English
Kinyarwanda
Every year, Rwandans and friends of Rwanda come together to pay tribute to over one million innocent Rwandans killed during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, known in Kinyarwanda as Kwibuka.
The one hundred days of remembrance that signifies the 100 days of systematic Tutsi extermination, starts every April 7.
It's an opportunity to enhance historical clarity, get closer to survivors as well as empathise and educate the public of their role in ensuring that this inhuman act never happens again.
This year's Kwibuka21, held at Umudugudu (Village) level, is running under the theme "Fighting Against Genocide Denial and Revision," and dedicated, partly, fighting Genocide denial and revisionism.
Throughout the commemoration week,, citizens gather in all villages nationwide to reflect on the country’s history, and discuss different genocide-related topics focusing on fighting genocide denial.
The general public are reminded to stand together and fight against any form of action aimed at negating the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
It is understood that crimes related to genocide denial tend to increase in the month of April.
Statistics from the Rwanda National Police (RNP) department of criminal investigation indicate that 36 percent of the 138 cases registered last year, were committed in the month of April.
Article 2 of the law N°18/2008 of July 23, 2008, relating to the punishment of the crime of genocide ideology, defines genocide ideology as; an aggregate of thoughts characterized by conduct, speeches, documents and other acts aiming at exterminating or inciting others to exterminate people basing on ethnic group, origin, nationality, region, color, physical appearance, sex, language, religion or political opinion, committed in normal periods or during war.
The crime of genocide ideology, in article 3 of the same law, is characterized in any behaviour manifested by facts aimed at deshumanizing a person or a group of persons with the same characteristics like threatening, intimidating, degrading through defamatory speeches, documents or actions which aim at propounding wickedness or inciting hatred.
It can also be committed through marginalising, laughing at one’s misfortune, defaming, mocking, boasting, despising, degrading creating confusion aiming at negating the genocide which occurred, stiring up ill feelings, taking revenge, altering testimony or evidence for the genocide which occurred, killing, planning to kill or attempting to kill someone for purposes of furthering genocide ideology.
Ensuring that this crime against humanity never occurs again in Rwanda, these laws were put in place to fight anything that can lead to the same.
Under article 135 of the penal code, "any person who commits the crime of genocide ideology and other related offences shall be liable to a term of imprisonment of more than five to nine years and a fine of one hundred thousand (100,000) to one million (1,000, 000) Rwandan francs.
We are a new Rwanda, despite what happened, we were able to get out of ashes to create one of the most secure countries across the globe where safety has bred a ground for fast development.
It is paramount that this level of safety and peace be maitained, but it remains everyone's responsibility to create that soft platform by ensuring own safety through community policing by reporting anyone who would act negatively to take the country back to the dark days.
It's together, "Never Again" and saying no to criminality while working together for the good and development of our communities and the country in general.
