Hanyurwimfura, Dehogarasiyasi
Summary of Oral History
Dehogarasiyasi describes the violence beginning on April 29, 1972, firstly sparked by allegations of a rebellion led by Mulele. This rebellion was falsely reported to have started in Rumonge and later spread to more communities. The crisis involved systematic attacks on individuals recognized to be Hutu, including teachers and civil service employees. Those accused were taken away, and their properties were looted..
Teachers and other Hutu individuals were targeted and arrested. The interviewee's younger brother was a teacher in Murore, Ngozi, and was killed during the crisis. Him and other educators were taken simultaneously. Their whereabouts were unknown, and it was later inferred that they were killed. Dehogarasiyasi recalls how the properties of those arrested were seized and how people’s homes were raided. This included personal belongings, livestock, and land.
He and his family eventually fled to Rwanda in 1973 due to fears of further violence, only to return later to find that the crisis had continued.
Dehogarasiyasi’s brother who had not yet married and was in the process of building a house, was among those taken. His belongings were confiscated, and the house was eventually occupied by others.
Before the crisis, there was a peaceful coexistence between Hutu and Tutsi communities. However, the crisis created divisions, and Hutu individuals were labeled as "rebels" and targeted. The social fabric was severely disrupted as trust was eroded and violence became rampant.