Rwandan President Kagame and First Lady Jeannette Kagame lay a wreath on
the burial site of over 250,000 victims of the 1994 Genocide against
the Tutsi at Kigali Genocide Memorial in Gisozi. PHOTO | RWANDA
PRESIDENCY
It is a week with no social activities as Rwandans dedicated
much of their time to honour and pay tribute to victims of 1994 Genocide
against Tutsis.
The official mourning week started on
April 7 under the theme of “Remember, Unite and Renew” with President
Paul Kagame and First Lady Jeannette Kagame laying a wreath on burial
site of over 250,000 victims.
President Kagame and the
First Lady also lit the Flame of Remembrance at the Kigali Genocide
Memorial Centre in Gisozi, marking the beginning of the mourning week
and the 100 days of commemoration.
In his commemoration
speech, President Kagame said that although this is the 24th year of
commemoration of the Genocide Against Tutsi, to Rwandans the memory is
still fresh as it involves their nature, loved ones, communities and
nation.
“Every time we commemorate, we come face-to-face with our history and learn once again how to live with it.
“It
is a time to reminisce about our tragic past, a history that was not
meant to happen, and it is also a reminder that if we don’t stay
vigilant, it might happen again. We are reminded of what we need to do
to ensure that genocide never happens again.”
Talks
While delivering a
lecture before 500 police officers at The Rwanda National Police
headquarters, Dr Jean Damascene Bizimana, executive Secretary of CNLG
focused talks on stages of genocide which include, classification,
symbolisation, discrimination, dehumanisation, organisation,
polarisation, preparation, persecution, extermination and denial and how
they manifested during the preparation and execution of the Genocide
Against Tutsi.
All districts chose villages where discussions were supposed to be carried out to mark the commemoration week.
For
example, in Rubavu District, activities to start the national mourning
week began by lighting of the Flame of Hope at the district’s offices
while other commemoration activities took place in Cyanzarwe sector.
Bernadette
Nyirabuhinja who survived the killings in this village took
participants gathered in Nyakabanda Village on the bloody journey of
Tutsis who were fleeing the country to DRC but were intercepted by the
killers.
Meaning of genocide
At
Kicukiro District, activities kicked off in Intwali Village, in
Nyarugunga Sector where presentations about the difference between
genocide and other massacres were given.
In her
message, MP Agnes Mukazibera who was the guest of honour, urged everyone
present to use the right references to the Genocide Against Tutsi to
fight those who are in denial.
The week, which closed
on April 13, was marked by visit of Rwanda dignitaries at Rebero
genocide memorial where politicians who opposed the genocide were
buried.
The commemoration activities, however, will
continue for 100 days until July 14, which is celebrated as the day
former RPF soldiers liberated the country and put an end to the
genocide.
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