The sunny day on a beautiful hilly campus of Georgetown University, was in contrast with the somber but dignified testimonies and presentations inside Gaston Hall.
Over 700 hundred Rwandans and friends of Rwanda from Canada and United States of America gathered today to remember and honor over a million Tutsi victims of the Genocide in Rwanda.
This was a two day event that began at 2pm of April 7th and ended at 3pm of April 8th -2012.
Participants paid tribute to the victims and recognized the courage of survivors who continue their resilience in overcoming all odds against them.
The audience included USG officials; among them was Amb Barrie Walkely, Special envoy to the GLR and the DRC, who was the guest of honor. Amb. Robert Gribbin former US Ambassador to Rwanda.
Carl Wilkens the key note speaker of the day noted; “The journey that we have come on over the last 18 years is something that none of us could have ever imagined or predicted both in terms of progress, development but even more profoundly in terms of walking closer and closer.
We are closer to people us once felt distant from both within and outside Rwanda and have become part of this once nebulous group called the international community. That sense of being close to one another gives us hope.”
Amb. James Kimonyo, reminded the audience that the genocide against Tutsi is a historical fact that no one can change. The state premeditated, planned and executed the extermination of Tutsi people. Calling it Rwandan Genocide was and still is a Mistake.
It cannot be genocide when there is no group that is targeted. This has to be corrected. He underlined that calling it just Rwandan Genocide is denying the deliberate state sponsored killings of the Tutsi population.
Most of deniers engage in very dangerous hate-filled propaganda campaign while claiming to be advocating for human rights, truth and reconciliation, democracy and peace.
But these democratic values are not goals they are truly striving to achieve because such ideals cannot be achieved on a bed of lies and falsehoods.
Amb. Kimonyo further underlined that as this year, we are reminded that we should learn from our History so that we may Shape our Bright Future. We must move forward, but in such a way that guarantees we do not repeat past mistakes.
So while we move forward, we must simultaneously look back and deeply reflect on what went wrong and why it happened?
The guest of honor Amb. R. Barrie Walkley the Special envoy to the GLR and the DRC of Secretary of State Hilary Clinton, applauded the achievements and resilience of the people and government of Rwanda and committed that the USG will continue to partner and support the government of Rwanda to consolidate these achievements.
Other Speakers included Scholars like; Dr.Zachary D. Kaufman and Dr. Tim Gallimore who reminded the audience about the role of media before the genocide and during the genocide.
Quoting the “RTM Hate Radio which was used to dehumanize and demonize Tutsi” They emphasized the limitation of freedom of speech by citing the Atlanta Jewish Times Case where the President of the United States was threatened and the fact that this is a felony under US Code Title 18, Section 871.”
Immaculee Iribagiza, a genocide survivor and author noted that ““The love of a single heart can make a world of difference. We need to continue fighting the denial of genocide. She reminded us that even Jesus was rejected but through his resurrection, he is telling us that they cannot keep you hostile forever”.”
Dr. Bea Gallimore presented a research paper entitled Rwanda: From systematic rape to Gender Based Violence Law, while Dr. James Smith discussed Genocide denial in relation to the Holocaust and the genocide against Tutsi.
In addition, Dr. James Waller another scholar presented a paper “We No Longer Saw a Human being:” Truth-Telling in the Face of Genocide Denial” and Dr. Margee Ensign Spoke about Rwanda: History and Hope.
Last but not the least; Dr.Egide Karuranga, a survivor who lives in Canada elaborated – “Genocide Denial, Roots, Consequences, and Future Research Avenues to ensure Never Again.
The commemoration vigil was marked by songs and testimonies of different survivors present at the Dahlgren Chapel- at Georgetown University from 11pm- 2am in the morning.
The 18th Commemoration of the genocide against Tutsi in Washington Dc was two day event and was concluded a walk to remember conducted from the Washinton Dc National Mall and concluded at the Martin Luther King Memorial on the afternoon of April 8th -2012.
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