Rwandans commemorate genocide anniversary
Rwandans in Ghana last Saturday commemorated the 22nd anniversary of the genocide in their country which led to the death of more than one million people in 100 days.
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The event, which started with a walk dubbed: “Walk to remember”, in Accra, was also used to pay tribute to the victims of the genocide and to stand together with the survivors of the tragedy.
An emotional video clip titled: “Ghost of Rwanda”, which highlighted the atrocities perpetrated 22 years ago, left many of the participants at the programme in tears.
Later, dignitaries, including representatives of the UN and the government of Ghana, lit a candle to symbolise hope and the continuity of life after a minute’s silence had been observed for the lost lives.
Significance
This year’s event was on the theme: “Fighting the genocide ideology”, as part of efforts to awaken greater awareness of the value of life and humanity and the ill effects of genocide to renew the collective commitment of the world to protect and uphold the fundamental human rights of all persons.
The commemoration is observed annually on April 7 to remember victims of the genocide and reaffirm a global resolve to prevent such genocides.
It is dubbed: “Kwibuka”, which means “To remember” in the Kinyarwanda language.
Tribute
An international relations analyst and lecturer at the Legon Centre for International Affairs and Diplomacy (LECIAD), Dr Vladimir Antwi-Danso, who spoke on fighting the genocide mentality, said: “The greatest tribute would be to constantly remember the death of the victims and to resolve that future generations will not experience genocide again.”
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He commended the people of Rwanda for rebuilding their country through commitment and resolve to develop and “build a society where there are no Hutus or Tutsis”.
A representative of the Rwandan High Commissioner to Nigeria, with oversight responsibility for Ghana, Mr Protogene Nsengomuremyi, stated that the genocide ideology should be relentlessly fought because perpetrators of the crime and their backers continued to distort the truth around it.
He said 22 years ago, the international community failed its human duty of protecting people in need.
“All countries and the entire international community must draw on the lessons of the genocide against Tutsis and join forces in the fight against the genocide ideology and denial,” he said.
Hate speech
In a message read on his behalf, the United Nations Secretary-General, Mr Ban Ki-moon, highlighted the role hate speech played in inciting division and violence.
He noted that genocide was not a single event but part of a process that took time and preparation.
“One of the key warning signs is the spread of hate speech in public discourse and the media that target particular communities,” Mr Ki-moon said.
Background
The bloodletting began after April 6, 1994 when a plane carrying the then Rwandan and Burundian Presidents, Juvenal Habyarimana and Cyprien Ntaryamira, respectively, was shot down.
Tutsis were blamed by Hutus for downing the plane and that launched the massacre.
Hutus also embarked on hate speech through the media and derided the Tutsis, describing them as cockroaches.
The UN was blamed for withdrawing nearly 2,000 troops during the crisis. The extinction of Tutsis lasted 100 days.
It ended when the mostly Tutsi Rwanda Patriotic Front, led by Rwanda’s current President, Paul Kagame, re-entered the country from Uganda, where it had been regrouping in exile.