Kigali — Maj. Gen. Paul Rwarakabije has told Kacyiru residents that there was only one genocide committed against the Tutsi in 1994 and not what has been termed as a 'double genocide' by insurgents. "Don't be confused by certain individuals who have their own interest in undermining the 1994 Rwandan Genocide, saying that it was a double genocide.

I was here during the Genocide and I was observing everything that was taking place," he said, challenging those who claim that there was a double genocide to indicate who prepared the second one, who committed it and who stopped it.

"The butchering plan was targeting one group of Tutsi and those that say 'double genocide' have their own interests at heart," Gen. Rwarakabije told Kacyiru residents during a talk show on genocide. The talk show was held at former the Kigali Independent University [ULK] premises on April 9.

Gen. Rwarakabije said that, he was one of the eight members who proposed and appointed the leaders after the plane crash that killed the late President, Juvénal Habyarimana on April 6, 1994.

"I was among the eight officials who immediately after the plane crash came together to see how the nation would move forward. Half of the time was spent on who was to chair the committee. We wanted Gen. Barthazar Ndengeyinka from gendarmerie but Col. Bagosora wanted the chair claiming that he is Army chief of staff, later Bagosora walked out of the meeting and within few minutes, we heard that he had appointed a new government," Rwarakabije told the audience.

Rwarakabije, who said that he was based in Kabuga by the time of the crash, said that the best people to ask about the crash were the French and Belgian troops.

"The plane crashed near President Habyarimana's residence and the place was being fully secure by French and Belgian forces and I think they are the right people to ask about the plane crash.

The French and Belgiun army was patrolling Masaka and the right information on plane crash and death Juvénal Habyarimana should be asked such forces that were surveying the area. No body could cross that area," he disclosed.

Gen. Rwarakabije challenged the procedures on how information in Gacaca jurisdiction courts is collected, advising that at least leaders should act exemplary in divulging what they know about the genocide.

"According to my observations, there is still lack of right information to Gacaca courts and yet most leaders know more than the commoners and the survivors who were on the run and hiding," he said.

Rwarakabije was the military commander of a 20,000-strong Congo-based Democratic Liberation Forces of Rwanda (FDLR) but surrendered in November 2003 ending a decade long stay in the jungles.