watch “Leave None To Tell The Story”.
Account of Cardinal Etchegaray meeting in Kibuye. Interview with former mayor Kibuye, Augustin Karara, 1995.
Sister Marie Julianne Farrington comment on Etchegaray contained in her essay in “Genocide in Rwanda: Complicity of the Churches?” International Journal on World Peace.
Muted reaction of Catholic church in Rwanda to the genocide recounted in Human Rights Report “Leave None To Tell The Story”, African Rights “Death, Despair and Defiance” and press reports.
Events at Kabgayi drawn from accounts in Human Rights Report “Leave None To Tell The Story”; African Rights “Death, Despair and Defiance”; Hugh McCullum “The Angels Have Left Us”; press reports.
Chapter 6: Meeting the Chaplain of the Militia
Célestin Hakizimana. Interviewed by author. Kigali, 1998.
Emakulata Kayitesi. Interview by author. Butare, 1998.
Anaclet Mwumvaneza. Interview with author. Kigali, 1998.
David Jacques comments to Le Monde, “Un étrange miraculé” 24.2.2010 (http://www.lemonde.fr/afrique/article/2010/02/24/rwanda-wenceslas-munyeshyaka- un-etrange-miracule_1310630_3212.html)
Wenceslas Munyeshyaka. Interview with author. Gisors, September 2013.
Chapter 7: A trial of sorts
Wenceslas Munyeshyaka. Interview with author. Gisors, September 2013.
Michel Morin. Interview with author. Gisors, September 2013.
Account of movements of Jean-Baptiste Rutihunza Vif l’Express, 25.5.2007 “Des tueurs parmi nous?” ; New Times 9.5.11 “Suspected Gatagara mass murdered roams the streets of Rome”,
Rutihunza letter to Vif l’Express 18.6.07
Account of movements of Atanase Seromba, African Rights letter to Vatican; The Guardian, 16.7.01 “Church hides Rwandan priest in Tuscany” (http://www.theguardian.com/world/2001/jul/16/rorycarroll) Carla del Ponte quotes from her book, “Madame Prosecutor: Confrontations with Humanity's Worst Criminals and the Culture of Impunity”, 2009.
Vatican on Gertrude Mukangango and Maria Kisito. BBC 9.6.01 “Vatican 'surprise' at Rwanda verdicts” (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/1380348.stm)
Martin Kabalira. African Rights, “Death, Despair and Defiance”; Golias 20.4.07 “Rwanda : l’exil confortable d’un aumônier militaire à Toulouse” (http://golias- news.fr/article1399.html)
UN report on Jean Berchmans Ntihabose is “Final report of the Group of Experts on the Democratic Republic of the Congo”, S/2009/603 23.11.2009. Role of Ntihabose also recounted in African Rights “Death, Despair and Defiance”
Marcel Hitayezu. African Rights “Death, Despair and Defiance”.
Francois Mitterrand comments in Reversing the Reversals of War by Philip Gourevitch, The New Yorker, 26 April 1999.
Jean-Christophe Mitterrand comment, The Guardian, 11.1.2007, (http://www.theguardian.com/world/2007/jan/11/rwanda.insideafrica)
Chapter 8: The silent voice
Emmanuel Kolini comments from his book, Christ Walks Where Evil Reigned: Responding to the Rwandan Genocide.
Jonathan Ruhumuliza 12.5.94 letter to Jose Chipenda of All Africa Council of Churches from “Christianity and Genocide in Rwanda” By Timothy Longman, 2009 and African Rights “Death, Despair and Defiance”.
Jean Kambanda convicted of genocide by ICTR 4.9.98 (http://www.unictr.org/Portals/0/Case/English/Kambanda/decisions/kambanda.pdf)
Jonathan Ruhumuliza press conference in Nairobi, “Church of the Holy Slaughter”, The Observer 5.6.94
African Rights accusations against Ruhumuliza contained in a letter to the World Council of Churches, “Rwanda, The Protestant Churches and the Genocide”, December 1998.
David Birney comment on Ruhumuliza in interview with Episcopal News Service, 26.2.98 “Rwandan Church Rises to ‘New Day’ After Genocide”.
Ruhumuliza May 1996 plea for pardon. African Rights “Rwanda.The Protestant Churches and the Genocide” December 1998.
Peter Selby. Interview with author, January 2014.
Reaction to Ruhumuliza in Rwanda after genocide from Episcopal News Service, 18.5.95 “Allegations Against Rwandan Church Leaders Haunt Carey Visit”.
Amon Rugelinyange: interview with author, Rwanda 1996.
Augustin Karekezi: interview with author, Kigali 1998.
Cardinal Etchegaray question to clergy and response from Mirror to the Church By Emmanuel Katangole.
Chapter 9: Aftermath
Anastase Gasana comments at press conference in Brussels, August 1995. Reported in The Catholic Herald 11.8.95 “Rwanda queries Church's role” (http://archive.catholicherald.co.uk/article/11th-august-1995/2/rwanda-queries- churchs-role)
Federico Lombardi denial that Vatican protecting Rutihunza. Zenit news agency, Rome 27.9.12 (www.zenit.org/fr/articles/rwanda-le-vatican-ne-protege-aucun-genocidaire)
Carey ultimatum to Nshamihigo. “Episcopal News Service. “18.5.95. Allegations Against Rwandan Church Leaders Haunt Carey Visit” (http://www.episcopalarchives.org/cgi- bin/ENS/ENSpress_release.pl?pr_number=95089)
Emmanuel Kolini on shame of church. Episcopal Life, “Rwandan bishop takes needle and thread to a tattered church” (http://arc.episcopalchurch.org/episcopal- life/rwanda.html)
Gaudens Murasandonyi. Interview with author. Kibuye, 1998
On role Muslims in the genocide. “Resistance and Protection: Muslim Community Actions During the Rwandan Genocide”, Collaborative for Development Action. February 2003.
Organisation of African Unity report 7.7.00 (http://www.africa.upenn.edu/Urgent_Action/apic-070800.html)
The New Times call for Vatican apology, 15.3.13 “Pope Francis, Rwanda waits with bated breath for justice”.
Madalena Mukariemeria. Interview with author. Kibuye, 1998.