SURF's Annual Report 2007

Genocide Memorial Sites

Even today the remains of many victims of genocide are still to be buried. Many still lie in trenches, abandoned latrines, churches, on the hills and many other places - some known, some yet to be discovered. Many of these locations are disclosed by genocide suspects currently held in prisons that have confessed to involvement in the genocide (through gacaca).

Survivors still waiting to bury loved ones often feel haunted. That becomes an obstacle to rehabilitation and rebuilding life. A sense of closure often only comes with burial.

This past year, fourteen mass graves were developed, completed or rehabilitated by SURF. To date SURF has built 37 memorial sites, giving a decent burial and resting place to well over 390,000 victims. As prisoners given amnesty continue to reveal where bodies lie, SURF needs to build another 17 mass graves across the country, at the very least. These will provide a decent burial for the many thousands of skeletons in churches across the country.