Rwanda’s embassy in Netherlands was joined by the International Institute of Social Studies in the Hague(ISS) on Friday to commemorate the 1994 Genocide perpetrated against Tutsi.
The event was organized under the theme ‘Fighting Genocide Denial” and was attended by more than 100 guests, including students, professors, teachers,friends of Rwanda, Rwandans living in the Netherlands among others.
Throughout the event, the student body of the International Institute of Social Studies (ISS) of Erasmus University, Scholars, and Rwanda’s embassy paid tribute to victims of 1994 genocide perpetrated against Tutsi as a bid of showing solidarity to survivors ,reflecting on the mayhem to avoid reoccurrence.
In his opening remarks,Professor Inge Hutter, Rector of the Institute of Social Studies, said that the administration committed that the commemoration of the Genocide against the Tutsi will be held every year at the Institute as a way of showing solidarity.
Mr. Guy Beaujot, who spoke on behalf of friends Rwanda, called on every one to embrace “Rwanda Never Again” towards “Fighting Genocide Ideology”.
H.E. Ambassador Karabaranga concluded the event with his keynote speech and said :
“Today as we remember, we invite students, professors, teachers, friends of Rwanda, Rwandans and the international community to take concrete measures to fight the genocide ideology and the genocide denial that has been going around for 21 years in some parts of this world. I would like to offer a reminder to all of us.The fact is that the ICTR Trial Chamber concluded, on 2 September 1998, that “genocide was, indeed, committed in Rwanda against the Tutsi as a group” and that the Appeals Chamber confirmed, on 16 June 2006, that it is a “fact of common knowledge” that “between 6 April and 17 July 1994, there was a genocide in Rwanda against the Tutsi ethnic group”, this should at least serve as a basis for all of us to desist any attempt to deny or trivialize facts of genocide.”
“Rwanda commemorates genocide for the 22nd time, the world celebrates the 71st anniversary of the United Nations charter, in which 194 members pledge “never again” and have committed to establish conditions under which justice and respect for the obligations arising from treatiarues and other sources of international law can be maintained. Among these treaties are those that have moved the prosecution of genocide, from being an option to being a duty. In this regard, Rwanda reminds countries of their international law obligation of prosecuting these genocide suspects or handing them over to Rwanda to face Justice”, Ambassador Karabaranga continued.
“Every year we recognize the bravery of RPF’s men and women led by President Paul Kagame who rescued the few survivors we have today. On this day of remembrance we thank them for their sacrifices and bravely during that horrible period. They are our heroes and the next generation have to take example to them.”
He also thanked the International Institute of Social Studies in the Hague for cooperation with Rwanda’s embassy in Netherlands to organize the event.
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