Kwibuka20; Rwandans in Japan Honour Genocide Victims

{{The embassy of Rwanda in Japan organized on April 7th at the United Nations University in Tokyo, Japan the 20th Commemoration of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.}}

The Government of Japan was represented by Hon. Hirotaka ISHIHARA, Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs, Representing the Government of Japan.

Other Japanese Senior officials included Hon. Toshiaki ENDO, Congressman and he is also, Chairman of the Japan-Rwanda Parliamentary Friendship League; Professor Akihiko TANAKA, President of JICA, and Madam Sadako OGATA, Former President of JICA, and former High Commissioner for UNHCR;

Prof. Govindan PARAYIL, Vice Rector of UNU, Representing the United Nations;

The event was also attended by members of the Diplomatic Community, members of Japanese private sector and civil society, Rwandans living in Japan as well as friends of Rwanda.

Dr. Charles MURIGANDE, the Ambassador of Rwanda to Japan, in his remarks:

Explained about this year’s theme and emphasized that we are gather first, to solemnly remember the one million lives we lost in the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, secondly, to celebrate the progress that Rwanda has made in reconciliation, reconstruction and peace-building over the last 20 years, and thirdly, as a reaffirmation of our shared humanity and a recommitment to do what it takes to ensure that genocide never happens again anywhere in the world.

These triple purposes are summed up in the theme of this 20th Commemoration of the genocide against the Tutsi which is Kwibuka20: Remember – Unite – Renew.

Ambassador explained that using the pretext of the death of the President of Rwanda in a plane crash, Extremists in the government of Rwanda called for the extermination of Tutsis, and, in just 100 days one million Rwandans were mercilessly massacred, hundreds of thousands made orphans or widows, and millions became refugees or internally displaced.

Ambassador said that while the world watched helplessly the unfolding of this man-made calamity, it took the courage and sacrifice of some other Rwandans under the exceptional leadership of the current President of Rwanda, H.E. Paul Kagame, to fight and stop this genocide.

Ambassador mentioned that it is a sad truth that every genocide attracts a small but vocal cohort of people who will seek to deny, negate or diminish the circumstances of the tragedy, or who attempts to establish false moral equivalency by indicting victims and finding excuses for perpetrators, hence the purpose of commemoration is also to defend the truth which is continually under assault by the deniers.

Ambassador said that in the aftermath of 1994 genocide, Rwanda was a truly a traumatized, desolate and wasted land.

Many in the international community expressed doubts whether Rwanda could continue to exist as a sovereign independent state, but as we 20 years later as commemorate that tragedy, Rwandans have courageously picked up the pieces, reconciled and united around a shared vision of building a new, peaceful, stronger and prosperous and nation.

Ambassador highlighted the following achievements;

Rwanda is now one of the safest, peaceful and cleanest countries in Africa and is often cited as an example of successful post-conflict peace-building and recovery and many post-conflict countries around the world have been sending us delegations to look at the home-grown best practices that have helped us to turnaround one of the bleakest the situation of in the history of nations.

Rwanda has also experienced high and inclusive economic growth which has transformed the lives of millions of Rwanda in both the urban and rural areas and is likely to meet almost all the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

Indicated that like any other society Rwanda is still faced with a lot of social and developmental challenges, but the modest but meaningful achievements attained against incredible odds over the last 20 years have created in Rwandans strong self-confidence, resolve and belief that we shall overcome all the challenges that lie ahead of us on our road to durable peace and prosperity.

Ambassador noted that the 1994 genocide in Rwanda was not a completely wasted tragedy for the International Community and for Rwanda. Lessons have been learnt, as Rwandan and Bosnian tragedies inspired the creation of the International Criminal Court (ICC), the adoption by the 2005 World Summit in New York of the concept of the “Responsibility to Protect – R2P” and the creation of the Office of Special Adviser to the U.N. Secretary General on the Prevention of Genocide, although their implementation is still wanting.

