English
Kinyarwanda
Speech by Ambassador Jean Pierre Karabaranga
Ambassador of the Republic of Rwanda in the Kingdom of the Netherlands
Launch of Kwibuka20, the Hague
Friday, 14 February 2014
Representatives of the Dutch Government,
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Security and Justice, Ministry of Economic Affairs,
Representatives of different institutions of the Dutch Government
Representatives of the Dutch House of Representatives and Dutch Senate,
Colleagues Ambassadors,
Representatives of International Organizations present in The Hague,
Friends of Rwanda, Fellow Rwandans,
Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen,
I would like to thank you all for your presence for the launching of the 20th Commemoration of Genocide against Tutsi today.
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
After the Jewish holocaust, the world committed that “Never again” would such brutal tragedy happen any more to the human beings. The whole world has failed that pledge. That is partly why we have gathered here today. We all have a responsibility to speak out in the face of genocide, anti-Semitism, hatred, racism, intolerance or discrimination. These crimes know no boundaries.
Twenty years ago, Rwanda went through the worst horror of the modern human history. While the world looked on, over one million innocent, unarmed, ordinary children, women, men, disabled, young and old Rwandan Tutsi were massacred in the most inhumane ways. Albert Einstein once said: “The world will not be destroyed by those who do evil, but by those who watch them without doing anything”.
The Genocide against the Tutsi which started on April 7th 1994 was the fastest killings known in the history of mankind. In just 100 days, over one million people were killed using mostly traditional weapons such as machetes. The victims were desperately asking their executioners, (unfortunately without succeeding to convince them), to use their guns and ammunitions to end their lives and the ones of their loved. These requests were considered as a privilege that could not be admitted to the victims. They were not anymore human beings but the value of their lives was less than the ones of beasts in the jungle. They were born to be killed and this was done without mercy.
With the Genocide against Tutsi, the entire structure of the Rwanda society was destroyed. The negative impact and devastation of it on the Rwandan people and the people in the region is still there. The “crime” of those killed was only because they had been born Tutsi, a matter on which they had no choice or say. Nobody should be held accountable based on which tribe, ethnic group, region, color, race or religion he/she was born into.
Excellencies,
We gather here to launch the 20th Commemoration of Tutsi Genocide. By this we remember and pay homage to the victims of this carnage and ruthless atrocity. We are here also to pledge solidarity and to strengthen the survivors of the Genocide against the Tutsi. In a small, but in deep and meaningful way, we honour the dead and console and strengthen the living. In Matthew 5:4 we read: “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted”.
For Rwanda, this Kwibuka20 (20th Commemoration of the genocide against the Tutsi) is very significant. In this remembrance, we will reflect and search what went wrong in our society that led to the genocide. What were the consequences and how can we build a shared, prosperous and stable future for all Rwandans today and for future generations. Commemoration activities were launched in Kigali on 7th January and have continued in different countries in all parts of the world.
The theme for this year’s genocide commemoration is: Remember, Unite, Renew. It was carefully selected to reflect the future that Rwandans want to build. Let me explain what we intend by those three words.
Remember: as we said earlier on, Remembrance is about honouring the memory of those who perished and offering comfort to survivors. I would like to use this platform to call on those present here and the global community to reflect on the suffering, trauma and hardship the survivors of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi have endured and continue to face. The sorrow, pain and despair are still fresh for the survivors. Remembering, without bitterness or the spirit of revenge, pity, or hopelessness, but with dignity, resilience and a determination to move on, is the only way to ensure that such a tragedy never happens again.
Unite: Rwanda is determined to overcome the history of bad governance, discrimination, culture of impunity and hatred which laid the foundation for the genocide and divide our society into parts. We have chosen to focus on things that unite Rwandans, which far outweigh any differences. Rwandans share one language, one culture, same values and norms with a long history of peaceful and harmonious co-existence. These are powerful assets that we want to nurture in reclaiming our true Rwandan identity.
The Rwandan leadership is today promoting a culture of tolerance, values of self-worth (agaciro), rebuilding the shared Rwandan identity (Ndi Umunyarwanda), and establishing the rule of law and a society which include of each and every one. Rwandans have been awakened to the reality that we have a shared responsibility to build a new modern stable nation of shared opportunity and prosperity. Strong pillars and foundation for national unity and reconciliation have been firmly built.
Renew: From it, we should take the courage and resolve to rebuild our lives and our country. Revive the Rwandan values of resilience, self-worth, respect and dignity and focus on pursuing a vision of transformation that will ensure that genocide never happens again. From the catastrophe, we should build an entirely new and modern nation.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
After the Genocide against Tutsi in 1994, Rwanda as a country had all the ingredients of a failed state. From almost a non-existent state in 1994, Rwanda has become a nation of hope, prosperity and equal opportunity for its people. Rwanda is today a stable country. The economy has grown at over 8% per year over the last decade. The infrastructure has been rebuilt and further expanded across the country. Our people have gained the necessary capacity building in key sectors. There is universal access to education; health and basic social protection are available to each citizen. Rwanda is one of the countries on track to achieve almost all the United Nations Millennium Development Goals by the 2015 deadlines.
High standards are required in all government institutions to achieve an efficient, transparent, no- corrupt and accountable apparatus which can deliver the best customer care services for our people and by this achieve the right to development. Different sections of the Rwandan society – youth, women, disabled, civil society and religious groups have assumed and played an active role in the process of rebuilding the country. Women have come at the forefront of nation-building with a women representation in parliament of 64%, the largest in the world.
Excellencies,
The Genocide against the Tutsi was foreseeable and preventable. But the world and the international community abandoned us at the hour of greatest need. We believe no country should suffer the same fate and lives should not be wasted due to indifference and inaction of global actors. We all have the responsibility to act. Allow me to use the expression of Theodore Roosevelt “In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing. The worst thing you can do is nothing.”
In order to ensure that what happened in Rwanda in 1994 never happens elsewhere, Rwanda has committed to making substantive contribution to peace keeping across the world. Rwanda has a battalion of 850 peace keepers to Central African Republic. We have peace keepers and monitoring teams deployed in South Sudan, Darfur, Chad, Ivory Coast, Haiti and Liberia. We are therefore determined to make a modest contribution within our means to help save lives and properties wherever the need arises.
In conclusion,
Let us give ourselves a homework consisting in denouncing the genocide perpetrators, genocide denial, racism, hatred, anti-Semitism, intolerance and any form of discrimination. Because if we do not speak out now, who would then do it?
Let me, once I still have the microphone, invite you to join us again on April 7, 2014 in the Atrium of the City of The Hague for the Official 20th Commemoration of Genocide against Tutsi starting at 5pm until 7pm.
Thank you for your kind attention and presence.
Source: kwibuka.rw
