Kigali — The umbrella organization for genocide survivors, IBUKA, has emphasised on the need for reparations, saying justice cannot be achieved without addressing the issue. Answering questions pertaining to the establishment of the genocide survivors fund, the Executive Secretary of IBUKA,

Benoit Kaboyi, told The New Times Friday, May 5 that genocide survivors had insisted on the need for payment of reparations as far back as 1994. "We (genocide survivors) have asked for reparations from as far back as 1994 and we always will. We say that that's one simple thing that should be respected," Kaboyi said.

IBUKA was created in 1995, to represent survivors at national and international level in order to address issues of justice, memory, social and economic problems they face.

Asked about what efforts the organization had put in place to secure the reparations, Kaboyi said that IBUKA had written several letters asking for the expeditious set up of a Reparation Fund.

"We have written to the concerned authorities because we believe in the Constitution and the Geneva Convention that grants us the right to be compensated. No one can take that right away," he said.

Kaboyi however, underscored that not all genocide survivors could be compensated at the same time.

"We (IBUKA) understand that not everyone is going to be compensated at once. But even if the reparations may be small, they must be there. Modalities can be discussed but the principle is definite," he said.

Government should consider beginning the process of compensation with orphans and widows who are more vulnerable," he observed.

Kaboyi pointed out that some of the money should come from proceeds realized from the sale of properties belonging to genocide perpetrators.

"The people who committed these atrocities are very rich. They left behind assets that can be sold to help compensate survivors. The government can't do it alone," Kaboyi asserted.