Ambassador said that 1994 genocide has engraved in our DNA a strong determination to never be bystanders in the face of suffering people.

This explains why Rwanda is currently the 6th troop contributor to UN Peacekeeping operations and our troops are exemplary in the discharge of their mission in Darfur (Sudan), in South Sudan, in Ivory Coast, Liberia, CentrAfrican Republic, Mali and Haiti

Ambassador concluded his remarks by thanking the people and government of Japan, other partners as well as the United Nations and its agencies for their invaluable support, to Rwanda in the last 20 years.

Representing the Government of Japan, Hon. Hirotaka ISHIHARA, Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs, Representing the Government of Japan in his remarks:

Said he was encouraged by the new constitution that eradicate ethnic, regional and other division rather promotes national unity and believe Rwanda will rebuild the country along that spirit.

Commended Rwanda’s socio-economic progress and depicted the country as a miracle of Africa.

Saluted Rwanda’s contribution to PKO and observed that this reflects Rwanda’s determination to be one of those countries acting to maintain and achieve world’s peace and safety, noting that Japan also want to follow Rwanda to be active in world’s peace building.

Observed that the experience of Rwandans turnaround from that tragic situation will be a source of hope for Japanese people who experienced disaster in Tohoku area in march 2011.

Said he was deeply pleased to see Rwanda recovering, keeping high economical growth and contributing to world’s peace building and their commitment to rebuilding of the country. At the same time, noticed to the Rwanda’s significant role in peace building in the world and Japan will support Rwanda’s commitment.

Prof. Govindan PARAYIL, Vice Rector of UNU, in his remarks recalled how the international community failed Rwandan people, commended Rwanda’s remarkable achievements, and highlighted that the adoption of the ‘Responsibility to Protect’ resolution was one of the lessons learnt.

He then read a special message by the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon for the 20th commemoration of the Rwanda genocide, where SG said that The world will always remember the more than 800,000 innocent people so brutally murdered as we pay tribute to the bravery and resilience of the survivors.

The world will draw inspiration from the ability of the Rwandan people to unite and show that reconciliation is possible even after a monumental tragedy. And pay tribute to their determination to renew their country and pave the way to a secure and prosperous future.

He will be in Rwanda to participate in the commemoration event and he use the occasion to encourage the people and Government of Rwanda to continue promoting the inclusive spirit needed for healing and reconciliation, and to deepen respect for human rights.

Madam Sadako OGATA, spoke on her engagement with the government of Rwanda first when she was the High Commissioner of UNHCR in 1990s and later as the President of JICA, and she;

Said that UNHCR as a humanitarian agency worked not only repatriation and settlement of returnees but also helped on reconstruction and reconciliation of Rwandan society simultaneously, and they strategically ensured that women not only are closely involved but also advocated for their empowerment thorough education and trainings.

commended President Kagame’s strategy to focusing on development of human resource as cornerstone of the development of Rwanda; convinced of this strategy, at the request of the government of Rwanda, JICA decided to restart the Tumba the College of Technology in 2007, which they had stopped funding during and after the genocide.

Said that although people describe Rwanda’s high development as a “African Miracle,” she observed that in contrary these achievements are results of deliberate policy choices by the Rwandan leadership.

She observed that the rest of the world could learn from Rwanda’s tragedy and achievements of post-genocide Rwanda and she believe that Rwanda will keep its development path and will continue to be the example to be emulated by the rest of the world.

Hon. Endo Toshiaki, Congressman and chairman of Japan-Rwanda Parliamentary Friendship League, also delivered a message on behalf of all members, and said that Rwanda has made significant recovery and has transformed herself into a peaceful country; and that this turnaround is very commendable and he believe that Rwanda will keep following its path and play important role in world’s peace building.

Mr. Justine NDAGIJIMANA, a Genocide survivor who lives in Japan shared his testimony, mentioning that his father, mother, and many relatives were killed during the genocide, him and his two brothers survived.

He said after the genocide he developed a strong determination to live and make a difference not only for him but also for his killed family members.