Dr. Charles Murigande, the Ambassador of Rwanda to Japan has told the diplomatic community in Tokyo Japan that Rwandans were abandoned and betrayed by the international community in time of need.
“Rwandans are committed to play their modest but important role in ensuring that the “never again” is indeed a “never again” and we are ready to stand by those who are hurting, wherever they may be.”
The Ambassador made the remarks Monday April 9th during an event held for the 18th Commemoration of the Rwandan Genocide against ethnic Tutsi. The Embassy of Rwanda in Tokyo organized the commemoration event.
It was also attended by Rwandans, members of the Diplomatic Community based in Tokyo, Japanese Government officials, Members of the UN Organizations based in Tokyo, members of Japanese private sector and civil society as well as friends of Rwanda.
Amb. Dr. Murigande highlighted the cycle of ethnic cleansing that started in 1959 that climaxed into the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
He said this was neither the result of historical antinomy between Hutu and Tutsi, nor a genetic precondition that the Rwandans have to live with but a product of decades of bad governance that started with colonial rule and was perpetuated by the post-independence regimes.
He indicated that in the wake of genocide, Rwanda took the face of a desolate and wasted land with more than a million of people killed in just 100 days, completely destroyed socio-economic infrastructure, and the entire surviving population living in internally displaced camps or in refugee camps in neighboring countries where genocidal forces were busy re-training and rearming in order to re-take power and finish the genocide, among other daunting challenges.
Amb. Dr. Murigande stated that Rwandans refused to be overwhelmed and paralysed by death, despair and hopelessness and in defiance, rather courageously embraced life and with determination resolved to rebuild a better country than that which was destroyed.
He noted that due to self-worth and determination of Rwandans, significant achievements in terms of Peace, Security and Stability; reconciling and unity among Rwandans has been attained.
The culture of good governance and democracy; and economic recovery and growth has given Rwandans the firm conviction that “we shall overcome the remaining challenges ahead of us.”
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