{As Rwanda prepares for the 22nd commemoration of genocide perpetrated against Tutsi, the association Ibuka-mémoire & Justice in Belgium has requested Belgian government to set a penal code of people undermining and denying genocide against Tutsi in 1994.}
It was discussed in annual discussions held on March 24th in the Belgium senatorial chamber organized by Ibuka-mémoire & Justice-Belgium. Such discussions are always held in March as part of preparation of commemoration activities of genocide against Tutsi in 1994 that brings together researchers, university students and leaders from Rwanda.
The head of IBUKA Belgium , Déo Mazina observed that preserving genocide history and requesting law punishing people denying genocide is not only a task of survivors of Rwandan only but everyone’s concern especially politicians from around the world.
“Until now genocide survivors live in same environment with genocide suspects in Belgium. Most of them deny genocide yet there is no law for punishing them,” he said.
Mazina requested law experts and members of parliament among others to collaborate in seeking a long lasting solution to the issue.
“It is necessary and urgent to implement such a law to enhance mutual respect among genocide survivors, perpetrators and their descendants,” he noted.
Professor Eric David, an expert in international law and a lecturer at the private university of Brussels noted that existing laws in Belgium and elsewhere across the world can be used to fight against genocide denial but lack complete implementation by everyone.
He said that the fight against genocide denial is hampered by calling it history and freedom of expression urging that denying and undermining genocide hurts survivors.
“The fact of implementing laws punishing people denying Jews genocide without laws punishing denials of Armenian genocide or Tutsi genocide brings inequality of citizens before the law,” he said.
Pierre Galand, the former Belgium senate said that denying genocide perpetrated against Tutsi is a wall protecting people involved in genocide perpetration to make the history forgotten or demonstrate history as false which pose a need to implement a law punishing such denials by all means.
Ms Mahmourian Michel, the leader of Armenians association said that efforts to implement the law were done but failed to succeed over current Armenian leadership worsening the situation.
“Implementing the law punishing people denying Armenian genocide and genocide perpetrated against Tutsi is uttermost necessary to enhance peaceful living among citizens,” he said.
The Rwandan ambassador in Belgium, Olivier Nduhungirehe, said that the word genocide can imply a way of its denial when it is not given a right meaning and talked deeply about including genocide history.
Eric Rutayisire the former leader of IBUKA Belgium stressed the need to highlight the implementation of a strong law punishing people denying Tutsi genocide to avoid reoccurrence of a similar mayhem across the World.
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