{Anti gender-based violence activists from the region have paid their respects to the victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, and pledged their dedication towards telling the world about the horrors that engulfed Rwanda at the time. }
The 36-member delegation which is on a three-day learning tour, visited Kigali Memorial Site in Gasozi on December 5 and laid a wreath on one of mass grave in respect to the 250,000 vixtims buried there.
During their visit of the memorial, the delegation took a tour of the chambers, where they were obtained audio, video and photographic information detailing how the Genocide was systematically planned by the post-1994 government and how over one million were murdered in cold blood.
“I am very humbled to have come to the site. It is a shame that the world watched while Rwandans were butchered like animals. I have heard and read about this in various media outlets but nothing gave me a better understanding of the Tutsi Genocide like what I have seen today,” one of the delegates, Dr Mwansa Jonathan Kaunda from Zambia said.
“From Rwanda’s experience, humanity must never diminish into fighting for color, ethnicity, social status, sex or religion but treat each other with love, respect and compassion.”
He urged that the entire world to adopt the “Never Again” campaign, which is an international tool aimed at sensitizing the world about the horrors of Genocide and fighting against it wherever it may occur.
Dr Mwansa Kaunda added that he was surprised at how Rwanda managed to reconcile and develop at an alarming rate despite its dark past – and called upon other areas with conflicts to learn from Rwanda’s experience.
In July this year, the government in conjunction with the Arusha-based Mechanism of International Criminal Tribunal (MICT), Interpol and the United States Office of Global Criminal Justice, re-launched a programme to track down nine top fugitives wanted for planning, organizing and executing the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.
The nine suspects include; Felicien Kabuga, Protais Mpiranya, Augustin Bizimana, Ladislas Ntaganzwa, Fulgence Kayishema, Pheneas Munyarugarama, Aloys Ndimbati, Charles Ryandikayo and Charles Sikubwabo.
In August, Rwanda National Police produced a book titled “Policing a rapidly transforming Post Genocide society,” during the book’s launch, the Prime Minister, Anastase Murekezi commended the Force for being a world leading enforcer of law and order in society.
Leave a Reply